The Life of Christ- Engraving from the Evangelicae Historiae Imagines by Hieronymus Natalis 1593 Plate iij (11)

The image is an engraving from Jerónimo Nadal's 1593 work, Evangelicae Historiae Imagines. It is titled "Dominica III. Adventus" (Third Sunday of Advent) and illustrates the biblical account from John chapter 1 of the Jews sending envoys to John the Baptist. 
The scene depicts John the Baptist by the Jordan River, with the envoys from Jerusalem approaching him. 
Text labels (A-H) provide a key to the elements in the image, such as John the Baptist wearing camel hair clothing and denying he is the Christ, Elijah, or the prophet predicted by Moses. 
The work served as a visual guide and model for artists during the Spanish Colonial period. 
It was part of a larger collection of illustrations used for meditation on the Gospels. 
Translation:
DOMINICA III. ADVENTVS. Third Sunday of Advent.
Mittunt Iudæi ad Ioannem. Loan. 1. The Jews send (envoys) to John. John 1.
Anno xxix. Year 29.
A. Hierufalem, vnde mittunt Iudai. A. Jerusalem, whence the Jews send (envoys).
B. Venientes ad Ioannem legati. B. The legates coming to John.
C. Bethabara, fiue Bethania, vbi Ioannes. C. Bethabara, or Bethany, where John (is).
D. Duo Sacerdotes cuan Leuitis ad Ioannem peruemunt. D. Two priests with Levites arrive at John's (location).
E. Ioannes veftitus cilicio ex pilis Camelorum, negat planisime se eße Chriftum. E. John clothed in sackcloth of camel hair, very plainly denies that he is the Christ.
F. Eliam Je effe negat Ioannes. F. John denies that he is Elijah.
G. Negat se esse, quem Moyfes in folitudine venturum prædixerat. G. He denies that he is the one whom Moses had predicted would come in the wilderness.
H. Profitetur tandem se eße vocem Dei clamantis in deserto. H. He finally professes that he is the voice of God crying out in the wilderness.

This plate comes from the Evangelicae Historiae Imagines (Images of Gospel History) is a renowned Renaissance collection of 153 engravings Illustrating the life of Christ, originally published in 1593. The full title further specifies that the images follow the sequence of the Gospel readings used during Mass throughout the liturgical year. 
About the Evangelicae Historiae Imagines 
This famous print series of the Life of Christ was considered a highly important work for Jesuit missionaries. It was commissioned by Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order, and it was overseen by Nadal, though both died before its completion. This pioneering series of engravings was created to help Jesuit novices with meditation on the Gospels as part of their spiritual exercises. 
The engravings, showing the life, death and resurrection of Christ, were made by some of the best Flemish engravers, including the Wierix brothers at Antwerp, Jan II and Adriaen Collaert, Charles de Mallery, after drawings by the Italian painter Bernardo Passari and a few after Maarten de Vos. The book became an important source for Spanish Colonial Art. 
Christopher W. Charles purchased these engravings from a Sotheby’s auction over 30 years ago. They are in near perfect condition and are now being released from his 75-year collection. 
Published in Antwerp in 1593
Language: Latin