instrument to cast out that Conqueror, and to recover our Land and
Liberties again, by your Victories, out of that Norman hand."

Winstanley then indicates Cromwell's duty, as well as the alternative
ways open to him, in the following words:

"That which is wanting on your part to be done is this, To see the
Oppressor's Power be cast out with his person; and to see that the
free possession of the Land and Liberties be put into the hands of
the Oppressed Commoners of England. For the Crown of Honor cannot
be yours, neither can these Victories be called victories on your
part, till the Land and Freedom won be possessed by them that
adventured person and purse for them.

"Now you know, Sir, that the Kingly Conqueror was not beaten by you
only, as you are a single man, nor by the Officers of the Army
joined to you; but by the hand and assistance of the Commoners,
whereof some came in person and adventured their lives with you,
others stayed at home and planted the Earth, and paid Taxes and
gave Free Quarter to maintain you that went to war.... And now you
have the Power of the Land in your hand, you must do one of these
two things: First, either set the Land free to the Oppressed
Commoners who assisted you ... and so take possession of your
deserved honor. Or, secondly, you must only remove the Conqueror's
power out of the King's hand into other men's, maintaining the old
laws still; and then your wisdom and honor will be blasted for
ever, and you will either lose yourself, or lay the foundation of
greater slavery to posterity than you ever knew."

A marvellous prophecy, truly! Cromwell could see nothing in Winstanley's
demands save that they tended "to make the Tenant as liberal a fortune
as the Land-lord,"[165:1] which did not conform to his sense of the
eternal fitness of things. Winstanley then continues:

"You know that while the King was in the height of his oppressing
power, the People only whispered in private chambers against him;
but afterwards it was preached upon the house-tops, that he was a
Tyrant, a Traitor to England's Peace: and he had his overturn.

"The Righteous Power in the Creation is the same still. If you and
those in power with you should be found walking in the King's
steps, can you secure yourselves or posterities from an overturn?
Surely No.