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Sea Green Singers - Bonny Besses
- Lyrics and score |
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Bonny Besses - Rev Hammer Chorus |
And Parliament said, “Women go tidy your beds!” Chorus Forty Thousand names wanted to break those chains, Chorus |
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Women’s Demonstration March 1649 “Bonnie Besses” celebrates a march by 800 women. They were protesting at the arrest of the Leveller leaders, including ‘Free born John’ (John Lilburn) arrested by Cromwell and taken to the Tower of London at the beginning of the counter-revolution. The Leveller colours were sea green (as represented in our tricolour) and hence the reference to ‘sea green’ dresses. Bess gallops to Oxford Castle Bess delivered the letter personally to the House of Commons on Friday 16 December. The requested reply was published on the following day and permission was granted for Elizabeth to deliver the document herself. This left two clear days before the trial for the reply to be delivered. It was mid winter and Bess was three months pregnant when she undertook the difficult and dangerous journey on horseback to Oxford. She galloped overnight, as fast as she could and made it just in time; the trial was called off and her husband’s life was saved. It took another five months before a prisoner exchange was arranged and then John returned to London a hero. |