Leaders of the People: Studies in Democratic HistoryClayton, Joseph
History
Leaders of the People: Studies in Democratic History
Clayton, Joseph
Democracy; Great Britain -- History
They want this and that; they seize their colours from the
cornet, who is lodged at the “Bull” there; the general
(Fairfax) and lieutenant-general (Cromwell) have to hasten
thither, quell them, pack them forth on their march, seizing
fifteen of them first to be tried by court-martial. Tried by
instant court-martial, five of them are found guilty, doomed
to die, but pardoned; and one of them, Trooper Lockyer, is
doomed and not pardoned.[120] Trooper Lockyer is shot in
Paul’s Churchyard on the morrow. A very brave young man, they
say; though but three-and-twenty. “He has served seven years
in these wars,” ever since the wars began. “Religious,” too,
“of excellent parts and much beloved”; but with hot notions
as to human freedom, and the rate at which the milleniums are
attainable. Poor Lockyer! He falls shot in Paul’s Churchyard
on Friday, amid the tears of men and women. Lockyer’s corpse
is watched and wept over, not without prayer, in the eastern
regions of the city, till a new week come; and on Monday, this
is what we see advancing westward by way of funeral to him:
About one thousand went before the corpse, five or six in a
file; the corpse was then brought, with six trumpets sounding
a soldier’s knell, then the trooper’s horse came, clothed all
over in mourning, and led by a footman. The corpse was adorned
with bundles of rosemary, one half stained in blood, and the
sword of the deceased along with them. Some thousands followed
in ranks and files, all had sea-green and black ribbon tied on
their hats and to their breasts, and the women brought up the
rear.
At the new churchyard at Westminster some thousands more of the
better sort met them, who thought not fit to march through the
city. Many looked upon this funeral as an affront to parliament
and the army; others called these people “Levellers”; but they
took no notice of any of them.[121]
In May one Corporal William Thompson rallied a body of Levellers at
Banbury, published a manifesto called “England’s Standard Advanced,”
and inveighed against the tyranny of courts-martial. Overwhelmed by
force of numbers, Thompson escaped, and later died fighting alone near
Wellingborough. Some twenty of his followers joined the mutineers of
Scrope’s regiment at Salisbury. Numbering some 1,200, these Levellers
made their way by Marlborough and Wantage to Burford. Here Cromwell
came up with the mutineers, and surprised them at midnight. Resistance
was hopeless, and the majority at once surrendered. All were pardoned
except Cornet Thompson (brother to William), and two corporals--Church
and Perkins--who showed neither fear nor admitted any wrong on their
part. These three men were shot in Burford churchyard on May 15th,[122]
and with their deaths the Leveller movement was at an end.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account