Time traveller's guide to Stuart England
DIY politics
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.
The Levellers
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.
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The influence of the Levellers did not end with the English Civil
Wars. Check out Tony Benn's provocative article on The
legacy of the Levellers.
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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.
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