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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Levellers
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Political agitators in the 1640s whose ideas were far ahead of their time – and indeed were still too advanced when many of the same demands were put forward by the *Chartists two centuries later. The Levellers wanted regular parliaments elected by all adult males, with power exercised by the House of Commons to the exclusion of the Lords; decentralized government on many issues; and free trade. Under the leadership of John Lilburne (1614–57) they gained so much support in the *New Model Army that they were forcibly suppressed.
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