“Informeth, that on Sunday was sennight last,[34:2] there was one Everard, once of the army but was cashiered, who termeth himself a prophet, one Stewer and Colten, and two more, all living at Cobham, came to 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 rendezvous 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: