"
Winstanley then declares that their opponents were but "one or two
covetous freeholders that would have all the Commons to themselves, and
that would uphold the Norman tyranny," and still further explains his
position, as follows:
"We told you, upon a question you put to us, that we were not
against any that would have Magistrates and Laws to govern, as the
Nations of the World are governed, but that, for our own parts, we
shall need neither the one nor the other in that nature of
government. For as our land is common, so our cattle is to be
common, and our corn and fruits of the earth common, and are not to
be bought and sold among us, but to remain a standing portion of
livelihood to us and our children, without that cheating
entanglement of buying and selling; and we shall not arrest one
another. And then what need have we of imprisoning, whipping or
hanging laws to bring one another into bondage? And we know that
none of those that are subject to this righteous law dares arrest
or enslave his brother for or about the objects of the Earth,
because the Earth is made by our Creator to be a Common Treasury of
Livelihood to one equal with another, without respect of
persons.... What need have we of any outward, selfish, confused
laws, made to uphold the Power of Covetousness, when we have the
Righteous Law written in our hearts, teaching us to walk purely in
the Creation.
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