541 lines
19 KiB
Plaintext
541 lines
19 KiB
Plaintext
THE LEVELLERS:
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A CHRONOLOGY AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
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By Roderick Moore
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The members of the political movement known to history as the Levellers
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were active for four years in the 1640s, during the English Civil War.
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They were far ahead of their time in their political thinking, and they
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may justly be called the first libertarians in the world. There is an
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extensive literature about them, but most of it has been written by
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socialists, and some of the most highly regarded authorities are
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Marxists, so the reader can easily gain a false impression of what the
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movement stood for.
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This Study Guide is designed to direct students of history to the most
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reliable sources of information on the Levellers, and also to indicate
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where some of the Levellers' own writings can be found reprinted, so
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that they can be judged by their own words rather than by the
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distortions of socialist historians. At a time when our national
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independence is threatened by the advance of federalism, it is more
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important than ever for us to be conscious of our political heritage,
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and the Levellers are a crucial part of this heritage which should not
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be neglected.
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Study Guide No. 4
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ISSN 0267-7180 ISBN 1 85637 256 1
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An occasional publication of the Libertarian Alliance,
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25 Chapter Chambers, Esterbrooke Street, London SW1P 4NN.
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(c) 1994: Libertarian Alliance; Roderick Moore.
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Roderick Moore is an information scientist. He has a BA in Geography
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>from Newcastle University, and a postgraduate diploma in Information and
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Library Studies from Liverpool Polytechnic.
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The views expressed in this publication are those of its author, and not
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necessarily those of the Libertarian Alliance, its Committee, Advisory
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Council or subscribers.
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LA Director: Chris R. Tame
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Editorial Director: Brian Micklethwait
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FOR LIFE, LIBERTY AND PROPERTY
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***********************************************************************
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A CHRONOLOGY OF THE LEVELLER MOVEMENT
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April 1645
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John Lilburne, a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Parliamentarian Army, resigns
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his commission on grounds of conscience. All officers are being
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required to sign the Solemn League and Covenant, which implies support
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for Presbyterianism, but Lilburne is an Independent (i.e. a
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Congregationalist). In London Lilburne starts to gather a group of
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friends and supporters around him, including William Walwyn and Richard
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Overton.
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July 1645
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Lilburne arrested and imprisoned for slandering William Lenthall, the
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Speaker of the House of Commons, whom he accuses of corresponding with
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Royalists.
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October 1645
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Lilburne released after petition to House of Commons by over two
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thousand leading London citizens.
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June 1646
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Lilburne arrested and imprisoned for slandering the Earl of Manchester,
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whom he accuses of protecting an officer who has been charged with
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treason.
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July 1646
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Oxford surrenders. End of the first phase of the Civil War, except for
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a few isolated Royalist garrisons.
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August 1646
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Overton arrested and imprisoned for printing without a licence.
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March 1647
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Harlech Castle surrenders. End of the first phase of the Civil War.
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Discontent spreads through the Parliamentarian Army about pay arrears,
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lack of indemnity for wartime acts and arrangements for drafting to
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Ireland.
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April 1647
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Soldiers in contact with Lilburne's movement start electing "Agitators"
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(delegates) to take their grievances to Parliament.
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May 1647
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Under pressure from Agitators, who threaten mutiny, Sir Thomas Fairfax
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(commander-in-chief) agrees to call a rally of the whole Army to plan
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action.
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June 1647
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Agitators take Charles I into their own custody so that Parliament
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cannot negotiate a separate deal with him. Cornet George Joyce leads a
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force which brings the King from Holmby House (Northamptonshire) to
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Newmarket.
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Rally of the Army on Newmarket Heath. Soldiers defy Parliament by
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refusing to disband until grievances redressed. General Council of the
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Army is formed, representing officers and men.
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Second rally on Triploe Heath (Cambridgeshire). General Council adopts
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a political program incorporating some ideas from Lilburne's movement.
