Document I

The Agreement of the People, drawn up by the Levellers in 1647

An Agreement of the People for a firm and present peace upon grounds of common
right.

Having by our late labours and hazards made it appear to the world at how high a rate
we value our just freedom, and God having so far owned our cause as to deliver the
enemies thereof into our hands, we do now hold ourselves bound in mutual duty to
each other to take the best care we can for the future to avoid both the danger of
returning into a slavish condition and the chargeable remedy of another war; for, as it
cannot be imagined that so many of our countrymen would have opposed us in this
quarrel if they had understood their own good, so may we safely promise to ourselves
that, when our common rights and liberties shall be cleared, their endeavours will be
disappointed that seek to make themselves our masters. Since, therefore, our former
oppressions and scarce-yet-ended troubles have been occasioned, either by want of
frequent national meetings in Council, or by rendering those meetings ineffectual, we
are fully agreed and resolved to provide that hereafter our representatives be neither
left to an uncertainty for the time nor made useless to the ends for which they are
intended. In order whereunto we declare: —

That the people of England, being at this day very unequally distributed by Counties,
Cities, and Boroughs for the election of their deputies in Parliament, ought to be more
indifferently proportioned according to the number of the inhabitants; the
circumstances whereof for number, place, and manner are to be set down before the
end of this present Parliament.

II.

That, to prevent the many inconveniences apparently arising from the long
continuance of the same persons in authority, this present Parliament be dissolved
upon the last day of September which shall be in the year of our Lord 1648

III.

That the people do, of course, choose themselves a Parliament once in two years, viz.
upon the first Thursday in every 2d March[1], after the manner as shall be prescribed
before the end of this Parliament, to begin to sit upon the first Thursday in April
following, at Westminster or such other place as shall be appointed from time to time
by the preceding Representatives, and to continue till the last day of September then
next ensuing, and no longer.
 IV.

That the power of this, and all future Representatives of this Nation, is inferior only to
theirs who choose them, and doth extend, without the consent or concurrence of any
other person or persons, to the enacting, altering, and repealing of laws, to the erecting
and abolishing of offices and courts, to the appointing, removing, and calling to
account magistrates and officers of all degrees, to the making war and peace, to the
treating with foreign States, and, generally, to whatsoever is not expressly or
impliedly reserved by the represented to themselves: Which are as followeth.

1. That matters of religion and the ways of God's worship are not at all entrusted by us
to any human power, because therein we cannot remit or exceed a tittle of what our
consciences dictate to be the mind of God without wilful sin: nevertheless the public
way of instructing the nation (so it be not compulsive) is referred to their discretion.

2. That the matter of impresting and constraining any of us to serve in the wars is
against our freedom; and therefore we do not allow it in our Representatives; the
rather, because money (the sinews of war), being always at their disposal, they can
never want numbers of men apt enough to engage in any just cause.

3. That after the dissolution of this present Parliament, no person be at any time
questioned for anything said or done in reference to the late public differences,
otherwise than in execution of the judgments of the present Representatives or House
of Commons.

4. That in all laws made or to be made every person may be bound alike, and that no
tenure, estate, charter, degree, birth, or place do confer any exemption from the
ordinary course of legal proceedings whereunto others are subjected.

5. That as the laws ought to be equal, so they must be good, and not evidently
destructive to the safety and well-being of the people.

These things we declare to be our native rights, and therefore are agreed and resolved
to maintain them with our utmost possibilities against all opposition whatsoever;
being compelled thereunto not only by the examples of our ancestors, whose blood
was often spent in vain for the recovery of their freedoms, Buffering themselves
through fraudulent accommodations to be still deluded of the fruit of their victories,
but also by our own woeful experience, who, having long expected and dearly earned
the establishment of these certain rules of government, are yet made to depend for the
settlement of our peace and freedom upon him that intended our bondage and brought
a cruel war upon us.
Document II
The opening clauses of the Humble Petition and Advice, 1657

(this is the version of the document that Cromwell accepted; an earlier version offered
him the crown).

To his Highness the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and
Ireland, and the dominions thereto belonging; the Humble Petition and Advice of the
Knights, Citizens and Burgesses now assembled in the Parliament of this
Commonwealth.

