St. George's Hill in Surrey, and began to dig on that side
the hill next to Campe Close, and sowed the ground with parsnips,
carrots, and beans. On Monday following they were there again,
being increased in their number, and on the next day, being
Tuesday, they fired the heath, and burned at least forty rood of
heath, which is a very great prejudice to the town. On Friday last
they came again, between twenty and thirty, and wrought all day at
digging. They did then intend to have two or three ploughs at work,
but they had not furnished themselves with seed-corn, which they
did on Saturday at Kingston. They invite all to come in and help
them, and promise them meat, drink, and clothes. They do threaten
to pull down and level all park pales, and lay open, and intend to
plant there very shortly. They give out they will be four or five
thousand within ten days, and threaten the neighbouring people
there, that they will make them all come up to the hills and work:
and forewarn them suffering their cattle to come near the
plantation; if they do, they will cut their legs off. It is feared
they have some design in hand.

"HENRY SANDERS.

"_16 April 1649._"

The Council of State were sufficiently impressed by this letter to
forward it the same day to Lord Fairfax, the Lord General of the armed
forces of the Commonwealth, with the following despatch:

"THE COUNCIL OF STATE TO LORD FAIRFAX.[35:1]

"MY LORD,--By the narrative enclosed your Lordship will be informed
of what relation hath been made to this Council of a disorderly and
tumultuous sort of people assembling themselves together not far
from Oatlands, at a place called St. George's Hill; and although
the pretence of their being there by them avowed may seem very
ridiculous, yet that conflux of people may be a beginning whence
things of a greater and more dangerous consequence may grow, to the
disturbance of the peace and quiet of the Commonwealth. We
therefore recommend it to your Lordship's care that some force of
horse may be sent to Cobham in Surrey and thereabouts, with orders
to disperse the people so met, and to prevent the like for the
future, that a malignant and disaffected party may not under colour
of such ridiculous people have any opportunity to re