Brian Manning

“The aristocracy and the gentry usually dominate accounts of the English civil war: much less has been written about the people'. This book attempts to discover the role of popular grievances, popular movements and popular aspirations, in the revolutionary struggles of 1640 to 1649. The division of parliament into two parties - a 'popular party' and a party of order' - was the result of popular demonstrations and pressures in 1640-42. Grievances against the government of Charles I and against many aspects of the existing regime led many peasants and artisans to support the 'popular party'. The nobility and gentry tried desperately to avoid a civil war, but armed conflict was precipitated by popular risings against sections of the nobility and gentry. Members of the ruling classes were drawn in increasing numbers to side with the king, in an effort to counter popular revolts and demands. Amongst the people the lead was taken by the middle sort' , who supplied the hard core and the driving force of the parliamentarian party. The 'middle sort of people' were impelled by hostility towards the nobility and gentry and richer classes, and this converted constitutional, political and religious issues into class conflicts. In 1646-49 the Levellers articulated the attitudes and aims of the 'middle sort of people', and gave expression to the main underlying issues in the civil war and revolutionary struggles. They were motivated by hostility towards the ruling classes and by the aim of creating a new order more favourable to the middle sort of people'.”-Publisher.

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