sense concerning those our
fundamental rights and liberties, to assert and vindicate the just power
and rights of this Kingdom in Parliament for those common ends promised
against all arbitrary power, violence and oppression, and against all
particular parties or interests whatsoever."

[95:1] King's Pamphlets. British Museum, Press Mark, E. 552. In the
British Museum Catalogue the Preface is attributed to John Taylor the
Water Poet; but, to judge from his other writings, this is probably an
error.

CHAPTER X

A LETTER TO LORD FAIRFAX AND HIS COUNCIL OF WAR; AND AN APPEAL TO THE
HOUSE OF COMMONS

"For you must either establish Commonwealth's Freedom in power,
making provision for everyone's peace, which is Righteousness, or
else you must set up Monarchy again. Monarchy is twofold, either
for one king to reign, or for many to rule by kingly principles.
For the king's power lies in his laws, not in his name. And if
either one king rule, or many rule by kingly principles, much
murmuring, grudges, troubles, and quarrels may and will arise among
the oppressed people upon every gained opportunity."--WINSTANLEY,
_The Law of Freedom_.

Within a few days of Lord Fairfax's visit to the Diggers, already
recorded, and about two months after the publication of _The True
Levellers Standard Advanced_, Winstanley, on June 9th, 1649, again made
his appearance at the headquarters of the Army, the bearer of a letter,
which, as he tells us, he himself delivered to the Lord General, "who
very mildly promised to read it and consider of it":

"A LETTER TO LORD FAIRFAX AND HIS COUNCIL OF WAR:[100:1]

With divers questions to the Lawyers and Ministers: Proving it an
undeniable equity that the Common People ought to dig, plow,
plant and dwell upon the Commons without hiring them or paying
Rent to any.

Delivered to the General and his Chief Officers, June 9th, 1649, by
Gerrard Winstanley in the behalf of those who have begun to dig
upon George Hill in Surrey."

The letter opens as follows:

"Our digging and ploughing upon George Hill in Surrey is not
unknown to you, since you have seen some of our persons, and heard
us speak in defence thereof; and we did receive kindness and
moderation from you and your Council of War, both when some of us
were at Whitehall before you, and when you came in perso