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Titus, Silius (pseudonym of William Allen) : Killing No Murder: Briefly Discoursed in Three Questions

Modern brown full leather binding. Gilt bands on spine. 5" x 7 3/4." Twenty-six pages, complete. Pages and covers are virtually pristine and intact, remarkable given the age of the publication. Binding is tight. A Fine copy. A propagandist pamphlet calling for the killing of tyrants and the assassination of Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658). The pamphlet lays out fourteen characteristics of a tyrant and argues that tyrannicide is a noble cause. This edition names the author as Colonel Silius Titus (1623-1704), an English politician, and his pen name, William Allen. The pamphlet is sometimes attributed to Edward Sexby (1616-1658), an English soldier, who apparently confessed to writing the publication when he was imprisoned at the Tower of London following his arrest. Other sources suggest the pamphlet was co-authored by Titus and Sexby. While William Allen was an actual English New Army Model trooper, several historians state that he played no role in the writing and publication of the pamphlet and that his name was simply used as a pseudonym of TItus, Sexby, or both. Killing No Murder was first published in 1657. Titus and Sexby were two conspirators who plotted to assassinate Cromwell during his reign as Lord Protector from 1653-1658. Sexby had once served under Cromwell but became disenchanted with his role as a soldier after the dissolution of Parliament in 1653. Titus evaded imprisonment, but Sexby was arrested and subsequently imprisoned at the Tower of London for his association with this pamphlet and for his plans to assassinate Cromwell. Oliver Cromwell was an English general and member of Parliament during the English Civil Wars who became Lord Protector after the execution of King Charles I. Cromwell was one of the signatories of Charles's death warrant. He was a controversial figure in his time especially regarding his political and religious policies towards Protestants and Catholics. Cromwell was never assassinated and he was succeeded by his son, Richard, in 1658 upon his passing. However, Richard Cromwell's reign was short-lived as the monarchy was restored in 1660 under King Charles II. To this day, Oliver Cromwell remains one of the most controversial figures in the history of what is now the United Kingdom and Ireland, who is considered a ruthless dictator by some, a revolutionary hero to others.. Book. Book Condition: Fine. Binding: Hardcover

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