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Killing No Murder

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description Killing No Murder Overview

Killing No Murder is a political pamphlet published in 1657 under the name of Edward Sexby, a former soldier and agitator in the New Model Army. The text controversially argues that assassinating Oliver Cromwell, then the Lord Protector of England, was a lawful and moral act necessary to liberate the country from his perceived tyranny. Sexby justified his position by drawing upon historical and philosophical arguments regarding tyrannicide and the preservation of natural rights. The pamphlet deeply threatened Cromwell's government, leading to Sexby's subsequent arrest.

help Killing No Murder FAQ

Who wrote Killing No Murder?

The 1657 pamphlet was published under the name Edward Sexby, but its authorship is disputed. The Folger Shakespeare Library identifies Edward Sexby and Silius Titus as the likely joint authors, while William Allen was used as the attributed name in one edition.

What argument does Killing No Murder make about Oliver Cromwell?

It argues that Cromwell, then Lord Protector of England, had become a tyrant and that killing a tyrant could be lawful and morally justified. The pamphlet is addressed directly to “His Highnesse, Oliver Cromwell.”

Why is Killing No Murder historically controversial?

It did not merely criticize Cromwell's government; it defended tyrannicide and encouraged his assassination. The 1657 text therefore sits at the intersection of Leveller politics, the English Protectorate, and seventeenth-century arguments about lawful resistance.

How long is the original 1657 pamphlet?

A Folger Library copy is a 16-page quarto pamphlet printed in 1657. Its catalog record also notes that the imprint was issued in Holland and that the title page was addressed to Oliver Cromwell.

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