Friends of Freedom

Based on true stories.

by Sally Latham-Lawrence

From Prison to Parliament: The Seeds of Liberty

Set amid the turmoil of 17th-century England, Friends of Freedom traces the courage of religious dissenters who set out to reshape the nation’s conscience. While heads of state and their bishops fight to preserve their power, these humble visionaries—imprisoned, mocked, too-often silenced—lay the groundwork for ideas destined to outlast them: freedom of conscience, equality before the law, and the right to worship without fear. Their quiet defiance inspires the English Bill of Rights—and, within another century, the principles enshrined in the American Bill of Rights.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Friends Against a Kingdom

Before the colonies spoke independence, while the monarchy was yet dethroned, young Thomas Lightfoot set out with George Whitehead, a seventeen-year-old preaching dangerous truths. One was destined to stand before kings; the other to sow a lasting legacy. But first: prison.