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July 1647
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Mob incited by Presbyterians (the most conservative Parliamentar- ian
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faction) invades Parliament and forces it to pass motions taking control
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of the London militia (a potential rival army) and inviting the King to
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London for talks.
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August 1647
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Army marches into London and occupies it without bloodshed.
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Parliament reverses motions passed under duress.
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September 1647
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Overton released from jail.
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October 1647
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Agitators from five regiments present "The Case of the Army Truly
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Stated" to Fairfax as a manifesto. The Putney Debates (28th October -
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11th November). General Council considers the first Agreement of the
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People, a proposed new constitution based on "The Case of the Army". A
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split appears between Lilburne's movement and the senior officers, known
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as "Grandees". Lilburne's supporters are nicknamed "Levellers" for the
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first time by Grandee spokesmen Oliver Cromwell (second-in-command) and
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Henry Ireton. Colonel Thomas Rainsborough (M.P. for Droitwich) emerges
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as the highest-ranking Leveller sympathiser in the Army. Other Leveller
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spokesmen are Agitators Edward Sexby and William Allen, and civilians
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John Wildman and Maximilian Petty.
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November 1647
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Attempted mutiny by Leveller soldiers at Corkbush Field, near Ware
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(Hertfordshire). Called off after an appeal by Fairfax and Cromwell.
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One soldier executed. A serious setback for the movement.
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March 1648
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Governor of Pembroke Castle declares support for the King. Start of the
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second phase of the Civil War.
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July 1648
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"The Moderate", a Leveller weekly newspaper, starts publication.
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Gilbert Mabbott editor.
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August 1648
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Lilburne released from jail after petition to House of Commons by
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supporters.
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October 1648
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Cromwell enters Edinburgh. End of the second phase of the Civil War,
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except for isolated Royalist garrisons in Yorkshire.
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Rainsborough killed by Royalist raiding party at Doncaster.
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November 1648
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Cromwell worried about the strength of the Presbyterians in Parliament,
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who still want a compromise with the King. Invites Levellers to meet
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Grandees for new talks about a constitutional settlement.
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December 1648
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Pride's Purge. Colonel Thomas Pride bars Presbyterian M.P.s from House
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of Commons. Balance of power tilts towards Grandees.
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The Whitehall Debates (14th December - 13th January). Levellers present
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the second Agreement of the People to the General Council of Officers,
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which rejects it because of proposals for religious toleration.
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January 1649
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Charles I tried and executed for treason against the people.
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February 1649
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House of Commons votes to abolish monarchy and House of Lords, and
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appoints Council of State as executive authority.
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Leveller activity in Army intensifies. Grandees ban petitions to
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Parliament by soldiers.
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Lilburne writes "England's New Chains Discovered", condemning Grandees
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and Council of State for exercising arbitrary power.
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March 1649
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Eight Leveller troopers go to Fairfax and demand the restoration of the
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right to petition. Five of them are cashiered.
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Lilburne writes "The Second Part of England's New Chains Discovered",
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repeating his attacks.
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Pontefract Castle surrenders. End of the second phase of the Civil War.
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Lilburne, Walwyn, Overton and Thomas Prince (Leveller treasurer)
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arrested for treason by order of the Council of State.
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April 1649
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Mutiny by Leveller soldiers in London, led by Robert Lockyer. Mutineers
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surrender after a personal appeal by Fairfax and Cromwell. Lockyer
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executed.
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May 1649
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Mutinies by Leveller soldiers in Salisbury, Aylesbury and Banbury.
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Mutineers from Salisbury and Aylesbury join forces near Abingdon and
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head west. Fairfax and Cromwell lead a flying column from London which
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overtakes and defeats the rebels at Burford (Oxfordshire). Three
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soldiers executed.
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Mutineers from Banbury (a much smaller group) defeated at
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Wellingborough.
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September 1649
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Mutiny by Leveller soldiers in Oxford. Officers of the regiment restore
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order. Two soldiers executed. "The Moderate" ceases publication.
