A woman being bled by one man while another holds her arm, two dogs lap up her blood; representing France in the grip of Louis XIV and Cardinal Richelieu, while the financiers drain her resources. Engraving.

Unknown artist

Lettering: Lettering continues: "The France in her bed much sicke Lewis the XIV her surgeon bleeding her above measure by ordinance of her old physition the Cardinal Richelieu representing the King's Privy Counsell the French clergy (represented by the Archbishop of Paris) her apothicarie giving her a potion of Angell's violl Ira Dei. The dolphin her poore priest besprinkling her the financers french dogs licking the blood of that Jesabel the saint societe her nurse banishing out of the kingdom the peace abundance, justice fidelite, all the vertues, and graces, and th'otherside bringing in the warre, mortalilie, povertie, famine, and every sort of mischiefes." France at death's door. ...