"AND IT IS ALL TO THIS END THAT THE LAWS BE OBEYED; FOR A CAREFUL
EXECUTION OF LAWS IS THE LIFE OF GOVERNMENT."
THE WORK OF AN OVERSEER.
Winstanley then details at some length the functions of Overseers, of
which the following will, we think, give our readers sufficient insight:
"In a Parish or Town there is to be a four-fold degree of
Overseers, which are to be chosen yearly. The first is an Overseer
to preserve peace, in case of any quarrels that may fall out
between man and man.... The second office of Overseer is for
Trades. This Overseer is to see that young people be put to
Masters, to be instructed in some labour, trade, service, or to be
waiters in Storehouses, that none may be idly brought up in any
family within his circuit.... Truly the Government of the Halls and
Companies in London is a very rational and well-ordered government;
and the Overseers for Trades may well be called Masters, Wardens,
and Assistants of such and such a Company, for such and such a
particular Trade.... Likewise this Overseer for Trades shall see
that no man shall be a Housekeeper and have servants under him till
he hath served under a Master seven years, and hath learned his
Trade: and the reason is, that every Family may be governed by
staid and experienced Masters, and not by wanton youth. And this
Office of Overseer keeps all people within a peaceful harmony of
Trades, Sciences, or Works, that there be neither Beggar nor Idle
Person in the Commonwealth.
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