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October 1649
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Lilburne tried for treason and acquitted.
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November 1649
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Lilburne, Walwyn, Overton and Prince released from jail.
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End of the Levellers as an organised movement.
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***********************************************************************
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BOOKS ABOUT THE LEVELLERS
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AYLMER, G.E. (ed.)
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The Levellers in the English Revolution
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Thames and Hudson, London, 1975
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Contains 12 Leveller pamphlets and petitions (some of them abridged),
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extracts from the Putney and Whitehall Debates, and a 47-page historical
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Introduction. A very useful introductory work, giving a well-balanced
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account of the movement.
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BRAILSFORD, H.N.
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The Levellers and the English Revolution
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Spokesman, Nottingham, 1976 (first published 1961)
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The most comprehensive history of the Levellers. Unfortunately the
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author was a Marxist. Provides some important pieces of information
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which cannot be found in any of the other sources listed here, but it is
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constantly necessary to make allowances for Brailsford's political
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views, which intrude throughout. A book which should be treated with
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caution, especially regarding William Walwyn, whom the author tries to
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turn into a socialist by bending the evidence.
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FRANK, Joseph
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The Levellers
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Russell and Russell, New York, 1969 (first published 1955)
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Traces the history of the Levellers through the writings of John
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Lilburne, William Walwyn and Richard Overton. An objective and
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comprehensive account of the development of their ideas. Sometimes
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rather sketchy about background events, but still highly recommendable.
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GREGG, Pauline
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Free-Born John
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Dent, London, 1986 (first published 1961)
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A comprehensive biography of John Lilburne (1615-1657), the leader of
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the Levellers. Factual and very informative. The author's socialist
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views only show through in one or two places, mainly in the last
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chapter.
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HALLER, William, and DAVIES, Godfrey (eds.)
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The Leveller Tracts, 1647-1653
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Peter Smith., Gloucester (Massachusetts), 1964 (first published 1944)
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Contains 17 pamphlets and petitions by or about the Levellers, and a
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50-page historical Introduction. Useful and informative.
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MACMICHAEL, Jack R., and TAFT, Barbara (eds.)
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The Writings of William Walwyn
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University of Georgia Press, Athens (Georgia), 1989. William Walwyn
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(1600-1680) was the theorist of the Leveller movement, while John
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Lilburne was the man of action. This book contains 31 pamphlets by
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Walwyn on politics, religion and medicine, along with a 51-page
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biographical Introduction. An insight into the mind of a truly
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compassionate man.
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MORTON, A.L. (ed.)
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Freedom in Arms
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Lawrence and Wishart, London, 1975
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Contains 19 Leveller pamphlets and letters. Also includes a 59 page
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historical Introduction, which reflects the author's Marxist views in
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places, but is still quite informative.
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SHAW, Howard
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The Levellers
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Longmans, London, 1968
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A concise history of the movement and its religious, political and
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economic background. A good introductory work, generally fair and
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balanced, although in a few places the author seems to have relied on
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socialist sources.
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WOLFE, Don M. (ed.)
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Leveller Manifestoes of the Puritan Revolution
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Humanities Press, New York, 1967 (first published 1944)
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Contains 20 pamphlets and petitions by the Levellers, about them or
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relevant to them. Also includes an Introduction extending to 108 pages
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which gives a fair and well-balanced account of the movement's history.
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Shorter Works About the Levellers
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ELLIOTT, Nick
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"The Levellers - Britain's First Libertarians?"
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In: "Economic Affairs" 9(1), October/November 1988, pp. 33-35.
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HOILE, David
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The Levellers: Libertarian Radicalism and the English Civil War.
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Libertarian Heritage No. 5, Libertarian Alliance, London, 1992
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The only works published in Britain in recent years which deal with the
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Levellers from an explicitly libertarian point of view. Both well worth
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reading.
