Magnificent Titles, Ranters and Hell Breaking Loose (England, 1650)

JF Ptak Science Books LLC  Post 946

Ranters, Diggers, Manifestarians, Puritans, Muggletonians, Shakers, Quakers, Levellers, Seekers…terrific names all for religious or religioesque movements, most now gone, though it seems that of the most-gone the Ranters are probably the most-goned gone--which must’ve been a function of their unstated aims of not having a particular course of action.  As an anti-movement their movement was tautologically doomed, as they flourished for only a decade or so, sandwiched into the very full mid-17^th century. 

{The image above is an illustration from the book, Hell Broke Loose... below. It also is a pretty tame version of other images that show more nudity/drinking/sexual activities.]

Ranters were an English Free Spirited heretical group of wide interpretation of social and moral value. Their questioning of the potency of the man’s fall doctrine steamed together with a quasi-semi-millenialism evidently led to an alehouse-based loosening of socially governed restraints. According to the many People magazine-like pamphlets and soft porn reporting, their activities made for sugary eating by the bawdy-eyed ha’penny people buying gossip in cheaply printed formats.   Free of Sin and Law, the Ranter celebrations were soaked in alcohol and nudity, which are ripe pluckings for any non-serious journalist, then or now.

Judging from the list of publications (listed below in the "Continued Reading" section) there must've been a very immediate lusty interest in the Ranters' lustily interesting ways.  I've written this post for the simple interest in one particular, extraordinary title: [with apologies for the underlining, but I cannot convince the Typepad gods to remove it.]

Hell broke loose: or, the notorious design of the wicked Ranters, discovered on Sunday last at Black-Fryers Being a true relation of the strange proceedings of Mr. Vaughan, and his wicked proselytes; and their entring of Black-Fryers church in sermon time, like so many spirits from hell, with four damnable papers in the hands, containing such horrible, audacious, and abominable songs, the like not to be parallel'd in former ages. With the manner how this onsolent Ranter traced the streets from Black-Fryers to Saint Paul's Church-yard, in his Holland shirt, without doublet or breeches, a treble cap, like the Pope's miter, with silk fring, and white shooes, and stockings. With their damnable plots, and conspiracies against the ministers of the gospel: their examination before the right honourable the Lord Mayor of London; the sad and woful speeched, made by the ringleader of the Ranters, concerning the city magistrates, and golden chains: and the committing of them to Bridewell till the next sessions. 1650

See?  That's just fabulous, and represents a Title Page Extravaganza that seems to be a 17th century feature--including as much as humanly possible on a title-page.  As does this book, with all manner of detail in the title, not the least of which is the description of a man running around with no pants but with a Pope's mitre and white shoes and socks.

The 17th century "Hell Broke Loose" extended-title (but non-Ranter) category has a number of other entries in it, too, for published books, including the following lovilies:

Hell broke-loose; upon Doctor S--ch--ve--l's sermons or, Don Quevedo's vision, of an infernal cabal of Whiggish papists and popish Whigs in Utopia; upon a mock-tryal of the doctor. Translated from the original; by Jack the Spaniard.  1713

Hell broke loose, or, An answer to the late bloody and rebellious declaration of the phanatiques, entituled A door of hope, &c. wherein their horrible conspiracy against our gracious soveraign, and the city of London, in their late rebellion is discovered : together with a brief view of our lives, manners and malice of those desperate and unparallel'd traytors. 1661

 Hell broke loose : or an history of the Quakers both old and new. Setting forth many of their opinions and practices, published to antidote Christians against formality in religion and apostasie 1660

Some of the other big-title Ranter titles from this time include the following:

The Ranters creed being a true copie of the examinations of a blasphemous sort of people, commonly called ranters, whose names are herein particularised, together with the name of their pretended God almighty, and their false prophet : taken before Thomas Hubbert Esquire ... with a declaration of their fantastic gestures and deportments as they were coming before him, and in his presence : and now committed to the New Prison at Clarkenwell., 1651

The great mistery of the great whore unfolded, and antichrists kingdom revealed unto destruction in answer to many false doctrines and principles which Babylons merchants have traded with, being held forth by the professed ministers, and teachers, and professors in England, Ireland, and Scotland, taken under their owne hands, and from their owne mouths, sent forth by them from time to time, against the despised people of the Lord called Quakers, who are of the seed of that woman, who hath been long fled into wildernes ... in this answer to the multitude of doctrines held forth by the many false sects, which have lost the key of knowledge, and been on foot since the apostles dayes, called Anabaptists, Independents, Presbyters, Ranters, and many others, who out of their own mouths have manifested themselves not to be of a true descent from the true Christian Churches : but it's discovered that they have been all made drunk with the wine of fornication received from the whore which hath sitten upon the beast, after whom the world hath wondred /  1661

