Men & Devills

Once again wishing everyone worldwide a happy Freeborn John Day, this time with a copy of Truths Victory Over Tyrants & Tyranny (being the Tryall of that Worthy Assertor of his Countreys Freedoms, Lieftenant Colonell JOHN LILBURNE, Defender of the Ancient and known Laws of England, against Men and Devills, whether in King, Parliament, Army or Counsell of State; printed in the fall of Tyranny, 1649. You have to hand it to those 17th century types; they couldn't half knock out a snappy title).

We're also coming up on the 175th anniversary of the 1839 Chartist uprisings, during which the populations of Birmingham and the Black Country rioted against Parliament's refusal to grant working men the right to vote, and ended up burning the city, and with the likes of UKIP preying on the disenfranchised with false promises, Freeborn John's words are even more resonant this year. Take heed, all ye free commons of England.