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ing the whole people in the spirit of k > ye and meekness ; ^ nd then true religion will increase and flourish .
I have now faithfully related the sum of their principles about government and religion , who hav $ been ? usually called Levellers , and scandalized with designs against government and religion ,
and plots to bring the nation into anarchy and confusion : let the reader judge what colour there is to suspect those that are thus principled of such ill designs ; or rather whether freedom , justice ,
peace , and happiness can be expected in our nation , if these fundamentals of government be not asserted , vindicated and practised , and made as known and familiar to the people as our ancestors intended < the Great Charter
of the liberties of England should have been when they provided , that it should be sent to every cit ; y > and every cathedral church , and that it should be read and
published in every county , four times in the year , in full county . 1 have only mentioned the fundamentals , because tbev claim these as their right , and humbly submit the circumstantials as to
the number whereof parliament should consist , and the manner of their elections , and the order of their debating and resolving of laws , &c . to the wisdom of the parliaments . But the reader may well inquire , how those that have
asserted these principles came to be called Levellers , the people believing generally otherwise of them than these principles deserve . Truly the story is too tedious to relate at large ; but the sum of it is , that in the year 1648 , fcc . the army having been in con-
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test with some members of the long parliament , they constituted a general council of officers and agitators for the soldiers , and then fell into debate of proposals to be m $ de to the parliament for a settlement , and then some of that
council asserted these principles ; and the reason of them quickly gained the assent of the major part ; but being contrary to the designs of some that were then grandees in the parliament and array , ( but most of them since
tlead ) and had resolved of other things at that time , even with the king , who was then at Hampton * court , it fell into debate in a private cabinet council how to suppress or avoid those that maintained these principles , and it was resolved that some ill name was
fit to be given to the assert ^ rs of them , as persons of some dangerous design ; and that their reputations being blasted ^ they would come to , nothing , especially if that
general council were dissolved ; then was that council dissolved , and an occasion ftaken from that maxim , that every man ought to be equally subject to the laws , to invent the name of Levellers ; and
the king 5 who was to be frighted into the Isle of Wight from Hamp ^ ton-court , with pretences that the men of these principles in the
army would suddenly seize upon his person if he staid there : he was acquainted with those men by the name of Levellers , and was the first that ever so called
them in print j in his declaration left on the table at Hamptoncourt , when he secretly ( as was thought )' stole away from thence ; and thence it was suddenly blown abroad with as much confidence as if they had believed it * that
