Page "Levellers" Paragraph 5

The Oxford English Dictionary dates the first written use of the term for a political movement to 1644, but the source cited there, Marchamont Needham's pamphlet The Case for the Commonwealth of England Stated, dates from 1650.

The term was used in a letter of 1 November 1647, and the 19th century historian S. R. Gardiner suggested that it existed as a nickname before this date.

Blair Worden, the most recent historian to publish on the subject, concluded that the 1 November letter was the first recorded use of the term.

The letter referred to extremists among the Army agitators: " They have given themselves a new name, viz.

Levellers, for they intend to sett all things straight, and rayse a parity and community in the kingdom ".

Worden shows that the term first appeared in print in a book by Charles I called His Majesties Most Gracious Declaration.

This tract was a printing of a letter that had been read in the House of Lords on 11 November 1647.

Although George Thomason did not date this tract, the last date internal to the document was Saturday 13 November 1647, suggesting a publication date of 15 November 1647.