The Ranters reasons resolved to nothing. Or, the fustification instead of the justification of the Mad Crew Being, a serious answer returned to one who in his letter desired an unlawfull and wicked book to be sent unto him, call'd the Justification of the Mad Crew. Instead of vvhich, the author of this letter sent him the Act of Parliament made against the Ranters; and did also both justifie their way, and ingratefully asperse some, who in Christian love would have reduced them to the life and truth of Christianity. Wherein the people called by themselves god and by some others, the Gods of Godmanchester, may, as in a glasse, behold, that they are a deluded and defiled people, if not incarnate Devils.  1651

Notes:

Ranter Literature, 1640’s through the 1770’s, though the vast majority appear in the 1640-1670 period, as there must’ve been quite a lusty interest in their lustily interesting ways:

 [Anon.] The Arraignment and Tryall with a Declaration of the Ranters also, ... (1650)

[Anon.] A Justification of the Mad Crew in their waies and principles, or, The Madness and Weakness of God in Man ... (1650)

[Anon.] The Ranters Declaration with Their new Oath and Protestation; ... (1650)

[Anon.] The Ranters Ranting: or, A true Relations of a sort of People called Ranters, ... (1650)

[Anon.] The Ranters Religion, or, A faithfull and infallible Narrative oftheir damnable and diobolical opinions, ... (1650)

[Anon.] The Rovting of the Ranters being a full relation of their uncivil carriages, and blasphemous words and actions at their mad meetings, ... (1650)

[Anon.] Hell broke loose, or, the notorious design of the wicked Ranters, discovered on Sunday last at Black-Freyers. [1651]  

[Anon.] The Ranters creed being a true copie of the examinations of a blasphemous sort of people, commonly called ranters, whose names are herein particularised, together with the name of their pretended Gold almighty, and their false prophet ... (1651)

[Anon.] The Ranters reasons resolved to nothing, or, The fustification instread of the justification of the mad crew... (1651)

[Anon.] Strange Nevves fron Newgate and the Old-Baily: The Proofs, Examinations, Declarations, Indictments, Convictions, and confessions of I. Collins, and T. Reeve, two of the Ranters taken in More-lane, ... (1651) [British Library: E.622 (3)] [Thomason Tracts; 95:E.622(3)] [Wing (2nd ed.) S5897] [ESTCR206429]

[Anon.] Strange news from Newgate, or, A relation how the ghost of Colledge the Protestant-joyner appeared to Hone the joyner since his condemnation being a account of the whole discourse that past between them (1683) [EEb, 1641-1700; 802:22] [Wing S5898]

[Anon.] The Ranters Monster: Being a true Relation of one Mary Adams, living at Tillingham in Essex, who named herself herself the Virgin Mary(1652)

[Anon.] St. Mary, Whitehapel. May 19, 1788. Sir, you are most earnestly requested to attend the church to-morrow morning, to elect and chuse forty trustees for the year ensuing; and to consider of a proper mode of turning out all atheists, diests, Wesleys, Methodists, free-thinkers, Quakers, ... ranters, bawlers, canters, ... [1788]

Barclay, Robert, 1648-1690. The anarchy of the ranters, and other libertines, ... (1717) and other editions in 1726, 1733, 1757, 1770, 1771, 1790

Bauthumley, Jacob. The Light and Dark Sides of God, Or a plain and brief DISCOURSE, or ... (1650)

Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691. Plain Scripture Proof of Infant Church Membership (1653)

Burthall, Raunce. An old bridle for a vvilde asse-colt.

Clarkson, Laurence, 1615-1667. A Single Eye All Light, no Darkness; or Light and Darkness One ... (1650)

______. The Lost Sheep Found; or, The Prodigal returns to the Fathers house, after many a sad and weary Journey through many Religious Countreys, ... (1660)

Coppe, Abiezer, 1619-1672. Some Sweet Sips of Some Spirituall Wine, sweetly and freely dropping from one cluster of Grapes, brought between two upon a Staffe from Spiritual Canaan (the Land of the Living; (the Living Lord.) ... (1649

______. A fiery Flying Roll, a Word from the Lord to all the Great Ones of the Earth, whom this may concerne: Being the last Warning Piece at the dreadfull day of Judgement. ...(1649)

