The industrious 'prentice Alderman of London, the idle one brought before him & impeach'd by his accomplice [graphic]

Tom Idle is at the bar in a court of Justice, his hands bound, knees bent in supplication to Goodchild, now an alderman (signaled by the furred robe and gold chain of the office) serving as magistrate. Goodchild's hand shields his eyes as he turns away from Tom. Beside him a clerk is writing a letter "To the Turnkey of Newgate". On the left Tom's one-eyed accomplish is swearing evidence with his left hand instead of right hand as his female accomplice bribes the clerk behind his back. To Tom's left a fat beadle comforts Tom's weeping mother. A row of fire buckets hang from the rafters. The right of the frame is decorated with a scourge, manacles and a hangman's rope; on the left frame hang the mace of the City of London, the alderman's gold chain and a sword of state