"The honest man that would have liberty cries down all interests
[or special privileges, as they would be termed to-day] whatsoever;
and to this end he desires Common Rights and Equity: which consist
of these particulars following:

"1. A just portion for each man to live, that so none need to beg
or steal for want, but everyone may live comfortably.

"2. A just Rule for each man to go by, which Rule is to be found in
Scripture.

"3. All men alike under the said Rule, which Rule is, to do to one
another as another should do to him....

"4. The government to be by Judges, called Elders, men fearing God
and hating Covetousness, to be chosen by the people, and to end all
controversies in every town or hamlet, without any other or further
trouble or charge."

These, then, were the four points of the People's Charter of 1648; the
four fundamental reforms which Winstanley, if Winstanley be the author
of this pamphlet, as we believe, deemed necessary to secure the peace
and well-being of the masses of the people. The pamphlet then indicates
where the people are to look for their model, in the following words:

"And in the Scriptures the Israelite's Common-wealth is an
excellent pattern.... Now in Israel if a man were poor, then a
public maintenance and stock were to be provided to raise him
again. So would all Bishops Lands, Forest Lands, and Crown Lands do