ess, though it be in the poverty, ruin
and hardship of their Bretheren: Witness the practice of Kings and
their Laws, that have crushed the Commoners of England a long time.
And have we not experience in these days that some Officers of the
Commonwealth have grown so mossy for want of removing that they
will hardly speak to an old acquaintance, if he be an inferior man,
though they were very familiar before these wars began? And what
hath occasioned this distance among friends and bretheren, but long
continuance in places of honor, greatness and riches?"

"_Thirdly_, Let Officers be chosen new every year in love to our
posterity. For if burdens and oppressions should grow up in our
Laws and in our Officers for want of removing, as moss and weeds
grow in some land for want of stirring, surely it will be a
foundation of misery not easily to be removed by our posterity, and
then will they curse the time when we their forefathers had
opportunities to set things to rights for their ease, and would not
do it.

"_Fourthly_, To remove Officers of State every year will make them
truly faithful, knowing that others are coming after who will look
into their ways, and if they do not do things justly, they must be
ashamed when the next Officers succeed. And when Officers deal
faithfully with the Government of the Commonwealth, they will not
be unwilling to remove: the peace of London is much preserved by
removing their Officers yearly.

"_Fifthly_, It is good to remove Officers every year, that whereas
many have their portions to obey, so many may have their turn to
rule. And this will encourage all men to advance righteousness and
good manners in hopes of honor; but when money and riches bear all
the sway in the Rulers' hearts, there is nothing but tyranny in
such ways.

"_Sixthly_, The Commonwealth hereby will be furnished with able and
experienced men, fit to govern, which will mightily advance the
honor and peace of our Land, occasion the more watchful care in the
education of children, and in time will make our Commonwealth of
England the Lily among the Nations of the Earth.

"WHO ARE FIT TO CHOOSE, AND FIT TO BE CHOSEN OFFICERS IN A
COMMONWEALTH.

"All uncivil livers, as drunkards, quarrellers, fearful ignorant
men, who dare not sp