Rare allegorical print, perhaps by Zacharias Dolendo: "Exposition of the present state of the free Netherlands", a satire against the Remonstrants and supporting Prince Mauritss suppression of them, presented as their failed attempt to undo the unanimity within the Republic of the Seven United Provinces. It caricatures "waardgelders" (mercenaries hired by cities, in this case to defend the freedom of the dissenting Remonstrants against attacks by Counterremonstrants).
The print seems to be the second state of a print of Dolendo (?) after a painting by Isaac Claesz. Swanenburgh. The first state of this print, an allegory on the siege and relief of Leiden, was printed in 1574. Our copy would be the second state of this 1574-print with another text.
At left the Dutch maiden is assailed and driven from her safe seat ("Christ") by Discord, Death and Violence. At right Neptune tries to stop a soldier from attacking her. "Utrecht" appears on the soldiers helmet and the names of the Remonstrant cities on a flap of his trousers: Alkmaar, Rotterdam, Leiden, etc.), characterizing him as a waardgelder.
With a minor stain on the back, faintly visible on the front, and 3 barely visible folds. Otherwise in very good condition. Atlas van Stolk 1320, 1337; D.R. Horst, De opstand in zwart-wit: propagandaprenten uit de Nederlandse opstand (2003), p. 151 (fig. 47), p. 334; Knuttel 2769; Muller, Historieplaten 1313 ("very rare").