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On 28 October 1647, during the Putney Debates – in which common soldiers take on the autocratic generals and argue in favour of greater democracy – the debate is suddenly enlivened when a cavalry trooper disagrees with Oliver Cromwell, leader of the army. This incident is an eloquent example of how the Civil Wars give the 'common people' the chance to make their voices heard. Typical of the 17th century is the fact that, although the debate is recorded by a scribe, the trooper is simply called 'Bedfordshire Man'. His accent is recognisable, but no one knows his name. Silent majority During most of the century, ordinary people are excluded from politics. It is the king who decides when to call Parliament and sometimes there is no Parliament for ages – as when Charles I rules alone for 11 years from 1629 to 1640. Elections are decided by small electorates of property owners, and power is wielded by local lords and the county gentry. However, the upheaval of the Civil Wars provides lots of opportunities for radical politics. World turned upside down During the Civil Wars, politics takes many forms. The radical Puritans do not just preach against the worship of images – they destroy them. For example, William Dowsing rides from one East Anglian church to another, smashing 'popish' images. According to his journal, he 'cleanses' 250 churches between December 1643 and October 1644. Other radicals combine secular demands with religious belief. The most important group are the Levellers, led by John Lilburne, Richard Overton and William Walwyn. The Levellers, who believe that all men are equal, want the creation of a republican constitution and a biennial Parliament chosen by almost universal manhood suffrage – women are excluded (see Sex and sleaze). You may come across some of their many pamphlets, or even their Agreement of the People, a manifesto issued in 1647 and debated at Putney, where their ideas are firmly rejected by Oliver Cromwell and Henry Ireton. You can support the Levellers by writing your own pamphlet, by signing
their petitions or by joining their demonstrations. But beware of Levellers
who stir up soldiers in the army – when they mutinied in 1649, Cromwell
had the ring leaders shot.
The Diggers Even more radical are the Diggers, led by the bearded, hippie-like Gerrard Winstanley. In 1649, they occupy St George's Hill in Surrey, dig it up for cultivation and denounce private property. Because they are pacifists, they are often bullied by the authorities. It may be hard to support them without actually joining one of their communes, which may be difficult to locate since they move around a lot. Masterless men At this time, there are also many rumours of extreme religious sects that practise the common ownership of women and property – it's best to take these stories with a pinch of salt. You may bump into Ranters who rage and roar a lot, or spend hours in a stupor after smoking tobacco and drinking heavily. The Fifth Monarchy Men believe that the second coming of Jesus Christ is immanent. If you like going naked, join the Adamists who reckon nudity is godly. More seriously, these times offer unprecedented opportunities for women to make their own voices heard. One tactic is to gather around the Houses of Parliament clamouring for bread; another is to organise petitions and marches through London. Sheep and goats When Charles II is restored to the throne, he finds a country where consensus on religious matters is non-existent and parliamentary support is indispensable for the pursuit of any kind of foreign policy. This support can only be obtained by giving MPs a powerful voice and increasing influence. The Exclusion Crisis of 1679–81 – when attempts are made in Parliament to pass laws preventing the Duke of York (the future James II) from becoming king – separates the sheep from the goats. For the first time, Parliament sees the emergence of organised political parties: the pro-James Tories and the anti-James Whigs. The Tories are caricatured as 'backwoods squires' and the Whigs as speculators and profiteers. Some Whigs become alienated by the most influential members of the party – known collectively as the 'Junto' – because of the latter's unwavering support for the War of the Spanish Succession. As a result, a number of those disaffected, among them Robert Harley, leave to form the New Tory Party. Queen Anne's reign is marked by the 'rage of party', as the partisan struggle between Whigs and Tories is known. However, she does not expect her government to become 'owned' by any one party, but relies on court-oriented ministers from both sides to manage Parliament. |
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