The Auto-da-Fe

John Leech (1817-1864) was a celebrated English caricaturist who illustrated many short stories and magazines. This print shows a scene from a story called Auto-da-Fe from The Ingoldsby Legends published by Richard Bentley in a series of works in the 1840s. The Legends were a collection of myths, ghost stories published under the pen name of Richard Harris Barham whcih were extremely popular in the nineteenth century.
Here Philip I of Spain is shown watching the burning at court of a heretic who did not believe in Catholicism.
For once we'll be gay,
A Grand Auto-da-fé
Is much better fun than a ball or a play!'
So the warrant was made out without more delay,
Drawn, seal'd, and delivered, and
(Signed)
YO EL RE!