1649 St. George's Hill

More about 1649 St. George's Hill

A large group of men in 17th-century attire, some on horseback and some on foot, gathered in a clearing surrounded by lush green trees and a large stone building with a red-tiled roof and two pointed towers. In the foreground, several men are engaged in a struggle, possibly a game or a fight, using long sticks. Two men on white horses and a few men on brown horses are prominently featured, with one rider in blue and gold attire looking to the right. The sky is bright blue with scattered white clouds, and the scene is illuminated by natural daylight.

Note: In 1649
To St. George's Hill,
A ragged band they called the Diggers
Came to show the people's will
They defied the landlords
They defied the laws
They were the dispossessed reclaiming what was theirs

We come in peace they said
To dig and sow
We come to work the lands in common
And to make the waste land grow
This earth divided
We will make whole
So it will be
A common treasury for all

The sin of property
We do disdain
No man has any right to buy and sell
The earth for private gain
By theft and murder
They took the land
Now everywhere the walls
Rise up at their command

They make the laws
To serve them well
The clergy dazzle us with heaven
Or they damn us into hell
We will not worship
The God they serve
The God of greed who feed the rich
While poor man starve

We work we eat together
We need no swords
We will not bow to masters
Or pay rent to the lords
We are free men
Though we are poor
You Diggers all stand up for glory
Stand up now

From the men of property
The orders came
They sent the hired men and troopers
To wipe out the Diggers' claim
Tear down their cottages
Destroy their corn
They were dispersed
Only the vision lingers on

You poor take courage
You rich take care
The earth was made a common treasury
For everyone to share
All things in common
All people one
We come in peace
The orders came to cut them down