Freeman’s Charge

Yow shall neither plott, practise, nor consent, to any euill, or hurt, against this Jurisdiction, or any part of it, nor against The Civill Gouerment here established: And if you shall know any person or persons w^ch intend, plott, or conspire anything, w^ch tends to the hurt, or prjudice, of the same, you shall timely discouer the same to Lawfull Authority here established, and you shall assist, and be helpfull, in all the affaires of the Jurisdiction, and by all meanes shall promoue the publique wellfare of the same, according to yo^r place, abillity, and opportunity; you shall giue due hono^r to the Lawfull Magistrats, and shall be obedient, and subject, to all the wholesome Lawes, and Orders, allready made, or w^ch shall be hereafter made, by Lawfull Authority afforesaide, and that both in yo^r person, and estate, and when you shall be duely called, to giue yo^r vote, or suffrage, in any Election, or touching any other matter, w^ch concerneth this Common wellth, yow shall giue it, as in yo^r conscience, you shall judg may conduse to the best good of the same. [1639.]

At A Gen. Court held att Newhaven the 3^d of Aprill 1644.

This day, a forme of an oath for the Governo^r and magistrats to take, and another forme of an oath to be imposed upon all the inhabitants w^thin this jurisdiction was propounded to the consideratiō of the court, who, after some serious debate and consideratiō rested satisfyed w^th the said formes. And therevpon ordered thatt itt should be forthw^th putt in executiō, and whereas the Governo^r doth shortly intend a journey to Stamforde on other occasions, the Court desired him to improve thatt opportunity, both at Stamforde and att Milford, for the giveing of the oath, and the like att Guilforde in time convenient. Itt was further ordered thatt no person or persons shall hereafter be admitted as an inhabitant in this jurisdictiō or any of the plantations therein butt he or they shall take the said oath vpon his or their admittance.

On the 23 of June, 1644, The formes of two oathes were propounded to the Court to be taken the next second day in the morning, by all the inhabitants in this plantatiō, one of them is to be taken by all, and the other by the Governo^r onely.

Att a Gen^rll Court held att Newhaven the 1^t of July, 1644. The Governo^r tooke this oath as followeth,

I [Theophilus Eaton] being att a Gen^rll Co^rt in October last, chosen Governo^r w^thin Newhaven Jurisdictiō for a yeare then to ensue, and vntill a new Governo^r be chosen, do sweare by the great and dreadfull name of the ever living God, to promove the publique good and peace of the same, according to the best of my skill, and will allso maintaine all the lawfull priviledges of this comōwealth, according to the fundamentall order and agreem^t made for governm^t in this jurisdictiō, and in like manner will endeuo^r thatt all wholsome lawes thatt are or shall be made by lawfull authority here established be duely executed, and will further the executiō of justice according to the righteous rules of Gods worde, so help me God in o^r Lord Jesus Christ.

The Governo^r haveing allso received the