ogative, when he
rules in one over another; and in the name of State Privilege of
Parliament, when he rules in many over others.... While this Kingly
Power ruled in a man called Charles, all sorts of people complained
of oppression, both Gentry and Common People, because their lands,
enclosures and copyholds were entangled, and because their Trade
was destroyed by Monopolising Patentees, and your troubles were
that you could not live free from oppression in the earth.
Thereupon you that were the Gentry, when you were assembled in
Parliament, you called upon the Common People to come and help you
to cast out oppression: and you that complained are helped and
freed, and that top-bough is lopped off the Tree of Tyranny, and
Kingly Power in that one particular is cast out. But, 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