-wealth, and a Free People indeed."

Winstanley then declares that despite all their trouble and anxiety the
Diggers were still "mightily cheerful," and resolved "to wait upon God
to see what He will do ... taking it a great happiness to be persecuted
for righteousness' sake by the Priests and Professors that are the
successors of Judas and the bitter spirited Pharisees that put the man
Christ to death." He then again advances the reasons on which he bases
the equal claims of all to the use of the earth, denounces the sources
whence the exclusive claims of the few have sprung, more especially the
tyrannical claims of Lords of Manors, boldly claiming that from this
tyranny of man to man England should have been freed by the recent
casting out of kingly power--and continues:

"Therefore I say, the Common Land is my own Land, equal with my
Fellow Commoners; and our true propriety by the Law of Creation.
_It is every ones, but not one single ones._ Yea, the Commons are
as truly ours by the last excellent two Acts of Parliament, the
foundation of England's new Righteous Government aimed at, as the
Elder Brothers can say the Enclosures are theirs. For they ventured
their lives and covenanted with us to help them preserve their
Freedom; and we adventured our lives and they covenanted with us to
purchase and to give us our Freedom, that hath been hundreds of
years kept from us."

The first part of this pamphlet concludes as follows:

"_Damona non Armis sed Morte subegit Jesus._

"By patient sufferings, not by Death,
Christ did the devil kill:
And by the same still to this day,
His foes he conquers still.

"True Religion and undefiled is this: To make Restitution of the
Earth, which hath been taken and held from the Common People by the
power of Conquests formerly, and to set the oppressed free. Do not
all strive to enjoy the land? The Gentry strive for land; the
Clergy strive for land; the Common People strive for land; and
Buying and Selling is an Art whereby People endeavour to cheat one
another of the land. Now, if any can prove from the Law of
Righteousness that the land was made peculiar to him and his
successively, shutting others out, he shall enjoy it freely for my
part. But I affirm, it was made for all; and true Religion is to
let everyone enjoy it. Therefore you Rulers