History and Ideology: Milton, the Levellers, and the Council of State in 1649

Dzelzainis, Martin

doi:10.1525/hlq.2005.68.1-2.269

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…60 The innovative character of the Agreements is controversial. Dzelzainis argues that the Levellers simply defended the restoration of ancient liberties comprised in the Ancient Constitution, "rather than proposing blueprints to a new system" (Dzelzainis (2005), pp. 269-287.…”

Section: IVmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Levellers’ Conception of Legitimate Authority

Ostrensky¹

2018

Araucaria

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This article examines the Levellers' doctrine of legitimate authority, by showing how it emerged as a critique of theories of absolute sovereignty. For the Levellers, any arbitrary power is tyrannical, insofar as it reduces human beings to an unnatural condition. Legitimate authority is necessarily founded on the people, who creates the constitutional order and remains the locus of political power. The Levellers also contend that parliamentary representation is not the only mechanism by which the people may acquire a political being; rather the people outside Parliament are the collective agent able to transform and control institutions and policies. In this sense, the Levellers hold that a highly participative community should exert sovereignty, and that decentralized government is a means to achieve that goal.

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Section: IVmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Levellers’ Conception of Legitimate Authority

Ostrensky¹

2018

Araucaria

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“…According to Martin Dzelzainis: 'The "paper" […] actually comprised two incendiary Leveller pamphlets by John Lilburne'. 23 This commission may have passed to another respondent, and possible takers have been identified. 24 One contemporary who could have taken on the task Milton declined is Marchamont Nedham.…”

Section: On 28 March 1649 Cromwell's Council Of State Asked 'Miltonmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Neptune to the Common-wealth of England” (1652): the “Republican Britannia” and the continuity of interests

Maley

2018

The Seventeenth Century

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“…See, for example, Hill, 101. However, Milton was notoriously reticent about the Levellers: see Dzelzainis, 2005. He also began complaining about the state of the law before the Levellers appeared, and he was still pondering ways to improve the legal system years after the Leveller movement had collapsed.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On Milton and Roman law, seeDzelzainis, 2007 andSkinner; Greenberg, 2010. 16 Silver; Visconsi, 100-03.17 For more on the Cotton v. Milton case, seeFrench, 1939, 51-67.…”

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confidence: 99%

Milton and Legal Reform

Chapman

2016

Renaiss. Q.

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The second half of the seventeenth century was the first great period of legal reform in England’s history. This article situates John Milton in relationship to this contemporary context, arguing that he comments frequently on the need to change England’s laws and displays a finely tuned awareness of some of the major legal debates of his time. This article surveys Milton’s writings about the law and legal education, and it concludes by examining his 1659–60 political pamphlets where he calls for reform of the judicial system and the establishment of local courts.

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History and Ideology: Milton, the Levellers, and the Council of State in 1649

Cited by 10 publications

References 2 publications

The Levellers’ Conception of Legitimate Authority

The Levellers’ Conception of Legitimate Authority

“Neptune to the Common-wealth of England” (1652): the “Republican Britannia” and the continuity of interests

Milton and Legal Reform

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