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THE LEVELLER DOCUMENTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM
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England's Birthright Justified
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John Lilburne
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October 1645
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Defends the rule of law against arbitrary power. Argues that
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Parliament's own power must be limited by law to protect individual
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rights. Attacks the monopolies of preaching (the established Church),
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the wool trade (the Merchant Adventurers) and printing (the Stationers'
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Company).
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Reprinted in: Aylmer 1975, pp. 56-62 (abridged).
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England's Lamentable Slavery
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Anon. - attributed to William Walwyn
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October 1645
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Takes the form of an open letter to Lilburne. Praises his stand against
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the arbitrary power of Parliament, but warns him that the Magna Carta to
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which he appeals is only a part of the people's rights.
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Reprinted in: Aylmer 1975, pp. 63-67 (abridged);
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MacMichael and Taft 1989, pp. 143-153.
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A Remonstrance of Many Thousand Citizens
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Anon. - possibly a joint work by Richard Overton and William Walwyn
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July 1646
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Argues that Parliament should be accountable to the people as an agent
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to a principal. Attacks the practice of imprisonment for debt and calls
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for religious toleration and freedom of the press.
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Reprinted in: MacMichael and Taft 1989, pp. 223-226 (extracts);
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Wolfe 1944, pp. 109-130.
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A Demur to the Bill for Preventing the Growth and Spreading of Heresy
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Anon. - attributed to William Walwyn
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October 1646
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A plea for free speech and freedom of conscience in matters of religion.
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Argues that truth should be allowed to defeat error in an open debate.
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Reprinted in: MacMichael and Taft 1989, pp. 236-244.
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An Arrow Against All Tyrants
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Richard Overton
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October 1646
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Puts forward a natural rights argument for the freedom of the
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individual. Reprinted in: Aylmer 1975, pp. 69-70 (abridged).
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The "Large Petition"
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March 1647
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Presented by Lilburne's London supporters to Parliament, which ordered
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it to be burned as seditious. Calls for religious freedom, the
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abolition of tithes, the dissolution of the Merchant Adventur- ers, the
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translation of all laws into English, the abolition of compulsory
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self-incrimination in court and the humane treatment of criminals.
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Reprinted in: Aylmer 1975, pp. 75-81;
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Morton 1975, pp. 87-99;
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Wolfe 1944, pp. 131-141.
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An Appeal From the Degenerate Representative Body
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Richard Overton
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July 1647
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Attacks Parliament for acting tyrannically and betraying the trust
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placed in it by the people. Argues that reason is the basis of all law.
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Reprinted in: Aylmer 1975, pp. 82-87 (extracts);
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Wolfe 1944, pp. 154-195.
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The Case of the Army Truly Stated
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October 1647
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The Agitators' manifesto. Deals largely with soldiers' grievances, but
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also includes political proposals such as biennial elections to
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Parliament with votes for "all the freeborn", as well as the abolition
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of monopolies, religious freedom and other points repeated from the
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Large Petition.
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Reprinted in: Haller and Davies 1944, pp. 64-87;
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Wolfe 1944, pp. 196-222.
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An Agreement of the People for a Firm and Present Peace
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(The first "Agreement of the People")
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October 1647
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Proposes biennial elections to Parliament and electoral districts with
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equal numbers of inhabitants (implying votes for all men). Matters to
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be "reserved by the represented to themselves" as basic rights which
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Parliament may not violate include religious freedom, a ban on
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conscription and strict equality under the law.
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Reprinted in,: Aylmer 1975, pp. 88-96;
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Morton 1975, pp. 135-149;
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Wolfe 1944, pp. 223-234.
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Petition
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January 1648
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Circulated for signature but never formally presented to Parliament.
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Attacks corruption and calls for all government officials to be held
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accountable to the people through Parliament. Accepts a compromise on
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voting rights proposed by the Grandees at Putney, under which servants
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and beggars would have had no votes.
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Reprinted in: Wolfe 1944, pp. 259-272.