We, the knights, citizens and burgesses in this present Parliament assembled, taking
into our most serious consideration the present state of these three nations, joined and
united under your Highness' protection, cannot but in the first place, with all
thankfulness, acknowledge the wonderful mercy of Almighty God in delivering us
from that tyranny and bondage, both in our spiritual and civil concernments, which
the late King and his party designed to bring us under, and pursued the effecting
thereof by a long and bloody war; and also that it hath pleased the same gracious God
to preserve your person in many battles, to make you an instrument for preserving our
peace, although environed with enemies abroad, and filled with turbulent, restless and
unquiet spirits in our own bowels, that as in the treading down the common enemy,
and restoring us to peace and tranquillity, the Lord hath used you so eminently, and
the worthy officers and soldiers of the army (whose faithfulness to the common cause,
we and all good men shall ever acknowledge, and put a just value upon): so also that
he will use you and them in the settling and securing our liberties as we are men and
Christians, to us and our posterity after us, which are those great and glorious ends
which the good people of these nations have so freely, with the hazard of their lives
and estates, so long and earnestly contended for: we consider likewise the continual
danger which your life is in, from the bloody practices both of the malignant and
discontented party (one whereof, through the goodness of God, you have been lately
delivered from), it being a received principle amongst them, that no order being
settled in your lifetime for the succession in the Government, nothing is wanting to
bring us into blood and confusion, and them to their desired ends, but the destruction
of your person; and in case things should thus remain at your death, we are not able to
express what calamities would in all human probability ensue thereupon, which we
trust your Highness (as well as we) do hold yourself obliged to provide against, and
not to leave a people, whose common peace and interest you are intrusted with, in
such a condition as may hazard both, especially in this conjuncture, when there seems,
to be an opportunity of coming to a settlement upon just and legal foundations: upon
these considerations, we have judged it a duty incumbent upon us, to present and
declare these our most just and necessary desires to your Highness.

1. That your Highness will be pleased by and under the name and style of Lord
Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, and the dominions
and territories thereunto belonging, to hold and exercise the office of Chief Magistrate
of these nations, and to govern according to this petition and advice in all things
therein contained, and in all other things according to the laws of these nations, and
not otherwise: that your Highness will be pleased during your lifetime to appoint and
declare the person who shall, immediately after your death, succeed you in the
Government of these nations.

2. That your Highness will for the future be pleased to call Parliaments consisting of
two Houses (in such manner and way as shall be more particularly afterwards agreed
and declared in this Petition and Advice) once in three years at furthest, or oftener, as
the affairs of the nation shall require, that being your great Council, in whose affection
and advice yourself and this people will be most safe and happy.

3. That the ancient and undoubted liberties and privileges of Parliament (which are the
birthright and inheritance of the people, and wherein every man is interested) be
preserved and maintained; and that you will not break or interrupt the same, nor suffer
them to be broken or interrupted; and particularly, that those persons who are legally
chosen by a free election of the people to serve in Parliament, may not be excluded
from sitting in Parliament to do their duties, but by judgment and consent of that
House whereof they are members.

4. That those who have advised, assisted or abetted the rebellion of Ireland, and those
who do or shall profess the Popish religion, be disabled and made incapable for ever
to be elected, or to give any vote in the election of any member to sit or serVe in
Parliament; and that all and every person and persons who have aided, abetted,
advised or assisted in any war against the Parliament, since the 1st day of Jan., 1641
(unless he or they have since borne arms for the Parliament or your Highness, or
otherwise given signal testimony of his or their good affection to the Commonwealth,
and continued faithful to the same), and all such as have been actually engaged in any
plot, conspiracy or design against the person of your Highness, or in any insurrection
or rebellion in England or Wales since the 16th day of December, 1653, shall be for
ever disabled and made incapable to be elected, or give any vote in the election of any
member to sit or serve in Parliament. That for Scotland none be capable to elect, or be
elected to sit or serve in Parliament, who have been in arms against the Parliament of
England, or against the Parliament in Scotland, before the 1st day of April, 1648
(except such as have since borne arms in the service of the Parliament of England or
your Highness, or given other signal testimony of their good affection), nor any that
since the said 1st day of April, 1648, have been in arms, or otherwise aided, abetted,
advised or assisted in any war against the Parliament of England or your Highness,
except such as since the 1st day of March, 1651, have lived peaceably, and thereby
given testimony of their good affection to the Parliament and your Highness.

...

