Sea Green Singers - We are all under the stars - Reading Text on Levellers Putney debates -
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The Putney Debates were a series of discussions between factions of the New Model Army and the Levellers concerning a new constitution for England. The debates were held at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Putney, Surrey, in October and November 1647.
Much of it concerned the issue of whether the vote should only be given to people who owned property as only they would vote in the interests of the country as a whole rather than for sectional or foreign interests.

The radicals wanted a constitution based upon manhood suffrage ("one man, one vote"), biennial Parliaments and a re-organisation of parliamentary constituencies. Authority was to be vested in the House of Commons rather than the King and Lords. Certain "native rights" were declared sacrosanct for all Englishmen: freedom of conscience, freedom from impressment into the armed forces and equality before the law.

Among those present at Putney:were Lieutenant-General Cromwell, Ireton. .
Levellers: Thomas Rainborough, Edward Sexby, William Allen, John Wildman, Maximilian Petty

The debates began on 28 October 1647. For three days, the proceedings were transcribed verbatim by the secretary William Clarke and a team of stenographers. The minutes were lost until 1890 when they were rediscovered at the library of Worcester College, Oxford,

Text -

1. [said before singing starts] - For really I think that the poorest he that is in England hath a life to live, as the greatest he;

[singing starts]

2. and therefore truly, sir, I think it's clear, that every man that is to live under a government ought first by his own consent to put himself under that government;

3. and I do think that the poorest man in England is not at all bound in a strict sense to that government that he hath not had a voice to put himself under; [possibly repeat 'the poorest he that is in England hath a life to live, as the greatest he']

4. If writings be true there have been many scufflings between the honest men of England and those that have tyrannized over them; and if it be true what I have read, there is none of those just and equitable laws that the people of England are born to, but are entrenchments on the once enjoyed privileges of their rulers altogether.

5. But even if they were those which the people have been always under, if the people find that they are not suitable to freemen as they are, I know no reason that should deter me, either in what I must answer before God or the world, from endeavouring by all means to gain anything that might be of more advantage to them than the government under which they live.

6. There was one thing spoken to this: that if the poor and those in low condition were given their birthright. it would be the destruction of this kingdom. I think this was but a distrust of Providence. I do think the poor and meaner of this kingdom -- I speak as in relation to the condition of soldiers, in which we are -- have been the means of the preservation of this kingdom.

[restate first para without music.]