from them, as their appeal commences in the following somewhat
hesitating manner:

"And we hope we may not doubt (at least we expect) that they that
are called the Great Council and Powers of England, who so often
have declared themselves by promises and by covenants, and have
confirmed them by multitude of fasting days, and devout
protestations to make England a free people, upon condition they
would pay moneys and adventure their lives against the successor of
the Norman Conqueror, under whose oppressing power England was
enslaved. And we look upon that freedom promised to be the
inheritance of all, without respect of persons. And this cannot be
unless the Land of England be freely set at liberty from
proprietors and becomes a Common Treasury to all her children, as
every portion of the Land of Canaan was the common livelihood of
such and such a Tribe, and of every member of that Tribe, without
exception, neither hedging in any, nor hedging out.

"We say we hope we need not doubt of their sincerity to us herein,
and that they will not gainsay our determinate course. Howsoever,
their actions will prove to the view of all either their sincerity
or their hypocrisy. We know what we speak is our privilege and that
our cause is righteous; and if they doubt of it, let them but send
a child for us to come before them, and we will make it manifest
some ways."

They then advance the grounds for their demands in the following
incisive words:

"_First_, By the National Covenant, which yet stands in force to