A committee of English Nonconformists of the Commonwealth era receiving petitions from people accused of bestiality (a woman with a dog and a man with a horse); representing the danger that Puritanism might be revived in 1680 and seize power in Great Britain. Engraving after Sir R. Lestrange, 1680.

The committee of former Nonconformists sects consists of Lodowicke Muggleton, a Ranter, a Quaker, an Anabaptist, a Presbyterian taking the chair, an Independent, a Fifth Monarchist, James Nailor (another Quaker) and a naked Adamite. The "Solemn league and Covenant" which bound their members is pinned to a wall on the right. In the left foreground, a procession of demonstrators is accompanied by Royalists who are led forwards in chains. In the right foreground, an Anglican clergyman vomits out the trappings of his living, while little demons (his congregation?) clamber out of a commode

In an upper room, top left, is a conference of the Cabal of ministers of King Charles II (Lords Clifford, Ashley, Buckingham, Arlington, and Lauderdale); facing them, in upper right, is a Puritan (Sir Isaac Pennington) with a pope

[London] : [Henry Brome], [1680]

1 print : engraving ; sheet 28.2 x 40 cm

The committee or Popery in masquerade.

Antony Griffiths, The print in Stuart Britain 1603-1689, London 1998, p. 310, no. 198

Wellcome Collection 36259i