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:

"You blame us who are the Common People as though we would have no
government. Truly, Gentlemen, we desire a righteous government with
all our hearts. But the Government we have gives freedom and
livelihood to the Gentry, to have abundance, and to lock up
Treasures of the Earth from the Poor; so that rich men may have
chests full of gold and silver, and houses full of corn and goods
to look upon, while the Poor who work to get it can hardly live;
and if they cannot work like slaves, then they must starve. Thus
the Law gives all the Land to some part of mankind, whose
predecessors got it by conquest, and denies it to others, who by
the Righteous Law of Creation may claim an equal portion. And yet
you say this is a Righteous Government, but surely it is no other
than selfishness."

His indignation again gets the mastery of him, and he continues