"Informeth, that on Sunday was sennight last,[34:2] there was one
Everard, once of the army but was cashiered, who termeth himself a
prophet, one Stewer and Colten, and two more, all living at Cobham,
came to St. George's Hill in Surrey, and began to dig on that side
the hill next to Campe Close, and sowed the ground with parsnips,
carrots, and beans. On Monday following they were there again,
being increased in their number, and on the next day, being
Tuesday, they fired the heath, and burned at least forty rood of
heath, which is a very great prejudice to the town. On Friday last
they came again, between twenty and thirty, and wrought all day at
digging. They did then intend to have two or three ploughs at work,
but they had not furnished themselves with seed-corn, which they
did on Saturday at Kingston. They invite all to come in and help
them, and promise them meat, drink, and clothes. They do threaten
to pull down and level all park pales, and lay open, and intend to
plant there very shortly. They give out they will be four or five
thousand within ten days, and threaten the neighbouring people
there, that they will make them all come up to the hills and work:
and forewarn them suffering their cattle to come near the
plantation; if they do, they will cut their legs off. It is feared
they have some design in hand.

"HENRY SANDERS.

"_16 April 1649._"

The Council of State were sufficiently impressed by this letter to
forward it the same day to Lord Fairfax, the Lord General of the armed
forces of the Commonwealth, with the following despatch: