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:

"O thou Powers of England! though thou hast promised to make this
people a Free People, yet thou hast so ha