The DIGGERS MIRTH, OR, Certain Verses composed and fitted to Tunes, for the delight and recreation of all those who Dig, or own that Work, in the Commonwealth of England.  
Wherein is showed how the Kingly power doth still Reign in several sorts of MEN.  
With a hint of that Freedom which shall come,  
When the Father shall reign alone in his Son.  
Set forth by those who were the original of that so righteous a Work, and continue still successful therein at Cobham in SURREY.  
LONDON, Printed in the Year, 1650.   

The Diggers Christmass-Caroll.  

This for a Christmasse-Caroll was invented,  
Which here unto your view is now presented;  
'Twas writ at that time which you Christmas call  
And had come forth then; but this is all  
The reason why it came not forth before,  
Because we thought for to have added more.  
Accept of this therefore with all thy heart,  
Thou mayst hereafter see a Second part.   

To the Tune of the Spanish Gipsy.  

1.  
YOu people which be wise,  
Will Freedom highly prize;  
For experience you have  
What 'tis to be a slave:  
This have you been all your life long,  
But chief since the Wars begun.   

2.  
When great Men disagree  
About Supremacy,  
Then do they warn poor men  
To aid and assist them  
In setting up their self-will power,  
And thus they do the poor devour.   

(3)  
Yet they cunningly pretend  
They have no other end  
But to set the poor Free  
From all their slavery:  
And thus they do the poor deceive,  
In making them such things believe.   

(4)  
Their blind Guides will not spare,  
These things for to declare;  
Ye they aloud will cry,  
Stand for your liberty;  
The Gospel that lies at the stake;  
Rise therefore 'tis time to awake.   

(5)  
The Priests very sensible be,  
If the poor their Liberty see;  
Their Tythe-plundring trade will fall,  
And then farewell Tithes all.  
Then would they not be finely fed,  
But they must work for their own bread.   

6.  
The King an Army did gain,  
His power for to maintain;  
That Army did pretend  
For to be England's friend,  
In saving of their Liberty  
Which lay at stake and like to die.   

7.  
Another Army than  
Was raised by mighty Men,  
That Army to oppose,  
Looking on them as Foes:  
Likewise these powers did agree  
To make the English Nation free.   

8.  
A Covenant they did take,  
And promises they did make  
All burdens to remove,  
And to unite in love;  
Yet we cannot see that good hour,  
The taking down of Kingly power.   

9  
The Nation willingly  
Did maintain this Army,  
Their Freedom for to gain;  
But as yet all in vain:  
For still a Kingly power doth stand  
In many persons of this Land.   

10.  
A Kingly power I say  
Doth in most men bare sway,  
But chief in Lords of Manors,  
And in the Priests and Lawyers:  
This Kingly power is their Self-will,  
Which in this manner they do fulfil.   

11.  
The Priests they tyrannize,  
By taking of the Tithes;  
The poor they much oppress  
By their pride and idleness:  
No Scripture warrant they can show,  
Why any of these things they do.   

12.  
Therefore I pray consider,  
And lay your heads together;  
For you will never thrive,  
Whilst Priests do gain the Tithe.  
But let them work as well as you,  
For Reason bids them so to do.   

13.  
They neither plough nor sow,  
Nor do they reap or mow,  
Nor any seed do find,  
But Priests the people grind:  
The tenth of all things they do crave;  
And thus each man is made a slave.   

14.  
The Lawyers they are next,  
By whom the poor are vexed;  
Their practice is most base,  
For they will plead men's Case,  
According to the length o'th' Purse,  
And so the Lawyers prove a Curse.   

15.  
Another trick they have,  
The Nation to enslave;  
men's quarrels they'll maintain,  
Their Moneys for to gain:  
Therefore if Lawyers you uphold,  
They'll cheat you of your silver & gold.   

16.  
Therefore my brethren dear,  
The Lawyers quite Cashier;  
Go not to them for Law,  
For they your sides will claw;  
They'll tell you that your case is good,  
When they do mean to suck your blood.   

