And also we find that God never gave it to any sort of people that
they should have it all to themselves, and shut out all the rest,
but He saith, The Earth hath He given to the children of men, which
is every man.
"2. We find that no creature that ever God made was ever deprived
of the benefit of the Earth, but Mankind; and that it is nothing
but covetousness, pride and hardness of heart that hath caused man
so far to degenerate.
"3. We find in the Scriptures, that the Prophets and Apostles have
left it upon record, That in the last day the oppressor and proud
man shall cease, and God will restore the waste places of the Earth
to the use and comfort of man, and that none shall hurt nor destroy
in all His Holy Mountain.
"4. We have great encouragement from these two righteous Acts,
which the Parliament of England have set forth, the one against
Kingly Power and the other to make England a Free Common-wealth.
"5. We are necessitated from our present necessity to do this, and
we hope that our actions will justify us in the gate, when all men
shall know the truth of our necessity:
"We are in Wellinborrow in one parish 1169 persons that receive
alms, as the Officers have made it appear at the Quarter Sessions
last. We have made our case known to the Justices; the Justices
have given order that the Town should raise a stock to set us on
work, and that the Hundred should be enjoyned to assist them.
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