James II robbed by Fishermen while escaping from England

Walter Howell Deverell

Date: 1850 

Materials: Pen and black ink, with ink wash, over pencil 

Mentioned in the P. R. B. Journal, this is one of several drawings given by Deverell to friends in the Brotherhood (in this case, Dante Gabriel Rossetti). The subject of the attempted flight of James II after the Glorious Revolution of 1688 probably derives from Thomas Macaulay's 'History of England', just published in 1849.

The King was said to have been "roughly handled" at Sheerness, before being escorted back to London by "seamen and rabble".

Deverell adds some typically quirky humour to the image.