Thomas Pickering
(1621?-1679), Benedictine monk and victim of the Popish PlotSitter in 6 portraits
Pickering was a Benedictine monk who acted as a steward to Queen Catherine of Braganza after Catholic priests were banished in 1675. In 1678, Titus Oates accused Pickering of trying to shoot Charles II while he walked in St James's Park. The king's life was supposedly only saved by a faulty flintlock on Pickering's gun. The assassination attempt, as invented by Oates, and Pickering's subsequent execution are illustrated in the diamonds suit of the playing cards nearby (see knave and VI). Pickering was beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1929.
'Pickerin attempts to kill ye K. in St James Park' (Thomas Pickering)
after Francis Barlow
line engraving, 1679
NPG D23011(c)
'Pickerin Executed' (Thomas Pickering)
after Francis Barlow
line engraving, 1679
NPG D23011(h)
'A True Narrative of the Horrid Hellish Popish-Plot...The Second Part'
after Unknown artist
line engraving and letterpress, 1682
NPG D23016
after Unknown artist, published by James Caulfield
line engraving, published 1825
NPG D29776
after Unknown artist
line engraving
NPG D9501
by Unknown artist
pen and ink
NPG D6551
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