in want of a comfortable livelihood.

"Well, these are the men that take away other men's rights from
them, and they are members of the covetous generation of
self-seekers, therefore unfit to be chosen Officers or to choose.

"WHO THEN ARE FIT TO BE CHOSEN OFFICERS?

"Why truly choose such as have a long time given testimony by their
actions to be promoters of Common Freedom, whether they be Members
in Church Fellowship, or not in Church Fellowship, for all are one
in Christ.

"Choose such as are men of peaceable spirits, and of a peaceable
conversation.

"Choose such as have suffered under Kingly Oppression, for they
will be fellow-feelers of others' bondages.

"Choose such as have adventured the loss of their estates and lives
to redeem the Land from bondage, and who have remained constant.

"Choose men of courage, who are not afraid to speak the truth; for
this is the shame of many in England at this day, they are drowned
in the dung-hill mud of slavish fear of men.

"Choose Officers out of the number of those men that are above
forty years of age, for these are most likely to be experienced
men, and to be men of courage, dealing truly and hating
covetousness."

PAYMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES.

"And if you choose men thus principled who are poor men, as times
go, for the Conqueror's Power hath made many a righteous man a
poor man, then allow them a yearly maintenance from the Common
Stock, until such time as a Commonwealth's Freedom is established,
for then there will be no need of such allowances."

THE MAIN SOURCE OF IGNORANCE.

"What is the reason that most men are so ignorant of their
Freedoms, and so few fit to be chosen Commonwealth's Officers?

"Because the old Kingly Clergy, that are seated in Parishes for
lucre of Tythes, are continually distilling their blind principles
into the people, and do thereby nurse up ignorance to them. For
they observe the bent of the people's minds, and make sermons to
please the sickly minds of ignorant people, to preserve their own
riches and esteem among a charmed, befooled and besotted people."

After this passing shot at his old adversaries, Winstanley proceeds to
consider the Offices and Institutions suitable for his ideal community,
for a Free Commonwealth. He first summarises their f