“THE TRUE LEVELLERS STANDARD ADVANCED:[95:1]

     OR

     THE STATE OF COMMUNITY OPENED AND PRESENTED TO THE SONS OF MEN.

     BY

     WILLIAM EVERARD. 
     JOHN PALMER. 
     JOHN SOUTH. 
     JOHN COURTON. 
     WILLIAM TAYLOR. 
     CHRISTOPHER CLIFFORD. 
     JOHN BARKER. 
     GERRARD WINSTANLEY. 
     RICHARD GOODGROOME. 
     THOMAS STARRE. 
     WILLIAM HOGGRILL. 
     ROBERT SAWYER. 
     THOMAS EDER. 
     HENRY BICKERSTAFFE. 
     JOHN TAYLOR, etc.

     Beginning to plant and manure the Waste Land upon Georges Hill, in
     the Parish of Walton, in the County of Surrey.”

The pamphlet opens with a Preface by a certain John Taylor, whose name appears last on the list of signatures attached thereto, and who was probably one of Winstanley’s more recent converts.  In it he states that he has had “some conversation with the author of this ensuing declaration, and the persons subscribing, and by experience find them sweetly acted and guided by the everlasting Spirit, the Prince of Peace, to walk in the paths of Righteousness.”  “Such as these,” he declares, “shall be partakers of the promise—­Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth.”

The body of the pamphlet itself is headed: 

“A DECLARATION TO THE POWERS OF ENGLAND, AND TO ALL THE POWERS OF
THE WORLD, shewing the cause why the Common People of England
have begun and give consent to dig up, manure, and sow corn
upon George Hill in Surrey, by those that have subscribed, and
thousands more that give consent.”

It commences as follows: 

“In the beginning of time the great Creator, Reason, made the Earth to be a Common Treasury to preserve beasts, birds, fishes and man, the Lord who was to govern this Creation.  For man had dominion given him over the beasts, birds and fishes; but not one word was spoken in the beginning that one branch of mankind should rule over another....  But since human flesh began to delight himself in the objects of the Creation more than in the Spirit of Reason and Righteousness ... and selfish imagination ruling as King in the room of Reason therein, and working with Covetousness, did set up one man to teach and rule over another; and thereby the Spirit was killed, and Man was brought into bondage and became a greater slave to some of his own kind than the beasts of the field were to him.  Hereupon the Earth (which was made to be a Common Treasury of Relief for all, both beasts and men) was hedged into enclosures by the Teachers and Rulers, and the others were made Servants and Slaves.  And the Earth, which was made to be a Common Storehouse for all, is bought and sold and kept within the hands of a few, whereby the Great Creator is mightily dishonoured, as if He were a respecter of persons, delighting in the comfortable livelihood of some, and rejoicing in the miserable poverty and straits of others.”

Winstanley then makes his appeal to those who had been entrusted with the government of the Nation, in the following touching and yet suggestive words: