[4] He was later removed from his position as recorder because he refused the negative oath and was replaced in 1651 by Richard Haworth, a lawyer of Manchester.
Haworth was unwilling to make Chester his permanent residence and he surrendered the office to Ratcliffe in 1656.
[1] In 1659, Radcliffe became involved in the Cheshire rising led by George Booth, 1st Baron Delamer.
Ratcliffe was one of the members of the corporation opposed to the regime which colluded with Booth although he was not penalised after the surrender of the city to John Lambert.
[1] Ratcliffe held his seat until his death in 1673, and the consequent contested by election resulted in serious disorder and accidental loss of life during the poll.