"Those who ruled in high places, and had the making of the laws in their hands, were chiefly rich landowners and succe…"

"Those who owned and held the land believed, and acted up to their belief as far as they were able, that the land belo…"

"When a labourer could no longer work, he had lost the right to live. Work was all they [the landowners] wanted from h…"

"With bowed head and bended knee the poor learned to receive from the rich what was only their due, had they but known…"

"These gentry did not want him [the labourer's lad] to know; they did not want him to think; they only wanted him to w…"

"The labourer's lad ... might learn his catechism; that, and things similar to it, was the right, proper, and suitable…"

"I had been journeying to and fro on the face of a fine broad bit of English earth, seeking what wages I could earn, w…"

"I flung Churchgoing over early in life, from religious conviction. I did not believe in Church doctrine, as preached …"

"Yes, my religious views are strong ones; but I don't want to talk much about them, for I hold that a man's religion s…"

"This great squire—he was a very rich, influential man—sent for me to go down to his house when my work wa…"