Levellers Collection

Lilburne / John / Gucht
JOHN LILBURNE Political agitator, English leader of the Levellers, imprisoned for importing Puritan publications

The Ploughman, song illustration for Who Liveth So Merry in all this Land
DGC452058 The Ploughman, song illustration for Who Liveth So Merry in all this Land?, from Pan-Pipes, A Book of Old Songs, Newly Arranged and with Accompaniments by Theo

Title page of The True Levellers Standard, published 26th April 1649 (engraving
XJF206130 Title page of The True Levellers Standard, published 26th April 1649 (engraving) (b/w photo) by English School, (17th century); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

John Lilburne on the pillory, illustration from Cassell
STC385332 John Lilburne on the pillory, illustration from Cassells Illustrated History of England (engraving) (sepia photo) by English School

Broadsheet appeal to Diggers, published 1650 (engraving) (b / w photo)
XJF206132 Broadsheet appeal to Diggers, published 1650 (engraving) (b/w photo) by English School, (17th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Levellers, perform free concert at the Bull Ring Shopping Centre, Birmingham, 8th October 1991

Arrest of Wildman, 1897. Creator: John Leech
Arrest of Wildman, 1897. English agitator Sir John Wildman (c1621-1693) helped to write the first " Agreement of the People" in 1647

John Lilburne on the pillory at Westminster, 1638 (1905). Lilburne (1614-1657) was an English Leveller who campaigned for what he described as `freeborn rights` which every human being was born with

Distress in Lancashire: mill-hands work on Preston Moors
The distress in Lancashire: mill-hands at work on Preston Moors. Unemployed operatives levelling waste ground on the north side of the town, over seen by inspectors

Woodcut from a Diggers document by William Everard. The Diggers were an English group of Protestant agrarian communists. begun by Gerrard Winstanley as True Levellers in 1649

The Names of the Jury of Life and Death, 1649 (engraving) (b&w photo)
XIR105390 The Names of the Jury of Life and Death, 1649 (engraving) (b&w photo) by English School, (17th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: John Lilburne (1614-57)

The Emblem of Englands Distractions, 1658 (engraving) (b / w photo)
XIR105382 The Emblem of Englands Distractions, 1658 (engraving) (b/w photo) by English School, (17th century); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

Roofless cabin during evictions in Ireland
Rear view of a couple of gentlemen and two grieving women near the cabin of Pat MacNamara which has been tumbled by levellers

John Lilburne at Pillory
JOHN LILBURNE Political agitator and English leader of the Levellers; here, he appeals to a crowd as he stands at a pillory

John Lilburne
JOHN LILBURNE Political agitator, English leader of the Levellers, and pamphleteer for constitutional reform; here, holding a book

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

The Levellers, a radical political movement that emerged during the English Civil War in the 17th century, sought to challenge the oppressive social and economic structures of their time. Led by influential figures such as John Lilburne and Richard Overton, they advocated for equality, freedom of speech, and popular sovereignty. John Lilburne, also known as "Freeborn John, " was a prominent Leveller who fearlessly fought for individual rights and liberties. Despite enduring persecution and even being placed on the pillory multiple times, he remained steadfast in his beliefs. Distress in Lancashire: mill-hands work on Preston Moors depicted the harsh reality faced by ordinary workers during this period. The image serves as a powerful reminder of the social inequalities that fueled the Levellers' cause. The Ploughman is an iconic song illustration representing one of the key messages propagated by the Levellers - that all individuals should have access to land and be able to sustain themselves through honest labor. Title page of The True Levellers Standard showcases an engraving published on April 26th, 1649. This publication served as a manifesto for their movement, outlining their demands for political reform and social justice. Thomas Rainsborough was another notable figure within the Leveller movement. His passionate speeches advocating for universal suffrage resonated with many supporters who believed in equal representation regardless of wealth or status. Broadsheet appeal to Diggers is an engraving from 1650 depicting an open call to join forces with another radical group called Diggers. Both movements shared similar goals centered around communal living arrangements and challenging existing property laws. Throughout history, members of the Leveller movement faced arrests and persecution due to their revolutionary ideas. Illustrations like Arrest of Wildman (1897) serve as reminders of how these brave individuals were willing to sacrifice personal freedoms for what they believed was right. Levellers performing free concerts at Bull Ring Shopping Centre in Birmingham symbolizes their enduring legacy and the continued relevance of their ideals.