Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
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A82125
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A declaration of the bloudie and unchristian acting of William Star and John Taylor of Walton, vvith divers men in womens apparell, in opposition to those that dig upon George-hill in Surrey.
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1649
(1649)
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Wing D644; Thomason E561_6; ESTC R206011
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2,540
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7
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A DECLARATION OF The bloudie and unchristian acting of William Star and John Taylor OF WALTON VVith divers men in womens apparell in opposition to those that dig upon George-hill in Surrey June 22 LONDON Printed for Giles Calvers at the black Spread-Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1649. A DECLARATION OF The bloody and unchristian acting of WILLIAM STAR and JOHN TAYLOR OF WALTON VVith divers men in womens apparell in opposition to those that dig upon George-hill in Surrey c. UPon the 11. day of June 1649. foure men only being fitting and preparing the ground for a winter season upon that Common called George-hill there came to them William Starr of Walton and Iohn Taylor two free-holders being on horseback having at their heels some men in womens apparell on foot with every one a staffe or club and as soon as they came to the diggers would not speak like men but like bruit beasts that have no understanding they fell furiously upon them beating and striking those foure naked men beating them to the ground breaking their heads and sore bruising their bodies whereof one is so sore bruised that it is feared he will not escape with life These foure men all the time were quiet and patient willing and resolving to deliver up their lives unto their Creator at that time knowing no other but that the others purpose was to murder and it is believed when those furious divells Taylor and Starr went from them they thought they had been dead in regard they left them feeble and weak and sore wounded lying upon the ground yet after some time recovering strength three were able to rise and walk the fourth that is in danger of his life was brought home in a cart being not able to move yet very cheerfull all of them in spirit not willing to seek revenge but have committed their cause to him that judges righteously to whom vengeance belongs resolving as soon as their bodies are well to go on in that righteous work and if the Father have purposed that the life of their bodies must be sacrificed to justifie this cause they find a quiet and contented willingnesse to submit to his will One thing may be observed to set forth the malicious wickednesse in Taylor and Star which is this These foure men desired that they would bring them before their Law to answer in justification of the work yet those divells with the men in womens apparell would not agree to that but fell on beating with their long staves upon their bodies without mercie a testimony sufficient that this cause of digging is just and good in regard of the furious and bloudy actings of men against such as carrie on the work with love and patience which is a strange thing in a Christian Land and done by such men as are professing Christians considering withall that these diggers do only make use of the Commons seeing they have paid taxes and given free-quarter and therefore by the Law of contract ought to have freedom therein as well as the free-holders have freedom in their Inclosures the diggers declaring they will neither meddle with Corn Cattell nor inclosure Land but only in the Commons and that they are ready to answer to all the Laws of the Land as Defendents but not as Plaintiffs Surely this fury in the free-holders declares plainly that they got their Lands both they and their Fathers by murder violence and theft and they keep it by the same power in regard they will not speak like men but fight and devoure like beasts Well let the world take notice that we that do justifie this cause of digging have obeyed the Lord in setting forward this work of endeavouring to bring the earth into a Community and we have peace and purposes to go on and we are lively witnesses and shall be at the day of Judgement against these and all others that have and may so furiously oppose us and rebelliously fight against the Prince of Peace the great Saviour that is now spreading himself in the earth to bring all things into a onenesse and to deliver the Creation from bondage Right understanding and peace among brethren is the strength of a Land ignorance and fury brings shame and destruction England is a Land wherein the Power of the most High hath greatly declared his Power both in casting down the pride of many mens hearts and making them subject to righteousnesse and in casting down the bodies of some that were proud oppressors to be as dung to the earth dashing one power against another changing times and customes and therein trying the sincerity of many that make a great shew of love to him Every one that seems to prevaile over another saies God gave him the victory though his conquest be tyranny over his brother making the King of Righteousnesse the Author of sorrowes and comfort not knowing the distinction between the power of darknesse and the power of light Victories that are got by the sword are but victories of the Murtherer and the joy of those victories is but the joy of Caine when he had killed his brother Abel the Dragon hath fought against the Dragon and one part conquered another and great joy hath been amongst the Midianites for those victories and the King of Righteousnesse hath been a looker on and suffered them to breake each other to pieces that his power at last might come in But now O England know this that thy striving now is not only Dragon against Dragon Beast against Beast Covetousnesse and Pride against Covetousnesse and Pride but thou now begin'st to fight against the Lamb the Dove the meek Spirit the power of love and wilt not willingly suffer that Prince of Peace to have a house to dwell in upon earth which is humane bodies but seekst to imprison beat kill or else to withdraw all assistance of favour from them Well thou hast rejoyced in thy former victories one beast over another and thou hast had and may have seeming victories over the Lamb and may rejoyce but know that this stone which is alone against whom thou hast begun to lift up thy heel shall grind thee to powder Love suffers under thy furie love suffers under thy hypocrisie under thy pride carelesse covetous hard-hearted self-seeking children Love bears all things patiently he suffers thee to reproach to fight to oppose and to rejoyce in doing those things Love secretly seeks thy preservation but thou openly seekest his destruction and glories like a man that hath put off his armour at every seeming shew of victory but the battell between the Dragon and the Lamb is begun in the midst of thee and a few years now will let all the world see who is strongest love or hatred freedom or bondage Therefore thy battells now are not as they were for now the Lord the Prince of Peace comes to save thee and thou fight'st against him as an enemy and wilt not be saved by him he calls for Peace thou cal'st for war he calls to Freedome thou cal'st still for bondage he saith put up thy Sword and live in love thou saist draw the Sword against all that will live in love Well England take thy course but know for all this thou shalt come to Judgement FINIS