soldiery in
the beginning of the War, I was beaten out of both estate and
trade, and forced to accept of the good-will of friends, crediting
of me, to live a Country life. There likewise by the burthen of
Taxes and much Free Quarter my weak back found the burthen heavier
than I could bear. Yet in all the passages of these eight years
troubles, I have been willing to lay out what my talent was, to
procure England's peace inward and outward; and yet all along I
have found such as in words have professed the same cause to be
enemies to me."

It then briefly summarises Winstanley's past actions, as well as the
causes that inspired them, and the position in which he finds himself in
consequence thereof, as follows:

"Not a full year since, being quiet at my work, my heart was filled
with sweet thoughts, and many things were revealed to me which I
never read in books, nor heard from the mouth of any flesh. When I
began to speak of them some people could not bear my words. Amongst
these revelations this was one, _That the Earth shall be made a
Common Treasury of Livelihood to whole mankind without respect of
persons._

"And I had a voice within me that bade me declare it by word all
abroad, which I did obey, for I declared it by word of mouth
wheresoever I came. Then I was made to write a little book called
the New Law of Righteousness, and therein I declared it. Yet my
mind was not at rest, because nothing was acted; and thoughts ran
in me that words and writings were all nothing and must die; for
action is the life of all, and if thou dost not act, thou dost
nothing.

"Within a little time I was made obedient to the word in that
particular likewise. For I took my spade and went and broke the
ground upon George Hill in Surrey, thereby declaring Freedom to the
Creation, and that the Earth must be set free from entanglement of
Lords and Land Lords, and that it shall become a Common Treasury to
all, as it was first made and given to the sons of men.

"For which doing ... the old Norman Prerogative Lord of that Manor
caused me to be arrested for a trespass against him in digging upon
that barren Heath. And the unrighteous proceedings of Kingston
Court I have declared to thee and to the whole Land that you may
consider the case England is in."

The D