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Author: Winstanley, Gerrard, b. 1609.
Title: The law of freedom in a platform: or, True magistracy restored Humbly presented to Oliver Cromwel, General of the Common-wealths army in England. And to all English-men my brethren whether in church-fellowship, or not in church-fellowship, both sorts walking as they conceive according to the order of the Gospel: and from them to all the nations in the world. Wherein is declared, what is kingly government, and what is Commonwealths government. By Jerrard Winstanley.
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Print source: The law of freedom in a platform: or, True magistracy restored Humbly presented to Oliver Cromwel, General of the Common-wealths army in England. And to all English-men my brethren whether in church-fellowship, or not in church-fellowship, both sorts walking as they conceive according to the order of the Gospel: and from them to all the nations in the world. Wherein is declared, what is kingly government, and what is Commonwealths government. By Jerrard Winstanley.
Winstanley, Gerrard, b. 1609.
London: printed by J.M. for the author, and are to be sold by Giles Calvert at the black Spred-Eagle at the west end of Pauls, 1652.
Subject terms:
Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1649-1660 -- Early works to 1800.
URL: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A66685.0001.001
How to cite: For suggestions on citing this text, please see Citing the TCP on the Text Creation Partnership website.

Table of Contents
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title page
To His Excellency OLIVER CROMWEL, General of the Commonwealths Army in ENGLAND.
To the Friendly and Unbyassed READER.
THE Law of Freedom in a Platform; OR, True Magistracy Restored,
True Commonwealths Freedom lies in the free Enjoyment of the Earth.
If we look into the old Scriptures,
If we look into the practise of Kings, and Conquerors,
The glory of Israels Commonwealth is this, They had no Begger among them.
A short Declaration to take of Prejudice.
CHAP. II.
What is Government in general.
What is Kingly Government or Monarchy?
The Seituation of this Monarchial Government
The great Law-giver of this Kingly Government,
The Rise of Kingly Government is twofold.
What is Commonwealths Government?
The scituation of Commonwealths Government
The great Lawgiver in Commonwealths Government
CHAP. III.
Where began the first Original of Government in the Earth among Mankinde?
There are two root from whence Laws do spring.
All Officers in a true Magistracy of a Commonwealth are to be chosen Officers.
All Officers in a Commonwealth are to be chosen new ones every year.
Who are fit to choose, and fit to be chosen Officers in a Commonwealth.
CHAP. IV.
What are the Officers Names in a free Commonwealth?
The Work of a Father or Master of a Family.
The Work of a Peace-maker.
The Work of an Overseer.
The second Office of Overseership is for Trades.
The third Office of Overseership is to see particular Tradesmen bring in their Works to Storehouses and Shops, and to see the Waiters in Storehouses do their duty.
Fourthly, All ancient men, above sixty years of age, are general Overseers.
What is the Office of a Souldier?
The Work of a Task-master.
The Work of an Executioner.
What is the work of a Judge?
What is the Judges Court?
What is the work of a Commonwealths Parliament in general?
The particular work of a Parliament is four-fold.
The work of a Parliament, secondly,
For the work of a Parliament herein is three-fold.
The work of a Parliament thirdly,
The Work of a Parliament fourthly, is this.
The work of a Commonwealths Ministry, and why one day in seven may be a Day of Rest from Labor.
Now this is the way
I, but saith the zealous, but ignorant Professor,
Let us now examin your Divinity.
The Office of the Post-master.
The Rise of a Commonwealths Army.
An Army is two-fold, viz. A Ruling Army, or a Fighting Army.
The use or work of a fighting Army in a Commonwealth
The work of this fighting Army is twofold.
An Army may be Murtherers and unlawful.
CHAP. V.
Education of mankinde, in Schools and Trades.
What Trades should Mankinde be brought up in?
There shal be no buying and selling of the Earth, nor of the fruits thereof.
How must the Earth be planted?
Store-houses shall be built and appointed in all places, and be the common Stock.
There are two sorts of Store-houses; general, and particular.
Secondly, there are particular Store-houses or shops;
CHAP. VI.
The Kings old laws cannot govern a free Commonwealth.
What is Law in general.
Short and pithy laws are best to govern a Commonwealth.
What may be those particular Laws, or such a method of Laws, whereby a Commonwealth may be governed.
Laws for the planting of the Earth, &c.
Laws against Idleness.
Laws for Store-houses.
Laws for Overseers.
Laws against buying and selling.
Laws for Navigation.
Laws for Silver and Gold.
Laws to choose Officers.
Laws against Treachery.
What is Freedom?
Laws for such as have lost their Freedom.
Laws to restore Slaves to Freedom.
Laws for Marriage.
THE CONTENTS OF THE Order and Work of every Common∣wealths Officer.
These Books following, written by Jer∣rard Winstanley, are to be sold by Giles Calvert at the black Spred-Eagle at the West end of Pauls.