PRYNNE, WHAAAm (1600-69). An English political polemist and annalist. He was born near Bath, where he received his early education. afterwards proceeding to Oriel College. Oxford, where he took his bachelor's degree in 1621. He early became involved in ecclesiastical contro versy, and speedily made himself heard as a champion of the Puritan party in various pamphlets directed against Arminiauism. In 1632 appeared his Hislriomustix, or a Scourge for Stageplayers, an attack on the popular ninuscin cuts of the period, which contained pre sumedly veiled attacks on the King and Queen. He was imprisoned in the Tower, underwent prosecution in the Star Chamber, was sentenced to a fine of 15000, degradation from his degrees, and expulsion from Oxford and Lincoln's Inn, the loss of both his ears in the pillory, and to have his book burnt in public by the hangman. He was also condemned to perpetual imprison ment, and was reimprisoned in the Tower. Three years after, he found means to publish from his prison another pamphlet, in which he fiercely attacked the hierarchy, and was unsparing in his abuse of Laud and other bishops. this he was again prosecuted, another fine of £5000 was imposed, lie was again pilloried, losing such stumps of ears as the executioner had before spared, and was branded on both cheeks with the letters S.L.—seditious libeler—which he in geniously interpreted as 'stigmata Landis.' Ile remained a close prisoner till in 1640—the Long Parliament then was released by a warrant of the House of Commons, and was received in London with load expressions of popular sympathy. Shortly afterwards he went
to Parliainent as member for Newport, Cornwall, and in 1647 was elected recorder of Bath. For some years he was actively and at times promi nently engaged on the popular side in the pro ceedings of the House of Commons. In the extreme measures, however, leading to the deposition and death of the King. lie declined all share; and being one of those \Idiom Cromwell shortly after expelled from the House of Com mons, he proceeded to assail him in print with an asperity espial to that with which he had before made war upon the bishops. in return being subjected to several years' imprison ment. Cromwell's death he returned to his place in Parliament, zealously interesting him self in the royal cause; after the Restoration, the olliee was bestowed on hint of keeper of the records in the Tower, in the words of Charles 11., "to keep busy Mr. Prynne quiet." His passion for pamphleteering, however, again in volved him in difficulties with the 11 ouse of • Coinmons, from which, on a charge of seditious libel, lie escaped expulsion only by confession of error and recantation. Henceforth he busied himself chiefly as a eompiler of matter illus trative of constitutional and Parliamentary his tory. Of his works, which comprise nearly two hundred volmnes, the most valuable are the Calendar of Parliamentary Writs. and his Rec 0re1.1. He died at Lincoln's Inn, October 24, 1669.