Radicalism Flashcards
Outline John Milton’s work as a Seeker.
Poet-prophet, left Cambridge in 1632 to pursue the Reformation. In 1641 he produced tracts in defence of Presbyterian reform, but believed in freedom of judgement, and threatened the clerical monopoly. He divorced his royalist wife and was accused of immorality. He argued that people should have freedom to seek truth and have personal/intellectual freedom. In 1649 as Cromwell’s secretary, he supported the regicide, alongside preserving the Republic in 1659. He wanted the political structure to guarantee freedom, a Seeker.
What trials was Lilburne subject to?
Lilburne began to promote religious toleration but was imprisoned when he was accused by Presbyterians of criticising Commons speaker William Lenthall, refusing to answer questions at his trial. In 1646 he made a comment against Earl of Manchester and was sentenced to the Tower, raising the issue of freedom to a fair trial.
How did the Leveller movement start with Lilburne’s trials?
Walwyn, Overton, and Lilburne’s wife started the Leveller movement to promote freedom of trade, sovereignty, and religious liberty. There were organised marches, petitions etc. In November 1647 he was released on bail, but imprisoned again in January 1648 for supporting the Agreement of the People.
How did the Levellers end?
After Pride’s Purge and Charles’ death, the Levellers had their Agreement neglected. England’s New Chains was written and he was trialled for treason, with Lilburne, Overton, Walwyn, and Thomas Prince arrested and the Levellers finished.
Who was William Walwyn?
He had a landowner background and was apprenticed to the London Merchant Adventurers Company. As an Orthodox Calvinist, he couldn’t accept that millions were condemned to damnation and prior to 1640 became an advocate for forgiveness for all by God, promoting free speech, the right of laymen to preach, and religious toleration. Walwyn argued this should extend to protecting human rights by ending poverty, a big part of the Leveller agenda.
In 1649 with the rising at Burford and Leveller hopes ending, alongside receiving criticisms from Congressional Churches and parliamentary conservatives, he withdrew from political life, but had wide contacts within the Leveller movement.
Who was Gerrard Winstanley?
Gerrard Winstanley was a Digger. He experienced economic problems during Civil War and as an orthodox Puritan, developed religious views based on reason. The voice of God within, embraced by human souls, would allow God to be established on Earth.
How did Winstanley establish the Diggers?
In 1649 he produced a manifesto, The New Law of Freedom, with a Digger commune set in St George’s Hill, Walton, Surrey. He argued freedom would be established with reason, free from greed. He argued in freedom of land by using common land to set up the commune, but received harassment from gentry and JPs of Surrey, breaking up the commune. Later joined Quakers.
What was Richard Overton’s background?
Exiled from England, he originated from Amsterdam and from 1641 produced pamphlets condemning Laud. In 1644 he produced Man’s Mortality, a tract denying immortality of the soul which shocked Independents and Baptists. He then attacked clergy in 1645, promoting religious freedom.
How did Richard Overton become involved with the Levellers?
In contact with Walwyn and Lilburne, who used the same secret press as Overton. He worked with Walwyn to release Lilburne when he was imprisoned for his attack on the Lords, producing a petititon, A Remonstrance of Many Thousand Citizens, which demanded abolition of monarchy and a range of reforms to produce a new Parliament based on a wide franchise.
In 1649 with Leveller defeat in May, he wrote the Hunting of the Foxes which critiqued Cromwell and Ireton, leading him to the Tower. He was chiefly the propagandist of the Leveller movement.
