Putney Debates

rdf:langString Putney Debates

rdf:langString The Putney Debates, which took place from 28 October to 8 November 1647, were a series of discussions over the political settlement that should follow Parliament's victory over Charles I in the First English Civil War. The main participants were senior officers of the New Model Army who favoured retaining Charles within the framework of a Constitutional monarchy, and radicals such as the Levellers who sought more sweeping changes, including One man, one vote and Freedom of thought, particularly in religion. Alarmed by what they viewed as the dangerous radicalism and increasing power of the New Model Army, in March 1647 the Presbyterian moderates who dominated the Long Parliament ordered it to disband, a demand which was refused. In June, the army removed Charles from the custody of Parliament and in August established its headquarters at Putney, just outside the City of Westminster in South West London. Its senior officers or "Grandees" hoped the debates would end political divisions with the Agitators who represented the rank and file, and allow them to reach consensus on a peace settlement. Collectively, the two sides were grouped together into the Army Council. The debates began on 28 October 1647 at St. Mary's Church, Putney and continued until 8 November, when senior officers including Thomas Fairfax, Oliver Cromwell, and Henry Ireton, grew concerned at the possible impact on military discipline and closed them down. The most contentious item was that of the right to vote, which the Grandees wanted to restrict to those who owned property and was opposed by the Leveller spokesman, Colonel Thomas Rainsborough, who summarised his position by saying; ...the poorest he that is in England hath a life to live, as the greatest he...therefore every man that is to live under a government ought first by his own consent to put himself under that government, and ...is not bound...to any government he hath not had a voice to put himself under.