=Source.=--Whitelocke, _Memorials_. P. 396, folio edition, 1732.
_April._--The Council of State had intelligence of new Levellers
at St. _Margaret's_ Hill, near _Cobham_ in _Surrey_, and at St.
_George's_ Hill, and that they digged the Ground, and sowed it with
Roots and Beans; one _Everard_, once of the Army, and who terms
himself a Prophet, is the chief of them; and they were about thirty
Men, and said that they should be shortly four thousand.
They invited all to come in and help them, and promised them Meat,
Drink, and Clothes; they threaten to pull down Park Pales, and to lay
all open, and threaten the Neighbours that they will shortly make
them all come up to the Hills and work.
The General sent two Troops of Horse to have account of them.
* * * * *
[A few days later (p. 397).]
Everard and Winstanley, the chief of those that digged at St.
George's Hill in Surrey, came to the General and made a large
Declaration to justify their Proceedings.
Everard said, he was of the Race of the Jews, that all the Liberties
of the People were lost by the coming in of William the Conqueror,
and that ever since, the People of God had lived under Tyranny and
Oppression worse than that of our Forefathers under the Egyptians.
But now the time of the Deliverance was at hand, and God would bring
his People out of this Slavery, and restore them to their Freedom in
enjoying the Fruits and Benefits of the Earth.
And that there had lately appeared to him a Vision, which bad him
arise and dig and plow the Earth, and receive the Fruits thereof,
that their Intent is to restore the Creation to its former condition.
That as God had promised to make the barren Land fruitful, so now
what they did, was to renew the ancient Community of enjoying the
Fruits of the Earth, and to distribute the Benefit thereof to the
poor and needy, and to feed the hungry and clothe the naked.
That they intend not to meddle with any Man's Property, nor to break
down any Pales or Inclosures; but only to meddle with what was common
and untilled, and to make it fruitful for the use of Man; that the
time will suddenly be, that all Men shall willingly come in, and give
up their Lands and Estates, and submit to this Community.
And for those that will come in and work, they should have Meat,
Drink, and Clothes, which is all that is necessary to the Life of
Man, and that for Money there was not any need of it, nor of Clothes
more than to cover Nakedness.
That they will not defend themselves by Arms, but will submit unto
Authority, and wait till the promised Opportunity be offered, which
they conceive to be at hand. And that as their Forefathers lived in
Tents, so it would be suitable to their Condition now to live in the
same, with more to the like Effect.
While they were before the General they stood with their Hats on,
and being demanded the Reason thereof, they said, because he was
but their fellow Creature; being asked the meaning of that Place,
Give honour to whom honour is due, they said, their Mouths should be
stopped that gave them that Offence.
I have set down this the more largely, because it was the beginning
of the Appearance of this Opinion; and that we might the better
understand and avoid these weak Persuasions.