Document III

One man's view of Cromwell, in verse

John Milton
On the proposals of certain ministers at the Committee for Propagation of the Gospel

Cromwell, our chief of men, who through a cloud

Not of war only, but detractions rude,
Guided by faith and matchless fortitude,
To peace and truth thy glorious way hast plough'd,
And on the neck of crowned Fortune proud
Hast rear'd God's trophies, and his work pursu'd,
While Darwen stream with blood of Scots imbru'd,
And Dunbar field, resounds thy praises loud,
And Worcester's laureate wreath; yet much remains
To conquer still: peace hath her victories
No less renown'd than war. New foes arise
Threat'ning to bind our souls with secular chains:
Help us to save free Conscience from the paw
Of hireling wolves whose gospel is their maw.

Document IV
The Declaration of Breda

CHARLES R.

Charles, by the grace of God, king of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender
of the Faith, &c., to all our loving subjects, of what degree or quality soever, greeting.

If the general distraction and confusion which is spread over the whole kingdom doth
not awaken all men to a desire and longing that those wounds which have so many
years together been kept bleeding may be bound up, all we can say will be to no
purpose. However, after this long silence we have thought it our duty to declare how
much we desire to contribute thereunto, and that as we can never give over the hope in
good time to obtain the possession of that right which God and nature hath made our
due, so we do make it our daily suit to the Divine Providence that he will, in
compassion to us and our subjects after so long misery and sufferings, remit and put
us into a quiet and peaceable possession of that our right, with as little blood and
damage to our people as is possible. Nor do we desire more to enjoy what is ours than
that all our subjects may enjoy what by law is theirs, by a full and entire
administration of justice throughout the land, and by extending our mercy where it is
wanted and deserved.

And to the end that the fear of punishment may not engage any, conscious to
themselves of what is past, to a perseverance in guilt for the future, by opposing the
quiet and happiness of their country in the restoration both of king, peers and people
to their just, ancient and fundamental rights, we do by these presents declare that we
do grant a free and general pardon, which we are ready upon demand to pass under
our great seal of England, to all our subjects, of what degree or quality soever, who
within forty days after the publishing hereof shall lay hold upon this our grace and
favour, and shall by any public act declare their doing so, and that they return to the
loyalty and obedience of good subjects (excepting only such persons as shall hereafter
be excepted by Parliament). Those only excepted, let all our subjects, how faulty
soever, rely upon the word of a king, solemnly given by this present declaration, that
no crime whatsoever committed against us or our royal father before the publication
of this shall ever rise in judgment or be brought in question against any of them, to the
least endamagement of them, either in their lives, liberties or estates, or (as far forth as
lies in our power) so much as to the prejudice of their reputations by any reproach or
term of distinction from the rest of our best subjects; we desiring and ordaining that
henceforward all notes of discord, separation and difference of parties be utterly
abolished among all our subjects, whom we invite and conjure to a perfect union
among themselves, under our protection, for the re-settlement of our just rights and
theirs in a free Parliament, by which, upon the word of a king, we will be advised.

And because the passion and uncharitableness of the times have produced several
opinions in religion, by which men are engaged in parties and animosities against each
other, which, when they shall hereafter unite in a freedom of conversation, will be
composed or better understood, we do declare a liberty to tender consciences, and that
no man shall be disquieted or called in question for differences of opinion in matter of
religion which do not disturb the peace of the kingdom; and that we shall be ready to
consent to such an Act of Parliament as upon mature deliberation shall be offered to
us for the full granting that indulgence.
And because, in the continued distractions of so many years and so many and great
revolutions, many grants and purchases of estates have been made to and by many
officers, soldiers and others, who are now possessed of the same and who may be
liable to actions at law upon several titles, we are likewise willing that all such
differences, and all things relating to such grants, sales and purchases, shall be
determined in Parliament, which can best provide for the just satisfaction of all men
who are concerned.

And we do further declare that we will be ready to consent to any Act or Acts of
Parliament to the purposes aforesaid, and for the full satisfaction of all arrears due to
the officers and soldiers of the army under the command of General Monck, and that
they shall be received into our service upon as good pay and conditions as they now
enjoy.

Given under our sign manual and privy signet,

at our court at Breda,
this 4/14 day of April 1660,
in the twelfth year of our reign.

Document V

The Bill of Rights December 16, 1689

Whereas the late King James the Second, by the assistance of divers evil counsellors,
judges, and ministers employed by him, did endeavour to subvert and extirpate the
protestant religion, and the laws and liberties of this kingdom.

