 Everywhere on the face of the earth throughout all time men have fought either individually or in armies to merit belonging to the finest legion of the human race, the fighters for freedom of thought and conscience, for freedom of spirit and action. This is the story of one of those legions, a legion of common men who fought and died over 300 years ago in England for the dignity of human freedom. The NBC University of the Air presents We Came This Way, a new historical series for our listeners at home and overseas. With John W. Vandercook as narrator, we present Chapter 8, a story of a battle without armor in We Came This Way. They call the English Civil War the Puritan Revolution. Like all great events, it is infinitely complicated. But if we could take a scalpel and cut through to the heart of English history, we would find two chambers there through which a nation's lifeblood pulsed, the palace and the House of Commons. The common man of 1625 thought his civil rights had been given him by the Magna Carta, a man of sober habits he believed in freedom of religion and popular rights. The couriers reviled him as a Puritan. The king found him troublesome and answered all demands for civil liberty by making arbitrary proclamations imprisoning at pleasure, dictating religion. Both the king and the common man believed they were right. In 1642 the showdown came in civil war. Who was to rule England, the king or the House of Commons? A man went out to make the answer on a battlefield in his native land. He now lies mortally wounded, dying, while the battle goes on around it. How tall a blade of grass looks when the ground is your pillow. How near the heavens. How much a man can see when he is entering the valley of the shadow. I shall be in the valley soon. Can't last much longer. The staining of the earth with my lifeblood. And when it's over, when I have passed through the valley, I'm called to judgment. What then? How shall I face my maker? I who have just killed my fellow men. You'll soon have to justify your ways to the Almighty. Prepare your soul's defense for you are guilty of breaking the Lord's commandment. Thou shall not kill. What shall I say? That I had no murder in my heart for any man. Is it sufficient unto the evil done that my conscience regarded it the greater evil to let a man's spirit be stamped as a coin is into conformity? Yet heavenly sovereign. That is why I took up arms in a bloody rebellion against Charles Stewart, once my earthly sovereign. I and others of his subjects had to call this man of blood to account for the bloody shed and the misery he did unto the people of England. O eternal judge of all men's deeds. Though I come now before the withstained hands, I beseech thee to judge me only as a soldier by the cause for which I took the life of my enemy. By my faith I, Peter Holborn, a printer by trade called a puritan rascal by the king's men. To declare I killed five of these men in battle shall grow on June 18th 1643 for the cause of human liberty. This cause was shown to be seven years ago one morning. Peter they've been here. The king's men looking for you. Yes I see they've left the usual signs, smashed book plates, torn manuscripts. Don't stay in the shop. Come inside. Hurry before they pass this way again. Leticia this isn't the first time they've come after me. But it's not like the other times. If you hadn't been at prayer they'd have taken you. Andrew and Thomas and the shipwrights helpers who were dragged out of their homes like cattle. Peter for my sake pay the tax. I can't. We have it. Yes we do. What of those two poor to pay. Conscripted as punishment sent out to be slaughtered wherever the king chooses to make war. No Leticia. I won't ransom myself merely because the Lord has favored us with his provision. Who will it help if you were taken away too? Before I'm taken there are things to be said that need to be said. One voice. One voice can become a cry that will frighten even a tyrant like Charles Stewart. And I raised my voice in the spreading shout of the printed word. I composed pamphlets by night while I hid from the king's men by day. And the word was taken up. Meaning no offense good man. Can you read. If a man read the scriptures what else need you read. Such as me making curious such as this pamphlet just passed to me in the alehouse. What matter is in it. Let me see. Matter enough to hang you and set all England aflame. Hang me. What for. Sedition. Listen to this. Englishman the petition of right granted us immunity from the king. If we refuse to yield money asked without the consent of parliament. What parliament granted the king the right to taxes. Charles Stewart hasn't let parliament meet in eleven years. Don't pay unless the king calls parliament. Let the people decide if they want to tax them. Night after night I kept printing pamphlets. Leticia was always at my side. What shall we tax ourselves for. So the king can war on Scotland. What is his majesty's war against the scots that justifies the blood of Christians. All the scots want is to worship in their own fashion. Go on leticia read the rest. Does our king