they are murderers and thieves, and no just rulers.

"Therefore in the light of Reason and Equity, and in the light of
the National Covenant which Parliament and People have taken with
joint consent, all such prerogative customs, which by experience we
have found to burden the Nation, ought to be cast out with the
kingly office, and the Land of England now ought to be a Free Land
and a Common Treasury to all her children, otherwise it cannot
properly be called a Common-wealth."

He then continues:

"Therefore we justify our act of digging upon that Hill to make the
Earth a Common Treasury. First, because the Earth was made by
Almighty God to be a Common Treasury of Livelihood to the whole of
mankind in all its branches, without respect of persons....
Secondly, because all sorts of people have lent assistance of purse
and person to cast out the kingly order as being a burden that
England groaned under. Therefore those from whom money and blood
were received, ought to obtain freedom in the Land to themselves
and posterity, by the Law of Contract between Parliament and
People. But all sorts, poor as well as rich, Tenant as well as Land
Lord, have paid taxes, free-quarter, excise, or adventured their
lives to cast out the kingly office. Therefore all sorts of people
ought to have freedom in this the Land of their Nativity, without
respecting persons, now that kingly power is cast out by their
joint assistance.... Therefore, in that we do dig upon that Hill,
we do not thereby take away other men's rights, nor demand of this
Court, nor from the Parliament, what is theirs and not ours. But we
demand our own to be set free to us, and to them, out of the