Petition of the Leveller Women

Of particular interest are the petitions by Leveller women in the 1640s. The Levellers believed in religious toleration, basic human rights, constitutional reform, and democratic election. The Leveller women drew up a petition, which had ten thousand signatures, and taking it to Parliament. Though Parliament refused to admit the women's petition, the incident was widely reported. In the second edition of that petition, To the Supream Authority of England the Commons Assembled in Parliament. The humble Petition of diverse wel-affected WEOMEN [sic], of the Cities of London and Westminster, the Borrough of Southward, Hamblets, and places adjacent. Affecters and Approvers of the Petition of Sept. 11. 1648 (1649), the Leveller women argue for their right to fight for their beliefs, dying for them if necessary

Since we are assured of our creation in the image of God, of an interest in Christ equal to men, as also of a proportionate share in the freedoms of the Commonwealth, we cannot but wonder and grieve that we should appear so despicable to your eyes as to be thought unworthy to petition or represent our grievances to this honourable House. Have we not an equal interest with the men of this nation in these liberties and securities contained in the Petition of Right and other good laws of the land? Are any of our lives, limbs, liberties or goods to be taken from us more than from men … without due process of law and conviction by a jury? And can you imagine us to be so sottish or stupid as not to perceive or not to be sensible when daily those strong defences of our peace and welfare are broken down? ... And must we keep at home in our houses as if our lives and liberties and all were not concerned? Must we show no sense of their [husbands’ and childrens’] sufferings, nor bear testimony against so abominable cruelty and injustice? No! Let it be accounted folly, presumption, madness or whatever in us, whilst we have life and breath, we will never cease to importune you.

I do not think the bible would be much help in espousing Women's rights so despite an initial reference to women being made in the same image of God that men are, the petitioner's main aim was to seek equal rights on the same basis that soldiers (Putney and Saffron Walden) and Levellers were fighting for such as freedom of conscience and equality before the law. Given the turmoil and shared sacrifices all families endured during the Civil War, they argue that it should be obvious that they would want to share the benefits that other groups had received. Women were politicised by the Civil War and were obtaining a political consciousness.

However, the male dominated political classes were uneasy about sharing power. Although the petition was signed by 10,000 women and was very well written (by Katherine Chidley?)it may have been dominated by working class women and this was an unlikely pressure group to influence a Rump Parliament of mostly conservative Presbyterian MP's any more than the Leveller's did. It is difficult to find a similar protest for Women's rights before or immediately after this event. When pressure did come in later centuries it came from the well educated middle class women.

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Petition of the Leveller Women

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