Diggers

The political and social upheaval that resulted from the English Civil War in the seventeenth century [effectively two conflicts between 1642 -1646 and 1647/48] led to the development of a set of radical ideas centred around movements known as ‘Diggers’ and ‘Levellers’

A declaration from the poor oppressed people of England, directed to all those that call themselves, or are called Lords of Manors, through this nation; That have begun to cut, or that through fear and covetousness, do intend to cut down the Woods and Trees that grow upon the Commons and Waste Land.

Printed in the Yeer, 1649.

[Chapter IV from The Digger Movement In The Days Of The Commonwealth, by Lewis H. Berens. Taken from the Project Gutenberg text.]

A printable pamphlet version of The True Levellers Standard Advanced.

Presented in PDF format (80kb).

The True Levellers Standard Advanced: Or, The State of Community Opened, and Presented to the Sons of Men.

Gerrard Winstanley (1649)