The Digger Movement in the Days of the Commonwealth: As Revealed in the Writings of Gerrard Winstanley, the Digger, Mystic and Rationalist, Communist and Social ReformerBerens, Lewis Henry
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The Digger Movement in the Days of the Commonwealth: As Revealed in the Writings of Gerrard Winstanley, the Digger, Mystic and Rationalist, Communist and Social Reformer
Berens, Lewis Henry
Communism; Land use; Winstanley, Gerrard, 1609-
"A Father is to cherish his children till they grow wise and
strong; and then as a Master he is to instruct them in reading, in
learning languages, Arts and Sciences, or to bring them up to
labor, or employ them in some Trade or other, or cause them to be
instructed therein, according as is shown hereafter in the
Education of Mankind. A Father is to have a care that all his
children do assist to plant the Earth, or by other Trades provide
necessaries; so he shall see that every one have a comfortable
livelihood, not respecting one before another. He is to command
them their work, and see they do it, and not suffer them to live
idle; he is either to reprove by words, or whip those that offend;
for the Rod is prepared to bring the unreasonable ones to
experience and moderation. That so children may not quarrel like
beasts, but live in Peace, like rational men, experienced in
yielding obedience to the Law and Officers of the Commonwealth:
every one doing to another as he would have another do to him."
THE WORK OF A PEACEMAKER.
"In a Parish or Town may be chosen three, four or six Peacemakers,
according to the bigness of the place: and their work is twofold.
_First_, In general to sit in Council to order the affairs of the
Parish, to prevent troubles, and to preserve common peace.
_Secondly_, If there arise any matters of offence between man and
man, the offending parties shall be brought by the Soldiers
[Policemen] before any one or more of these Peacemakers, who shall
hear the matter, and endeavour to reconcile the parties and make
peace, and so put a stop to the rigour of the Law, and go no
further. But if the Peacemaker cannot persuade or reconcile the
parties, then he shall command them to appear at the Judges' Court
at the time appointed to receive the Judgement of the Law.
"If any matter of public concernment fall out wherein the Peace of
the City, Town or Country is concerned, then the Peacemakers in
every town thereabouts shall meet and consult about it; and from
them, or any six of them, if need require, shall issue forth any
orders to inferior Officers. But if the matter concern only the
limits of a Town or City, then the Peacemakers of that Town shall
from their Court send forth orders to inferior Officers for the
performing of any public service within their limits.
"_Thirdly_, If any proof be given that any Officer neglects his
duty, a Peacemaker is to tell that Officer, between them two, of
his neglect. If the Officer continue negligent after this reproof,
the Peacemaker shall acquaint either the County Senate, or the
National Parliament therewith, that from them the offender may
receive condign punishment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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