Eikon Basilike - Frontispiece

Frontispiece

The heavily allegorical frontispiece of the Eikon Basilike depicts the King as a Christian martyr. The Latin texts read:

IMMOTA, TRIVMPHANS — "Unmoved, Triumphant" (scroll around the rock);
Clarior é tenebris — "Brighter through the darkness" (beam from the clouds);
CRESCIT SUB PONDERE VIRTVS — "Virtue grows beneath weights" (scroll around the tree);
Beatam & Æternam — "Blessed and Eternal" (around the heavenly crown marked GLORIA ("Glory")); meant to be contrasted with:
- Splendidam & Gravem — "Splendid and Heavy" (around the Crown of England, removed from the King's head and lying on the ground), with the motto Vanitas ("vanity"); and
- Asperam & Levem — "Bitter and Light", the martyr's crown of thorns held by Charles; contains the motto Gratia ("grace");
Coeli Specto — "I look to Heaven";
IN VERBO TVO SPES MEA — "In Thy Word is My Hope";
Christi Tracto — "I entreat Christ" or "By the word of Christ";
Mundi Calco — "I tread on the world".

The frontispiece was engraved by William Marshall. In the first edition, the frontispiece was accompanied by Latin and English verses that explain it. The English verses go:

Tho' clogg'd with weighs of miseries

Palm-like Depress'd, I higher rise

And as th'unmoved Rock outbraues

The boist'rous Windes and raging waues

So triumph I. And shine more bright

In sad Affliction's darksom night.

That Splendid, but yet toilsom Crown

Regardlessly I trample down.

With joie I take this Crown of thorn

Though sharp, yet easie to be born.

That heavn'nlie Crown, already mine

I view with eies of Faith diuine.