Winstanley (1976)

Regular readers will be aware of my admiration for the Diggers and Gerrard Winstanley.
Kevin Brownlow's  1976  film Winstanley is well worth a look- painstaking authenticity in depicting 17th century life.  Winstanley's writings are used throughout.

Gerrard Winstanley

The following are extracts from the works of Gerrard Winstanley, written 360 years ago. Great stuff.

Therefore we are resolved to be cheated no longer, nor to be held under the slavish fear of you no longer, see the Earth was made for us, as well as for you: And if the Common Land belongs to us who are the poor oppressed...
yet my mind was not at rest, because nothing was acted, and thoughts run in me that words and writings were all nothing, and must die, for action is the life of all, and if thou dost not act, thou dost nothing.
From: A Watch-Word to the City of London and the Armie, August 1649

So long as the earth is intagled and appropriated into particular hands and kept there by the power of the sword......so long the creation lies under bondage.
From: Fire in the Bush 1650

Those that Buy and Sell Land, and are landlords, have got it either by Oppression, or Murther, or Theft.
From: A Declaration from the Poor Oppressed People of England Directed to all that Call Themselves or are Called Lords of Manors, 1649

This declares likewise to all Labourers, or such as are called Poor people, that they shall not dare to work for Hire, for any Landlord, or any that is lifted up above others; for by their labours, they have lifted up Tyrants and Tyranny; and by denying to labour for Hire, they shall pull them down again. He that works for another, either for Wages or to pay him Rent, works unrighteously,
From: The True Levellers Standard Advanced - April, 1649

Gerrard Winstanley.

This year marks the 400th anniversary of the birth of Gerrard Winstanley.
Heres a link to a lectue by John Gurney given at Newcastle University back in April:
ENGLAND’S GREATEST RADICAL? GERRARD WINSTANLEY, THE DIGGER, 1609 – 1676.
There's an audio download of the comprehensive 2 hr lecture.