fear the scots may set us an example. Then let all true Englishman justify his fears. Peter. This pamphlet it's worse than the others. Worse. No one's dare to speak thus against his majesty. If they should trace it to you and they'll have the guilty one. How could you be so so calm knowing what it would mean. Would you have me otherwise leticia. If a man be of faith let his work speak for it. My press speaks for me. I would not have you otherwise Peter. There. These pamphlets should be enough. I'll take them to the marketplace. No leticia. If a man be of faith why not his wife also. It's almost dawn I must be off night is such a long time in the coming waiting. I'm never far from you have no fear John Hampton hides me well on his estate. Oh Peter when will all this end. It's just. Give me the pamphlets. There's no place to hide here. Everything. No no leave him alone. Don't be afraid leticia fear only the Lord and nothing else. Is it you Buckingham. What have you banished yourself until dawn. Sir I have that pamphlet here for you pamphlet here England reeks with pamphlet here. This one has caused the greatest stench. He wants you to beg commons for money to carry on the holy war against Scotland. Who is it Buckingham that wants the crown to go begging. A Bible mongering Puritan Peter Holburn by name. Another one of those solemn faced rascals Buckingham. Let's see how righteous the devil can look with both his ears cut off. I have better sport your Majesty. The expedition against Scotland sets out tomorrow. Is it not fitting for your Majesty to respect the Puritan's faith. Is it Buckingham. Is it. Yes your Highness. If that Puritan is forced to go a foot on a holy pilgrimage to Scotland bearing a musket. And thus I too became a member of that ragged army of the lame the halt and the unwilling who had been conscripted from among the poor. You know the law. If you don't pay the tax you're in his Majesty's army. But I don't have a farthing to my name. Then his Royal Highness puts private in front of your name. Come on. Into the wagon all of you. Let him alone. He's sick. Let my husband alone. Come on. Mark. Mark. Mark. I said. Get up there before you get my book in your face. He can't. His heart's given out. Who gave you the command to stop Mark. Surely you will let us bury him pray for him. I'll let you march. Fall in there. While we staggered on to Scotland with more hatred and disaffection for our King and toward his enemies which we would soon face. At home Liberty found an able champion in John Hampton. Rich country gentlemen of Buckinghamshire would once hidden me on his estate. John Hampton a trained lawyer and member of parliament decided to take up the fight against the King legally. Rift against John Hampton Esquire to show why some assessed by the crown against you should not be satisfied. Because Sheriff the matter contained in the rifts do not legally compel me to comply. Oh come now Mr Hampton pay the tax and have an end to the matter. What is 20 shillings to a man like you. A matter of principle begging your pardon Mr Hampton but it's a matter of principle for me to arrest those who refuse to pay. I'm ready. You mean you really want to go to the gatehouse for 20 shillings. Why not into the army crown once rich men in prison for refusing to obey good and I'll have to stand trial 20 shillings. What do you want to make an example of yourself for to win our country's freedom from the crown. Honourable judges of the King's bench. The crown contains that the 20 shillings tax on my stokes mandible estate is not an ordinary measure but one levied for the defense of the realm. This tax called ship money is for the supposed provisions of vessels to guard the channel. I say the greater danger is from within. I refuse to pay this tax because it has been levied without the consent of parliament. The opinion of the King's bench is that the levying of money for the defense of the realm. Day after day the trial went on where the conscripted stumbled ever closer to Scotland to fight the King's war. John Hampton continued to fight the people's war in the court of the Exchequer. The people must control. In the people lies the supreme jurisdiction. In the King lies the supreme jurisdiction. He's an absolute monarch and holds the kingdom under none but God himself. The King is answerable only unto himself. The King must be answerable to the people. Honourable judges of the crown. I cannot. I will not. On my conscience as an Englishman submit to this tax. I would pay one thousand pounds if parliament asked me but not one shilling to the King. I shall not be taxed by any others but my elected peer. Take him out commit me to prison but the walls will not keep back the knowledge from the people that Charles Stewart is bent on destroying the public liberty for which so many Englishmen have died. Mark this well this trial may yet prove the most faithful in our history leading to the bloody rebellion which I Peter Holborn was wounded. John Hampton's trial that set the small fires burning all over England until they united in the great blaze that swept the land burning Puritan and