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The ears of William Prynne: Richard Hughes shows there is more of historical interest to William Prynne than his famous auditory organs.

Article Excerpt
William Prynne's ears are a topic of fascination. As a teacher and examiner of the period of Charles I's Personal Rule I know that it is rare for an essay on this period not to dwell, often for some time, on the unfortunate fate which befell Prynne's appendages. There seems to be an almost gruesome delight in detailing the mutilation of the ears, particularly with the knowledge that the atrocity was committed on two separate occasions. In addition there is some perverse humour when noting that William Prynne, vociferous opponent of long hair ('the unloveliness of love-locks' as he wrote), ended his days growing his own hair long in order to hide the unsightly scarrings that were once his ears.

Yet then, with the gruesome proceedings described and their consequences for the Personal Rule highlighted, Prynne is allowed to slip away into obscurity. In fact he lived for another 32 years and was deeply involved in the complicated events surrounding the Interregnum and Restoration. In addition, when considering the trial and punishment of William Prynne--and his fellow Puritan pamphleteers, Henry Burton and John Bastwicke--there is the presumption that here were three worthy men who became victims of the harsh and intolerant regime of the loath-some Archbishop William Laud. While it is unfitting to suggest that anyone might deserve mutilation it is true that many opportunities were provided for Prynne and his colleagues to recant and the gruesome punishment was only undertaken with the greatest reluctance.

The First Trial

William Prynne had always been a thorn in the flesh of the Laudian establishment which dominated the Church during the Personal Rule. The Laudians--the term used to describe the High Church followers of Archbishop William Laud--sought to emphasise 'the beauty of holiness' in church services, followed the teachings of the anti-Calvinist Dutch theologian Arminius, and sought to promote the position and authority of bishops. They were inevitably going to upset a Puritan and Presbyterian like...