______. A Second Fiery Flying Roule: to All the Inhabitants of the earth, specially to the rich ones. ... (1649)

______. A Remonstrance of The sincere and Zealous Prostestations of Abiezer Coppe, Against the Blasphemous and execrable opinions recited in the Act of Aug. 10. 1650. ... (1651)

______. Copp's Return to the wayes of Truth: ... (1651)

______. To the Supream Power, the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England And to the Right Honorable the Council of State, appointed by their Authority (1651)  

______. Truth asserted against, and Triumphing over Error. (1651)

Coppin, Richard, fl. 1646-1659. Truth's testimony, and a testimony of truths appearing, in power, life, light and glory, ... (1655)

______. A blow at the serpent; or a gentle answer from Maidstone Prison to appease wrath, advancing itself against truth and peace at Rochester. ... (1656)

______. The adventure of all things in Christ, and of Christ in all things. ... [1763]

Downam, John. A Blow at the Root, Or, some OBSERVATIONS towards A Discovery of the Subtitles and Devices of Satan, practiced against the Church and Truth of CHRIST, as In all Ages, so in these times especially. (1650)

Dornford. Robert. Gospel-light, and gospel-life, in the saints conversaation. ... A discovery of some ranters lartely brought to trial in London, with their examnations. A word to all men in power. (1652

Farnworth, Richard, d. 1666. The ranters principles & deceits discovered and declared against, denied and disowned by us whom the world cals Quakers (1655)

[Hall, George, 1612?-1668]. The Declaration of John Robins, the false Prophet, otherwise clled the Skakers God, and Joshua Beck, and John King, the two false disciples, with the rest of their Fellow-Creatures now prisoners in the New-prison at Clarkenwell: ... (1651)

______ and Digby. Kenelm, Sir, 1603-1665. The black and terrible vvarning piece, or, a scourge to Englands rebellion. ... the dangerous proceedings of the ranters ... (1653)

Hickcock, Richard. A Testimony against the People call'd Ranters and their Pleads and their pleads and a call or invitation of them to return to the Lord again (1659)

Holland, John. Smoke of the Bottomlesse Pit or, A More true and fuller Discovery of the Doctrine of those men which call themselves Ranters: or, The Mad Crew (1651)

Hyde, Edward,1607-1659. A Wonder and yet no Wonder: a great Red Dragon in Heaven (1651)

Reading, John, 1588-1667. The Ranters ranting: with the apprehending, examinations, and confession of Iohn Collins, I. Shakespear, Tho. Wiberton, and five more which are to answer the next sessions. (1650)

Reeve, John, 1608-1658. The prophet Reeve's epistle to his friend, discovering the dark light of the Quakers, written in the year 1654. September the 20th. 1660?

Roulston, Gilbert. Ranters Bible, or, Seven several Religions by them held and maintained, with the full particulars of their strange Sects and Societies; ... (1650)

Salmon, Joseph. Antichrist in man, or A discovery of the great whore that sits upon many waters. ... (1647) and again in 1648 and 1649

_____. Divinity anatomized. Or, Truth nakely appearing out of its fleshly cloathing, and creature attire. (1649)

______. A Rout, A Rout, Or some part of the Armies Quarters Beaten Up, By the DAY of the Lord Stealing upon them. (1649)

______. Heights in Depths and Depths in Heights or Truth no less Secretly then Sweetly sparkling out its GLORY from under a Cloud of OBLOQUIE, ,,, (1651)

Sheppard, S[amuel]. The Joviall Crevv, or, The Devill turn'd RANTER: Being a Character of The roaring Ranters of these Times. Represented in a COMEDIE containing A true Discovery of the cursed Conversations, ... (1651)

Stokes, Edward. The VViltshire Rant; or A narrative wherein the most unparallel'd prophane acting, counterfeit repentings, nd evil speaking of Thomas Webbe late pretended minister of Langley Buriall, ... (1652)

Tany, Thomas, fl. 1649-1655. My edict royal [1655?]

Taylor, John, 1580-1653. Ranters of both Sexes male and female being thirteen or more, taken and imprisoned in the gate-house at Westminster, and in the new-prison at Clerken Well. Wherein John Robins doth declare himself to be the great God of Heaven, and the great deliverer, ... (1651)

Tilbury, Samuel, fl. 1650-61. Bloudy Newse from the North, and The Rantering Adamites Declaration concerning the King of Scotland, with their new League, Covenant, and Protestation; ... (1650)

Webbe, Thomas. Mr. Edwards pen no slander; or, the Gangraena once more searched: ... (1646)