royalist alike in the heat of civil war. The town crier the King's men sported against him and seven to five dirty cowards those seven of them and he told him off he did once none to take assurance but his peers was so does I tell you it'll end in heads rolling the rabble wants to it's the Puritans they started to kill the and though no Englishman could speak through the shuttered house of Commons still the voice of the people was heard as far as Scotland where his Majesty King Charles had gone to watch us die in his war and the cry of the people forced him to call his army to a halt before the battle was joined. Kill the royalist is it lasted rebel I'll whip it out of them that in the money. There's a better way your Majesty how that went with what's better than a whip against fool to play the game of fools and beat the matter. Your highness does not have enough money to fight the Scots what would you have me do went with Scots are across the river look at my collection of ragged beggars that stand ready to run Scots won't move until you do it would be unwise to fight now your Majesty time to move is when you have federal government in England as I have an island thought of enough to give you a good army and enough money to keep fighting whatever Scots across the river if I retreat now make a treaty with the religious rebels until you are in a position to write a better one. And so Charles Stewart signed the Treaty of Berwick solemnly agreeing to let the men of Scotland practice their religion according to their own conscience both sides disbanded their troops I could go home home to a wife's greeting Peter Peter thank the Lord your home home to fight by the best means I knew of printing pamphlets to arouse the people what is this a new folio of Shakespeare's sonnets yes on the cover it is but this is a strange sonnet a warning to the people of England to beware of thorough government now that went with Lord Deputy of Ireland is in England to advise your Majesty you need funds for the war against Scotland you can't get it without the consent of Parliament why not call Parliament and have them vote you money those rascals wouldn't grant me a shilling but if your Majesty would grant amnesty to the Puritan heretics John Hampton and the others in jail and is that thorough government it can come an easy stage as sire men can be bought to Joel love then relieved of their freedom step by step went worth or shall I say the Earl of Stratford for your services I thank you sir Stratford we'll take the first step and summon Parliament read this pamphlet leticia for the sense it makes John Hampton has promised to read it in Parliament tomorrow Parliament you meet for the first time in 11 years be aware of the King's sudden favor now that the King's minion the Duke of Buckingham has been stabbed in the back by the King's new minion the Earl of Stratford the honorable member from Buckinghamshire will confine his remarks to the resolution on hand shall Parliament grant the King a subsidy in return for abandoning the ship money tax I am dealing with the resolution on hand why can't I tell you the name of the author of this pamphlet or fear of the crowns action against him I say grant his majesty none of the money he asked for until Englishmen are permitted to speak as they think until he ceases to attack other men's form of worship grant him nothing England spoke but not for long this Parliament met three weeks and then was stifled so was I John the coming here to church who the Royal Guard they've traced the pamphlet to you leave I have not finished my devotions finish them elsewhere the Lord comes before any man when I have done with prayers then I shall go I am Peter Holborn will you join me in a prayer for the salvation of our King but at an outstanding the pillory grand SL seditious libeler on both his cheeks certain example your Majesty yes went well tell the star chamber to find him five thousand pounds and then send him to solitary confinement it is time I began to govern thoroughly and thus I fell into the hands of my enemy was made to walk the path to the pillory but the way was strewn with flowers and the humble people of England followed me to Palace Yard where my cheeks were branded stood well the people turned away from the site my wife ascended the platform the web before me don't cry my poor husband pity your king instead he stands condemned here does it hurt the bone on your cheeks what can I do to take away your pain leave with me leticia through all the dark days ahead that all would yet be well with us and England and not only my days were dark but lonely in the solitary confinement of a stone cell let me see my husband I haven't seen him in a year petition not granted his Majesty's orders are Peter Holborn's not to see anyone for the rest of his life but prayers sustained me and faith that beyond the walls that held me were other men who would batter down the walls of tyranny in East Anglia a man had risen who had only the fear of God in him Oliver Cromwell every deed of the king against his people ensures his own destruction King Charles will fall if he heeds not his subjects and Pym able statesmen and member of an old family it is treason for a king to debase the spirit of the subjects I had rather suffer for speaking the truth than that the truth should suffer for want of my speaking apart these iron men of freedom could do little but providence brought about the means of their acting together you will have to call another parliament your Majesty what when well and have the puritan rascals mock me with sedition what if parliament were not composed of puritans but of men loyal to you then you could get money for your war against the scots the House of Commons loyal to me have you turned miracle worker the puritans will need a medical not we your Majesty there are 40 days to election if you convene parliament much could happen in 40 days and much did happen perhaps enough to set an example to all free men from our time on was John Hampton who signed to the heart of the matter royalists are running for election him we must fill the House of Commons with men loyal to the people how it is the people who decide some of them may not understand what the candidates stand for him we must go electioneering electioneering what is that explaining the candidates to the people then we will be certain the king will not pack the House of Commons with his men that's like fighting a campaign without armor no pin we have the armor the righteousness of our cause and our weapon is the sword of the people the vote and I am with you in explaining where to cast that weapon for 40 days and 40 nights John Hampton and him rode over the country urging freeholders to give their votes to the Puritan candidates never had been done this before remember behind every law is the will of the people it is your sacred right to vote vote Puritan the issue is clear absolute monarchy or freedom for Puritan Hampton for Parliament a vote for pin is a vote for purity morals and government freedom of religion and sober government and the Parliament that went with Earl of Stratford had promised his majesty would be a pool of still waters in which Charles Stuart could cast royal pebbles became instead a rising tide of democratic opinion the honorable member from Buckinghamshire resolved that the crown no longer have the power to dismiss Parliament at whim resolved that Parliament meet every three years whether the crown can means it or not for me Stanglia all of a crumb well resolved there should be freedom of worship for all men for all creed rebel is placing itself above the crown I'll have an end to it and to them your majesty I placed my army of Ireland at your disposal they will teach Parliament manners information has reached me that the Earl of Stratford will offer King Charles the use of his Irish army to subjugate us I move for the impeachment of Stratford the charge high treason the penalty of guilty the executioners acts the acts fell and with it many a good man of England for now swords were drawn on both sides in the temple of Puritan and royalist had passed beyond words the King's must on Parliament to rest John Hampton no man in England safe now we're King is marching on how to seize the munitions long live Charles Stuart the first blood was shed at Manchester and thus civil war began the political prisons were opened and I was released I went home not to stay but to say goodbye to my wife you can't go leticia for years I fought with pamphlets now the time has come to take up the sword come back come back I fought under the banner of John Hampton until until I fell here at the Shawgrove Hampton too has fallen somewhere near me there will be many battles before it is over I have no fear of the outcome neither oh heavenly sovereign shall I feel thy judgment which myself soon face for the blood that was shed was done in the name of liberty the sky the sky is nearer heavenly father I commit myself to your mercy forgive our enemy truly they they knew not what they did only Peter Holman but many other good Englishman John Hampton and unknown men from the towns and villages died at Shawgrove fighting other Englishmen for a principle it took many more battles to establish once and for all that absolute monarch in England was God at Marston Moore on July 2nd 1644 the royalists were beaten decisively by a new leader of the people who had emerged Oliver Cromwell while Cromwell was more interested in freedom of religion than in civil rights the men who followed him during the turbulent days of the Commonwealth did plan to the idea of representation firmly into the soil of English government where it has never been uprooted the Puritan revolution lives today in our bill of rights the NBC University of the air has brought you chapter 8 of the historical series we came this way next week we came this way will present the story of education for freedom tonight's script was written by Harry Kleiner and directed by Ira Avery the original music is composed by Leo Kempinski and conducted by Milton Catons featured members of the cast were Louis van Rooton Joseph Wiseman Cecil Roy and Martin Wolfson your narrator was John W. Vandercook this is the national broadcasting company