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The State and Social Change in Early Modern England, 1550–1640 pp 66–93Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

The Provision of Prerogative Justice

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Part of the book series: Early Modern History: Society and Culture ((EMH))

Abstract

In the winter of 1613–14, entitling themselves ‘the only true professors of the gospell’, two prominent Cheshire Puritans, John Bruen and John Ratcliffe, sponsored a campaign of spontaneous iconoclasm.2 While Bruen satirically claimed that he had long been called ‘Bishop Bruen’ and had ‘a visitation in purpose if God so please to give opportunity’, Ratcliffe was a substantial local brewer, twice mayor of Chester and a parliament man.3 Their servants smashed down seven stone crosses, three standing in parish churchyards, and another four in the highway. One ‘crossbreaker’ taunted the parishioners of Christleton that ‘their dagon was fallen’ and that since ‘crowes [crowbars] pulled down crosses’, ‘dawes [jackdaws] must sett them up againe’. The inhabitants threatened revenge if the magistracy failed to ‘use some course for the reprovinge of their insolences’. The iconoclasts refused to give evidence before the magistrates Sir John Savage and Bishop George Lloyd. One of them, the carpenter William Dale, scornfully argued that he would give sworn testimony only ‘if they could persuade him that the takeing of an oath were to the glory of God’. When further investigation was undertaken by justices Edward Dodd and Richard Brereton, mocking rhymes were spread abroad that ‘Dodd hath noe God, and Brereton is not God’s son’.

All suits which frequent this courte are brought hither, either by some particular person complaiyning, or els by the very vigilant eye of state

[Anonymous Treatise] ‘On the Jurisdiction of the Star Chamber’, c.16001

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Notes

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Warwick, UK

    Steve Hindle (Senior Lecturer in History)

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© 2002 Steve Hindle

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Hindle, S. (2002). The Provision of Prerogative Justice. In: The State and Social Change in Early Modern England, 1550–1640. Early Modern History: Society and Culture. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230288461_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230288461_3

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4039-0046-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-230-28846-1

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