17.  
Therefore be ruled by me,  
And do not Lawyer's Fee,  
But end your suits at home,  
Lest you be overthrown;  
For if Lawyers gain your estate,  
You may repent when 'tis too late.   

18.  
Besides the Priests and Lawyers,  
There be the Lords of Manors,  
Who lay claim to waste Land,  
Which by bloodshed was gained;  
For Duke William the Norman King,  
By much bloodshed this land did win.   

19  
When he this Land had gained,  
He presently Ordained,  
That his chief Soldiers should  
This Land by parcels hold,  
Owning him to be the Supreme,  
In paying tribute unto him.   

20.  
From hence came Lords of Manors,  
With Fines, quitrents and Heriots,  
And all such cursed things,  
Which are paid to these Kings:  
And thus the people be broughtdown  
By Lords of Manors who wear the Crown.   

21.  
The Lords of Manors, I say,  
Do bear a mighty sway;  
The Common Lands they hold,  
Herein they are too bold:  
They will not suffer men to till  
The common Lands, by their good wil   

22.  
But Lords of Manors must know,  
Their title to Commons is low;  
For why their title came in  
By WILLIAM the Norman King.  
But now the Norman successor is dead,  
Their Royalty to th' Commons is fled.   

23.  
Therefore let me advise  
All those which Freedom prize,  
To Till each Heath and Plain,  
For this will Freedom gain:  
Heriots and Fines this will expel,  
A bondage great men know full well.   

24.  
For we do plainly see,  
The Sword will not set's free,  
But bondage is increased,  
Because our wealth is wasted  
By paying Taxes and Freequarter,  
Expecting Freedom would come after.   

25.  
But Freedom is not won,  
Neither by Sword nor Gun:  
Though we have eight years stayed,  
And have our Moneys paid:  
Then Clubs and Diamonds cast away,  
For Hearts & Spades must win the day.    


A hint of that FREEDOM which shall come,  
When the Father shall Reign alone in his Son.   

THe Father he is God alone,  
nothing besides him is;  
All things are folded in that one,  
by him all things subsist.   

He is our light, our life, our peace,  
whereby we our being have;  
From him all things have their increase,  
the tyrant and the slave.   

And when the Father seethe it good,  
and his set time is come;  
He takes away the tyrant's food,  
and gives it to the Son.   

Then Esau's pottage shall be eat,  
for which he sold his right;  
The blessing Jacob shall obtain,  
which Esau once did slight.   

And Jacob he shall then arise  
although he be but small  
Which Esau once did much despise  
And Esau down must fall.   

For there must rise a root of Jess.  
a righteous branch indeed;  
Who setteth free him that's oppressed  
and Esau down must tread.   

And Esau shall the blessing seek,  
and with tears shall it crave;  
Which he did set unto the meek,  
which once he made a slave.   

But sing, O Jacob, for thy time  
of freedom now is come;  
And thou thyself judge Esau,  
the which hath done the wrong.   

For to the Son the Father hath  
all Judgement given now;  
And Esau shall be justly judged,  
which Jacob's seed hath ploughed.   

And thou that as a Lord hast Reigned  
over God's Heritage;  
Thy part thou hast already played,  
therefore come off the Stage.   

For when thou thinkest thyself most safe  
and riches thou hast got;  
Then in the midst of thy peace,  
torment shall be thy lot.   

And of this long time thou hast been told,  
but much thou didst it slight;  
Therefore Esau we must be bold  
now for to claim our right.   

For now the Father's pointed time,  
which he did fore-intend  
To set up Freedom, and pull down  
the Man which did offend:   

The time, I say, it is now come,  
in which the Lord will make  
All Tyrant's servants to the Son,  
and he the power will take.   

This worldly strength wherewith thou didst  
all times thyself repose;  
Shall prove but as a broken reed,  
for thou the field shalt lose.   

For there shall rise a mighty Stone,  
which without hands is cut;  
Which shall the Kingly powers break,  
he shall be free from shot.   

The first that which this Stone shall smite,  
shall be the head of Gold;  
A mortal wound he shall them give  
now mind thou hast been told.    
FINIS.