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Puritans and the Civil War, 1637–49

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English Puritanism 1603–1689

Part of the book series: Social History in Perspective ((SHP))

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Abstract

On 30 June 1637, as punishment for his alleged part in publishing an anti-Laudian tract, William Prynne’s ears were mutilated and ‘S. L.’ for ‘seditious libeller’ was carved across his cheeks. At his trial the judge denounced him for plotting with the pamphleteers Burton and Bastwick ‘to set up the puritan or separatist faction’. Although no radical, Prynne’s experience convinced him that the bishops were a dangerous breed, an opinion shared by many of the godly who looked on at his sufferings with horror. Prynne, Burton and Bastwick, ‘those three renowned soldiers and servants of Christ’, ‘were remembered with tears’ at various ‘assemblies of private Christians to seek God by prayer and fasting upon extraordinary occasions’.1

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Wales Swansea, UK

    John Spurr (Senior Lecturer in History)

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  1. John Spurr
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© 1998 John Spurr

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Spurr, J. (1998). Puritans and the Civil War, 1637–49. In: English Puritanism 1603–1689. Social History in Perspective. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-26854-2_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-26854-2_7

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-333-60189-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-349-26854-2

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