1-192-406 - © London Museum/Heritage-Images

'Hudibras encounters the Skimmington', 18th century. Hudibras attempting to talk to the riotous crowd. They are blowing horns and beating drums and pots. Two men carry a shirt and a skirt above the crowd on sticks. On the left a man and woman watch from the window of a tailors. The woman gestures behind the man's head the symbol of a cuckold. In the left corner a man is swinging a cat. A skimmington is a rowdy procession that was intended to ridicule a husband or wife whose spouse was being unfaithful. Plate XII from the story Hudibras, written by Samuel Butler. Hudibras is a colonel in the Cromwellian army. The story shows him getting involved in various misadventures, where he shows himself to be stupid, greedy and dishonest.