Small winged boys are flying around a large petticoat with an inscription under a bishop's mitre, rod and cross and a temporal crown with sword and sceptre: representing the Three Grand Temptations: Spiritual Pride, Temporal Power and Earthly Love. Coloured engraving.

London (No. 69 in St. Pauls Church Yard) : Carington Bowles

1 print : stipple engraving, with gouache ; platemark 34.5 x 25 cm

The three grand temptations, viz. The pride of churchmen; the ambition of princes, ye paradise of fools. In these three tempting gugaws do we see the source of humane pride and vanity. Each in its turn enslaves us to our cost, but who can tell which gulls the world ye most. The mitre rules the church, the crown the state. Both are rever'd, and both exceeding great. But mighty love, more absoluthe than they, makes ev'ry pow'r the peticoat obey- and to ye weaker vessel gives superior sway.

Wellcome Collection 38967i