"That these are the Quaker principles is well enough known, allowing for some little alterations, as few Sect-Masters but have their doctrines varied by their Proselytes.... Now, considering these opinions, the year, the country[50:2] (as _The Mystery of God_ is dedicated to his "beloved countrymen of the County of Lancaster"), the printer Giles Calvert, and that several Levellers settled into Quakers, we incline to take them for Winstanley's Disciples and a branch of the Levellers. And what this man writes of--levelling men's estates, of taking in of Commons, that none should have more ground than he was able to till and husband by his labour--proving unpracticable by reason of so many tough old laws which had fixed propriety; yet it is pursued by the Quakers as much as they well can, in thouing everybody, in denying Titles, Civil Respects, and terms of distinction among men, and at first they were for Community." If Winstanley's writings be really the source whence the early Quakers, the Children of Light, drew their most characteristic tenets and doctrines, as we ourselves do not doubt, then surely his noble ambition has been satisfied: for through them he has, indeed, influenced the thought of his country, the thought of the whole world, which owes more than we even yet realise to their pure and altruistic teachings. However, leaving this most interesting question to be decided by our readers, each for himself, we shall now place the chief contents of these writings before them, using as far as possible Winstanley's own words. FOOTNOTES: [41:1] Both Gerrard and Winstanley are common names in that part of Lancashire which lies between Wigan and Liverpool. In the Wigan Parish Register there is an entry under the above date--"Gerrard Winstanlie, son of Edward Winstanlie." The first pamphlet he wrote, _The Mystery of God concerning the whole Creation_, is dedicated "To my beloved countrymen of the County of Lancaster." In his time the term "countrymen" had a more contracted meaning than now, and implied a common nativity of a Shire or Parish: indeed it still has this meaning in some parts of Cheshire. [41:2] _A Watchword to the City of London._ [43:1] Between the years 1644-1662 the works of the German mystic Jakob Boehme were translated into English. All Winstanley's theological pamphlets were published in the year 1648-1649, to which year the origin of the Quaker doctrines is generally attributed. [44:1] See _The Mystery of God concerning the whole Creation, Mankind_. British Museum, Press Mark, 4377, a. 1. The whole pamphlet consists of some 69 closely printed pages. [44:2] _Truth lifting up its Head above Scandals._ British Museum, Press Mark, 4372, a.a. 17. [45:1] _The Saint's Paradise._ British Museum, Press Mark, E. 2137. [45:2] _Truth lifting up its Head above Scandals._ [46:1] _Truth lifting up its Head above Scandals._