, that they may live in ease
and plenty and not work: These Officers are fallen from true
Magistracy of a Commonwealth, and they do not act righteously, and
because of this sorrow and tears, poverty and bondages are known
among mankind, and now that City mourns."

"ALL OFFICERS IN A COMMONWEALTH ARE TO BE CHOSEN NEW ONES EVERY
YEAR."

Winstanley believed that power of any sort, more especially if long
enjoyed, tends to corrupt and to deteriorate. He therefore advocates,
and shows surprisingly good reasons for his advocacy, that new Officers
should be appointed every year. He says:

"When public Officers remain long in places of Judicature, they
will degenerate from the bounds of humility, honesty and tender
care of bretheren, in regard the heart of man is so subject to be
overspread with the clouds of covetousness, pride and vain-glory.
For though at the first entrance into places of Rule they be of
public spirits, seeking the Freedom of others as their own; yet
continuing long in such a place, where honors and greatness come
in, they become selfish, seeking themselves, and not Common
Freedom; as experience proves it true in these days, according to
this common proverb--'_Great offices in a Land and Army have
changed the disposition of many sweet spirited men._'

"And Nature tells us, that if water stand long, it corrupts;
whereas running water keeps sweet and is fit for common use.

"Therefore, as the necessity of Common Preservation moves the
people to frame a Law and to choose Officers to see the Law
obeyed, that they may live in peace: So doth the same necessity bid
the people, and cries aloud in the ears and eyes of England, to
choose new Officers, and to remove the old ones, and to choose
State Officers every year: and that for these reasons:

"_First_, To prevent their own evils: for when pride and fulness
take hold of an Officer, his eyes are so blinded therewith that he
forgets he is a servant to the Commonwealth, and strives to lift up
himself high above his Bretheren, and oftentimes his fall prove
very great: witness the fall of oppressing Kings, Bishops and other
State Officers.

"_Secondly_,{12} To prevent the creeping of oppression into the
Commonwealth again. For when Officers grow proud and full, they
will maintain their greatn