Free-Born John: A Biography of John Lilburne

by Pauline Gregg

"I neither love a slave nor fear a tyrant." Thus spoke John Lilburne, one of the 17th century's most vivid figures. Head of the Levellers, it was he, over 300 years ago, who spelled out to the English the true meaning of democracy. An agitator supreme, he stopped at nothing to further his cause--whether it meant attacking Cromwell or King Charles I, or "stage managing" his own trial for life as though it were a play. He had no equal. "...successfully conveys the nature of his personality as well as his ideas...authoritative and illuminating..."--C.V. Wedgwood, Daily Telegraph.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction

424 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

Pauline Gregg was a British historian. Her published works concentrated on the period of the English Civil Wars of the 17th century and the history of social life in Britain.

During her schooldays she became attracted to socialism through the writings of William Morris. She joined the Labour League of Youth and later the Independent Labour party, and addressed meetings from the back of a coal cart, before graduating to Speaker's Corner. She lunched with Gandhi during his 1931 visit to Britain.

In 1932, aided by a loan from Middlesex county council, won a place at the London School of Economics. "It was as if someone had opened the door to an enchanted land," she later wrote. "My socialism had a focus, a new meaning." Her doctorate, on the Levellers' leader John Lilburne, provided the foundation for a biography, Free-Born John (1961).

She was posted to Warwick by the Ministry of Supply when the second world war broke out and there she met Russell Meiggs, a classics fellow at Balliol College, Oxford, whom she married in 1941. Later, they settled into Oxford academia, numbering JRR Tolkien among their circle of friends. From 1946, they were in charge of Holywell Manor, a Balliol annexe housing 50 undergraduates.

She would cycle every day to the Bodleian library, where she continued her research on the 17th century. Underlining her independence, she used her maiden name as a pen name. Her first book, A Social and Economic History of Britain (1760-1950), became a standard reference work. She also wrote definitive biographies of Charles I and Oliver Cromwell; CV Wedgwood described the former as "the fullest and most carefully compiled that we are ever likely to have".

Reviews

[Matthew Welker · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I work my way through English history, John Lilburne was one of those figures I felt worth wanting to read an individual book on as he played I’d say a fairly sizable role during the tumultuous times of the English Civil War and the sort of governmental revolution that occurred. Plus he’s a very interesting guy.

The book goes into as good of a detail as you can about Lilburne’s life and I particularly liked the first chapter covering his family origins which in a ways also worked as a sort of summary of English history up till Freeborn John entered the stage. From there you get what is imo a pretty good biographical work on the man and perhaps the only one you’d need to read.

My only issue with the book is I felt it could meander and get a little confusing. For example in some of the early chapters when discussing the different Lilburne’s, I got lost as to which ones the book was going over. I also found the sentence structure at times was confusing to read. Yet this book is a few decades old. I read Pauline Gregg’s biography on I think Charles & don’t recall having such problems, but think that might have been slightly more recent work compared to this. Still these were only minor issues and you’ll get everything you need to know about Freeborn John from this biography.

So that’s that. If you’re looking to learn more about one of England’s great radicals I’d highly recommend it. John Lilburne lived an interesting life and some of his ideas about suffrage, democracy, and so on. Plus the guy was very staunch in his beliefs, as much it was troublesome for his family, and didn’t really fold until what seemed to be a genuine conversion to being a Quaker. From what I read about him in other works, he became one of my favorite figures in English history & this book solidified that. Good read!

[Rick Goff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lilburne was the face of the Leveller movement/party. He is remarkable for his determination, fearlessness, faith, writing, and debating skills. He had a complicated relationship with Cromwell, being an early favorite and later chief thorn-in-side.

The biographer is clearly an admirer of Lilburne but then so would be any but the most reactionary of 20th or 21st century students of history.

I enjoyed reading about the cases of Lilburne representing himself when accused, of which there is a lamentable plenty. He was not just competent but innovative, though his only training in the law was self directed.