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Petition
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September 1648
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Presented to Parliament by the London Levellers. Urges Parliament not
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to sign a treaty with the King, and calls for enclosures of common land
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to be reversed or carried out only or mainly for the benefit of the
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poor. Also calls on Parliament not to abolish private property or
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equalise wealth by force, thus repudiating an allegation against the
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Levellers which their opponents had started to make.
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Reprinted in Aylmer 1975, pp. 131-138;
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Haller and Davies 1944,pp. 147-155;
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Morton 1975, pp. 181-194;
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Wolfe 1944, pp. 279-290.
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Foundations of Freedom, or an Agreement of the People
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(The second "Agreement of the People")
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December 1648
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Puts forward detailed proposals for the election of a new Parliament,
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with votes for all except servants and beggars. Lists eight matters to
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be "reserved from the power of the people's representatives", including
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a ban on forcible equalisation of wealth. Presents a list of grievances
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to be redressed, urging Parliament to abolish base tenures as well as
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repeating earlier demands.
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Reprinted in: Wolfe 1944, pp. 291-303.
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No Papist Nor Presbyterian
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Anon.
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December 1648
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Argues for the extension of religious freedom to Roman Catholics.
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Reprinted in: Wolfe 1944, pp. 304-310.
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England's New Chains Discovered
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John Lilburne
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February 1649
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Denounces the new political system for failing to fulfil the Levellers'
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hopes.
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Reprinted in: Aylmer 1975, pp. 142-148 (abridged);
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Haller and Davies 1944, pp. 156-170.
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The Second Part of England's New Chains Discovered
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John Lilburne
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March 1649
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The pamphlet which led to the arrest of the four Leveller leaders for
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treason.
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Reprinted in: Haller and Davies 1944, pp. 171-189.
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A Manifestation
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John Lilburne, William Walwyn, Thomas Prince and Richard Overton
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April 1649
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Written to refute the smears and abuse circulated by the authors'
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political opponents, who were accusimg them of anarchism and atheism as
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well as seeking to equalise wealth by force.
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Reprinted in: Aylmer 1975, pp. 150-158;
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Haller and Davies 1944, pp. 276-284;
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MacMichael and Taft 1989, pp. 334-343;
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Morton 1975, pp. 245-259.
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An Agreement of the Free People of England
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(The third "Agreement of the People")
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May 1649
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The Levellers' final constitutional program, written in the Tower of
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London as "a peace-offering to this distressed nation". Proposes annual
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elections to Parliament, with servants and beggars excluded from the
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franchise, and lists a large number of basic rights which Parliament is
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not to be empowered to infringe.
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Reprinted in: Aylmer 1975, pp. 159-168;
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Haller and Davies 1944, pp. 318-328;
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MacMichael and Taft 1989, pp. 344-347 (introduction only);
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Morton 1975, pp. 161-277; Wolfe 1944, pp. 397-410.
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Walwyn's Just Defence
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William Walwyn
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"Circa" June 1649
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A reply to "Walwyn's Wiles", a pamphlet signed by seven opponents and
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published in May 1649, which portrayed Walwyn as an unprincipled and
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Machiavellian figure.
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Reprinted in: Haller and Davies 1944, pp. 350-398;
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MacMichael and Taft 1989, pp. 383-432.
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Juries Justified
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|
William Walwyn
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December 1651
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A defence of trial by jury. Argues that conscience is the most
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important quality in a juror, and ordinary people's consciences are as
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|
good as anyone's.
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|
Reprinted in MacMichael and Taft 1989, pp. 433-445.
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For a Free Trade
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|
William Walwyn
|
|
May 1652
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|
Written in an unsuccessful attempt to persuade the Council of State to
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|
abolish the Levant Company's mononoly of trade with the Middle East.
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|
Appeals to the common law, and also anticipates some of Adam Smith's
|
|
arguments by over a century.
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Reprinted in: MacMichael and Taft 1989, pp. 446-452.
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--
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Ian Geldard
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|
The Libertarian Alliance
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London, UK.
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