"Moreover, men in place and office, where greatness and honor is
coming in, may sooner be corrupted to bring in particular interest
than a whole Land can be, who must either suffer sorrow under a
burdensome Law, or rejoice under a Law of Freedom. And surely those
men who are not willing to enslave the people will be unwilling to
consent hereunto.
"THE WORK OF A PARLIAMENT--THIRDLY,
"Is to see all those burdens removed actually, which have hindered
or do hinder the oppressed People from the enjoyment of their
Birth-Rights.
"If their Common Lands be under the oppression of Lords of Manors,
they are to see the Land freed from that slavery.
"If the Commonwealth Land be sold by the hasty counsel of subtle,
covetous and ignorant Officers, who act for their own particular
interest, and so hath entangled the Commoners' Land again, under
colour of being bought and sold: then a Parliament is to examine
what authority any had to sell or buy the Commonwealth's Land
without a general consent of the People: FOR IT IS NOT ANY ONE'S,
BUT EVERY ONE'S BIRTH-RIGHT. And if some through covetousness and
self-interest gave consent privately, yet a Parliament, who is the
Father of the Land, ought not to give consent to buy and sell that
Land which is all the children's birth-right, and the price of
their labors, moneys and blood.
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