alas! oppression is a great tree still, and keeps off the Sun of Freedom from the poor Commons still.  He hath many branches and great roots which must be grubbed up, before everyone can sing Zion’s song in peace.”

After again praising the two Acts of Parliament—­“the one to cast out Kingly Power; the other to make England a free Common-wealth”—­and detailing his grievances against the Tything Priests and Lords of Manors, he continues: 

“Search all your Laws, and I’ll adventure my life, for I have little else to lose, that all Lords of Manors hold Title to the Commons by no stronger hold than the King’s Will, whose head is cut off; and the King held title as he was a Conqueror.  Now if you cast off the King who was the head of that power, surely the power of Lords of Manors is the same.  Therefore perform your own Act of Parliament, and cast out that part of the Kingly Power likewise, that the People may see that you understand what you say and do, and that you are faithful.  For truly the Kingly Power reigns strongly in the Lords of Manors over the Poor.  For my own particular, I have in other writings, as well as in this, declared my reasons why the Common Land is the Poor People’s propriety; and I have digged upon the Commons; and I hope in time to obtain the freedom to get food and raiment therefrom by righteous labour:  which is all I desire.  And for so doing the supposed Lord of that Manor hath arrested me twice.  First in an Action of L20 trespass for plowing upon the Commons, which I never did....  And now they have arrested me again in an Action of L4 trespass for digging upon the Commons, which I did, and own the work to be righteous and no trespass to any.  This was the Attorney at Kingstone’s advice, either to get money from both sides ... or else that I should not remove the action to a Higher Court, but that the cause might be tried there.  For they know how to please Lords of Manors, that have resolved to spend hundreds of pounds but they will hinder the Poor from enjoying the Commons.”

Then he gives utterance to the sense of indignation which filled his heart in the following bitter and contemptuous words: 

“Do these men obey the Parliament’s Acts, to throw down Kingly Power?  O no!  The same unrighteous doing that was complained of in King Charles’ days, the same doing is among them still.  Money will buy and sell Justice still.  And is our eight years’ war come round about to lay us down again in the Kennel of Injustice as much or more than before?  Are we no farther learned yet?  O ye Rulers of England, when must we turn over a new leaf?  Will you always hold us in one lesson?  Surely you will make Dunces of us; then all the Boys in other Lands will laugh at us!  Come, I pray, let us take forth and go forward in our learning!”

Winstanley’s zeal for the cause he had espoused was, however, too real to allow him to continue long in this strain, so he immediately adopts a more persuasive tone, as follows: