John Wildman Biography

Wildman is involved among the Army's radical civilian allies as the Heads of the Proposals are debated, but later criticises the plan for reflecting the King's interests too strongly

Wildman helps Army radicals prepare a written constitutional challenge to the senior officers before the Putney discussions begin.

Wildman is associated with the radical soldiers who present "The Case of the Army Truly Stated", pressing the Army leadership for constitutional reform

Wildman assists the Agitators and New Agents by presenting radical arguments for the Agreement of the People against the Grandees' more moderate settlement

Wildman and other radical representatives press the Agreement of the People before the Army Council during the Putney Debates

Wildman and other radical representatives press the Agreement of the People before the General Council of the Army during the Putney Debates

Wildman helps present the Agreement of the People before the General Council of the Army, arguing that England's settlement should rest on the people's consent rather than on King, Lords and Commons alone

Wildman takes part before the Army Council as radical soldiers and civilian Leveller advisers press the Agreement of the People against the more moderate Heads of the Proposals

Wildman assists the Army radicals and New Agents at Putney, helping press the Leveller Agreement of the People against the Grandees' more moderate constitutional settlement

Wildman helps present the Agreement of the People to the Army Council as an alternative constitutional settlement.

The Agitators are assisted by some civilians, notably John Wildman and Maximillian Petty, who had been connected to the Army as civilian advisers

The Agitators are assisted by civilians including John Wildman and Maximilian Petty, who had been connected to Army affairs as civilian advisers

Wildman takes part as a civilian adviser to the Army radicals, helping press the Agreement of the People as an alternative to settlement by King, Lords and Commons

Wildman criticises the Heads of the Proposals, arguing that restoring the King's personal rights before securing the people's liberties would betray the Army's cause

Wildman objects that restoring the King's rights would leave the people's grievances insecure and would weaken the constitutional purpose of the Agreement

Wildman's radical constitutional programme is not adopted at Putney, and the result is a modified officer-led approach rather than immediate popular sovereignty

Wildman remains associated with Leveller efforts to secure constitutional guarantees as conflict grows between radicals and the Commonwealth government.