ndezvous
themselves in order to do a greater mischief.

"Signed in the name and by order of the Council of State
appointed by authority of Parliament,

"JOHN BRADSHAW, _President_.

"DERBY HOUSE, _16th April 1649_.

"For the Right Honourable
THOMAS LORD FAIRFAX, Lord General."

Acting on his instructions, within a few days Lord Fairfax was in
possession of the following soldier-like letter from the active
republican officer to whom he had entrusted the business, and who
evidently was not so easily frightened as the Council of State:

"CAPTAIN JOHN GLADMAN TO LORD FAIRFAX.[36:1]
(Slightly Abridged.)

"SIR,--According to your order I marched towards St. Georges Hill
and sent four men before to bring certain intelligence to me; as
they went they met with Mr. Winstanlie and Mr. Everard (which are
the chief men that have persuaded these people to do what they have
done). And when I had enquired of them and of the officers that lie
at Kingston, I saw there was no need to march any further. I cannot
hear that there have been above twenty of them together since they
first undertook the business. Mr. Winstanlie and Mr. Everard have
engaged both to be with you this day: I believe you will be glad to
be rid of them again, especially Everard, who is no other than a
mad man. Sir, I intend to go with two or three men to St. Georges
Hill this day, and persuade these people to leave this employment
if I can, and if then I see no more danger than now I do I shall
march back again to London tomorrow.... Indeed the business is not
worth the writing nor yet taking notice of: I wonder the Council of
State should be so abused with informations....

"JO. GLADMAN.

"KINGSTON, _April 19th, 1649_."

As they had undertaken, Winstanley and Everard duly appeared before
Lord Fairfax at Whitehall, and under date April 20th the following
account of their interview appears in the ponderous pages of Bulstrode
Whitelocke's _Memorial of English Affairs_:[37:1]

"Everard and Winstanley, the chief of those that digged at St.
George's Hill in Surrey, came to the General and made a large
declaration to justify their proceedings.

"Everard said he was of the race of the Jews, that all the
liberties