The (English) Digger Writings

A chronological index to the publications of Gerrard Winstanley and the Diggers, 1648-1652

• The Breaking of the Day of God (May 20, 1648)
• The Saints Paradice [sic] (ca. 1648)
• Truth Lifting up its Head above Scandals (1649, Dedication dated October 16, 1648)
• The Mysterie of God concerning the whole Creation, Mankind (1649) [PDF = 57MB file size]
• The New Law Of Righteousnes Budding Forth, to Restore the Whole Creation from Bondage of the Curse [sic] (January 26, 1649) [NOTE: 6 MB PDF file]
  

And let all men say what they will, so long as such are rulers as call the land theirs, upholding this particular propriety of mine and thine, the common people shall never have their liberty, nor the land be ever freed from troubles, oppressions, and complainings, by reason whereof the Creator of all things is continually provoked...

• The True Levellers Standard Advanced: Or, The State of Community opened, and Presented to the Sons of Men. (April 20, 1649). [aka the First Digger Manifesto] [Scan of original pamphlet NOTE: 2 MB PDF file]

The Work we are going about is this, To dig up Georges-Hill and the waste Ground thereabouts, and to Sow Corn, and to eat our bread together by the sweat of our brows. And the First Reason is this, That we may work in righteousness, and lay the Foundation of making the Earth a Common Treasury for All, both Rich and Poor, That every one that is born in the land, may be fed by the Earth his Mother that brought him forth, according to the Reason that rules in the Creation.

• A Declaration from the Poor Oppressed People of England [aka the Second Digger Manifesto] (June 1, 1649). [Scan of original pamphlet NOTE: 1.5 MB PDF file]

That we must neither buy nor sell. Money must not any longer (after our work of the Earths Community is advanced) be the great god that hedges in some and hedges out others, for money is but part of the Earth; for after our work of the Earthly Community is advanced, we must make use of gold and silver as we do of other metals but not to buy or sell.

• A Letter to the Lord Fairfax, and his Councell of War (June 9, 1649)
• A Declaration of The bloudie and unchristian acting of William Star and John Taylor of Walton (June 22, 1649)
• An Appeal To the House of Commons (July 11, 1649)
• A Watch-Word to the City of London, and the Armie (August 26, 1649) [Scan of original pamphlet NOTE: 3 MB PDF file]
  

Not a full year since, being quiet at my work, my heart was filled with sweet thoughts... That the earth shall be made a common treasury of livlihood to whole mankind, without respect of persons; yet my mind was not at rest, because nothing was acted, and thoughts run in me that words and writings were all nothing and must die, for action is the life of all, and if thou dost not act, thou dost nothing..

• To His Excellency the Lord Fairfax and the Counsell of Warre (December 1649)
• To My Lord Generall and his Councell of Warr (December 8, 1649)
• Several Pieces gathered into one volume (1650, Preface dated December 20, 1649)
• A New yeers Gift for the Parliament and Armie (January 1, 1650)
• Englands Spirit Unfoulded (Ca. February or March, 1650)
• A Vindication of those ... called Diggers (March 4, 1650)
• Fire in the Bush (March 19, 1650)
• An Appeale to all Englishmen (March 26, 1650)
• A Letter taken at Wellingborough (March, 1650)
• An Humble Request, to the Ministers of both Universities, and to all Lawyers in every Inns-a-court (April 9, 1650)
• Letter to Lady Eleanor Davies (December 4, 1650)
• The Law Of Freedom in a Platform, or True Magistracy Restored (1652)