The Engagement of the Officers
You, A. B. being called and chosen vnto public employment, and the office of ——, by the free vote and consent ye Inhabitants of the Province of Providence Plantations (now orderly met), do, in the present Assemblie, engage yourself faithfully and truly to the utmost of your power to execute the commission committed vnto you; and do hereby promise to do neither more nor less in that respect than that which the Colonie have or shall authorize you to do according to the best of your understanding.
The Reciprocal Engagement of the State to ye Officers
We, the Inhabitants of the Province of Providence Plantations being here orderly met, and having by free vote chosen you ——, to public office and officers for the due administration of Justice and the execution thereof throughout the whole Colonie, do hereby engage ourselves to the utmost of our power to support and vphold you in your faithfull performance thereof. [1641.]
This Engagement was also agreed to by the Court of Commissioners and Election. September ye 13th, 1654.
It is ordered by the present Assemblie, that this is ye engagement of ye Generall officers any former forme to the contrarie notwithstandinge.
At the General Court of the 21st of May, 1661, the words: “in his Majesties name” was added after (“now orderly met”).
And Att a Generall Assembly of the Collony of Rhode Iland and Providence Plantations the 4th of May, 1664:
This Assembly alsoe declareth against any parson acting in any publike office, except hee first take the engagement according to the forme hear subjoyned.
You, A. B., &c., sollemly engage to be true and faythfull vnto our Soveraigne Lord the King, Charles the Second, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, and dominiones and terrytoryes therevnto belonging; and to his sayd Majesty, his heirs and successors, true allegeance to beare and exicute your commission, charge and office, according to the best of your skill and knowledge without partiallyty or affection to any; and that according to the lawes already established, or to be established in this Colony. This ingagement you make and ingage to obsearve, vnder the penalty of perjury....
At the taking of the ingagement by any, ther must bee a re-engagement given in the Colloneys name, to stand by and assist such parsones in the exicution of ther offices and performance of ther dutyes.
It is alsoe the pleasuer and appoynment of this Generall Assembly, that none presume to vote in the matters afforesayd, but such whome this Generall Assembly expresly by ther writting shal admit as freemen.
The 19th of the iith Month, 1645. Wee whose names are heere after Subscribed, having obteyned a free Grante of Twenty five Akers of Land a peece with right of Commoning, according to the said proportion of Land; from the free Jnhabitants of this Towne of providence; doe thankfully acsept of the same; And heereby doe promise to yield Actiue; or passiue Obeydience to the authority of established in this Collonye; according to our Charter; and to all Such wholesome Lawes & Orders, that are or shall be made, by the major consent of this Towne of Providence; As alsoe not to clayme any Righte, to the Purchasse of the Said plantation; Nor any privilidge of Vote in Towne Affaires; untill we shall be received as free = Men of the said Towne of Providence. [1645.]