Oath of Fidelitie
I [A. B.] being by Gods providence an inhabitant within the Jurisdiction of the Commonwealth, do freely and sincerely acknowledge my selfe to be subject to the Government thereof. And do here Swear by the great and dreadful name of the everliving God, that I will be true & faithfull to the same, and will accordingly yeild assistance thereunto, with my person and estate, as in equity I am bound: And will also truely endeavour to Maintain and preserve all the Liberties & Priviledges thereof submitting my self unto the wholesom Laws made, and established by the same.
And farther that I will not plot or practice any evill against it, or consent to any that shall so do: but will timely discover and reveal the same to lawfull Authority now here established, for the speedy preventing thereof. So help me God in our Lord Jesus Christ. [1646.] From Code of 1660.
To the end the body of the freemen may be preserved of honest and good men, It is Ordered, That henceforth no man shall be admitted to the freedome of this Common-wealth, but such as are members of some of the Churches, within the limits of this Iurisdiction; And whereas many members of Churches to exempt themselves from Publick Service, will not come in to be made freemen, It is Ordered, That no members of Churches within this Iurisidiction, shall be exempt from any publick service, they shall be chosen to, by the Inhabitants of the severall Townes, as Constables, Iurors, Select men, surveiors of the High-wayes. And if any such person shall refuse to serve in, or to take upon him any such Office, being legally chosen therunto, he shall pay for every such refusall, such fine, as the Town shall impose not exceeding Twenty shillings for one Offence. [1647.]
Any non freemen, who have taken or shall take the Oath of fidelity to this government could be jury men and vote in certain matters, after he had attained the age of 24 years. [1647.]
For as much as divers Inhabitants of this Jurisdiction who have long continued amongst us, receiving Protection, from this Government, have as we are informed uttered Offencive speeches, whereby their fidelity to this Government may justly be suspected, and also that divers strangers of forreign parts do repaire to us of whose fidelity we have not that Assurance which is Commonly required of all Governments.
It is therefore Ordered by this Court and the Authority thereof. That the County Courts or any one Magistrate out of Court, shall have power and is hereby Authorized to Require the Oath of fidelity of all settled Inhabitants amongst us who have not already taken the same, as also to Require the Oath under written, of all strangers, who after two months have their abode here; And if any Person shall refuse to take the Respective Oath, he or they shall be bound over to the next County Court or Court of Assistants, where if he shall refuse, he shall forfeit five pound a week for every week he shall Continue in this Jurisdiction after his sayd Refusall, unles he can give sufficient security to the satisfaction of the Court or Magistrate for his fidelity, during his or their residence amongst us.