1. By assuming and exercising a power of dispensing with and suspending of laws,

and the execution of laws, without consent of parliament.
2. By committing and prosecuting divers worthy prelates, for humbly petitioning to be
excused from concurring to the said assumed power.
3. By issuing and causing to be executed a commission under the great seal for
erecting a court called, The court of commissioners for ecclesiastical causes.
4. By levying money for and to the use of the crown, by pretence of prerogative, for
other time, and in other manner, than the same was granted by parliament.
5. By raising and keeping a standing army within this kingdom in time of peace,
without consent of parliament, and quartering soldiers contrary to law.
6. By causing several good subjects, being protestants, to be disarmed, at the same
time when papists were both armed and employed, contrary to law.
7. By violating the freedom of election of members to serve in parliament.
8. By prosecutions in the court of King's bench, for matters and causes cognizable
only in parliament; and by divers other arbitrary and illegal courses.
9. And whereas of late years, partial, corrupt, and unqualified persons have been
returned and served on juries in trials, and particularly divers jurors in trials for high
treason, which were not freeholders.
10. And excessive bail hath been required of persons committed in criminal cases, to
elude the benefit of the laws made for the liberty of the subjects.
11. And excessive fines have been imposed; and illegal and cruel punishments have
been inflicted.
12. And several grants and promises made of fines and forfeitures, before any
conviction or judgment against the persons, upon whom the same were to be levied.
All which are utterly and directly contrary to the known laws and statutes, and
freedom of this realm.

And whereas the said late king James the Second having abdicated the government,
and the throne being thereby vacant ... the said lords spiritual and temporal, and
commons ... do in the first place (as their ancestors in like case have usually done) for
the vindicating and asserting their ancient rights and liberties, declare;

1. That the pretended power of suspending of laws, or the execution of laws, by regal
authority, without consent of parliament, is illegal.
2. That the pretended power of dispensing with laws, or the execution of laws, by
regal authority, as it hath been assumed and exercised of late, is illegal.
3. That the commission for erecting the late court of commissioners for ecclesiastical
causes, and all other commissions and courts of like nature are illegal and pernicious.
4. That levying money for or to the use of the crown, by pretence of prerogative,
without grant of parliament, for longer time, or in other manner than the same is or
shall be granted, is illegal.
5. That it is the right of the subjects to petition the King, and all committments [sic]
and prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal.
6. That the raising or keeping a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace,
unless it be with consent of parliament, is against law.
7. That the subjects which are protestants, may have arms for their defence suitable to
their conditions, and as allowed by law.
8. That election of members of parliament ought to be free.
9. That the freedom of speech, and debates or proceedings in parliament, ought not to
be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of parliament.
10. That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed; nor
cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
11. That jurors ought to be duly impanelled and returned, and jurors which pass upon
men in trials for high treason ought to be freeholders.
12. That all grants and promises of fines and forfeitures of particular persons before
conviction, are illegal and void.
13. And that for redress of all grievances, and for the amending, strengthening, and
preserving of the laws, parliaments ought to be held frequently.

And they do claim, demand, and insist upon all and singular the premisses, as their
undoubted rights and liberties; and that no declarations, judgments, doings or
proceedings, to the prejudice of the people in any of the said premisses, ought in any
wise to be drawn hereafter into consequence or example . . . .

...

VI. Now in pursuance of the premisses, the said lords spiritual and temporal, and
commons, in parliament assembled, for the ratifying, confirming and establishing the
said declaration, and the articles, clauses, matters, and things therein contained, by the
force of a law made in due form by authority of parliament, do pray that it may be
declared and enacted, That all and singular the rights and liberties asserted and
claimed in the said declaration, are the true, ancient, and indubitable rights and
liberties of the people of this kingdom, and so shall be esteemed, allowed, adjudged,
deemed, and taken to be, and that all and every the particulars aforesaid shall be
firmly and strictly holden and observed, as they are expressed in the said declaration;
and all officers and ministers whatsoever shall serve their Majesties and their
successors according to the same in all times to come. . . .

...

XI. All which their Majesties are contented and pleased shall be declared, enacted,
and established by authority of this present parliament, and shall stand, remain, and be
the law of this realm for ever; and the same are by their said Majesties, by and with
the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and commons, in
parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, declared, enacted, and
established accordingly.