The heavily allegorical frontispiece of the Eikon Basilike depicts the King Charles I of England as a Christian martyr.It was published on 9 February 1649, ten days after the King was beheaded by Parliament in the aftermath of the English Civil War in 1649.
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".