| Full Text: | "DIGGERS, a small group of extreme radicals founded by Winstanley, who began digging the common at St. George's Hill, Surrey (1649).
"Opposed to physical force, they were easily suppressed by the army leaders. They held that the political revolution must be based on a social revolution, and wished to restore the land to the people."
From _A New Dictionary of British History_
"And thus in love we have declared the purpose of our hearts plainly, without flatterie, expecting love, and the same sincerity from you, without grumbling, or quarreling, being Creatures of your own Image and mould, intending no other matter herein, but to observe the Law of righteous action, endeavoring to shut out of the Creation, the cursed thing, called _Particular Propriety_, which is the cause of all wars, blood-shed, theft, and enslaving Laws, that hold the people under miserie.
"Signed for and in behalf of all the poor oppressed people of _England_, and the whole world.
Gerrard Winstanley, (et al) June 1, 1649" |
