uttermost in the light of Reason to know whether we shall be
Free-men or Slaves. If we lie still and let you steal away our
birthrights, we perish; and if we petition, we perish also, though
we have paid taxes, given free-quarter, and have ventured our lives
to preserve the Nation's freedom as much as you, and therefore, by
the Law of Contract with you, freedom in the land is our portion
as well as yours, equal with you. And if we strive for Freedom, and
your murdering, governing Laws destroy us, we can but perish."

"Therefore we require and we resolve to take both Common Land and
Common Woods to be a livelihood for us, and look upon you as equal
with us, not above us, knowing very well that England, the Land of
our Nativity, is to be a Common Treasury of Livelihood to all,
without respect of persons.

"So then, we declare unto you that do intend to cut our Common
Woods and Trees, that you shall not do it, unless it be for a stock
for us, and we to know of it by a public declaration abroad, that
the poor oppressed, who live thereabouts, may take it and employ it
for their public use: Therefore take notice, we have demanded it in
the name of the Commons of England, and of all the Nations of the
world, it being the righteous freedom of the Creation."

They then warn all wood-buyers against purchasing from those who would
dispose of such wood for their own private advantage, again emphasising
their contention that they would take it only to provide a common stock
for all. Then they appeal to the Great Council of England for protection
and encouragement, urging that august body to fulfil the promises so
freely made, at the outbreak of the Civil War, to induce them and others
to espouse the Parliament's cause. Apparently they did not expect much