The Oath of a Freeman

I, A. B. being by the P^ruidence of God an Inhabitant w^thin the Jurisdiction of Conectecotte, doe acknowledge myselfe to be subiecte to the Gouerment thereof, and doe sweare by the great and fearefull name of the euerliueing God, to be true and faythfull vnto the same, and doe submitt boath my p^rson and estate thereunto, according to all the holsome lawes and orders that there are, or here after shall be there made, and established by lawfull authority, and that I will nether plott nor practice any euell ag^t the same, nor consent to any that shall so doe, but will tymely discouer the same to lawfull authority there established; and that I will, as I am in duty bownd, mayntayne the honner of the same and of the lawfull Magestratts thereof, p^rmoting the publike good of y^t, whilst I shall soe continue an inhabitant there; and whensoeu^r I shall giue my voate or suffrage touching any matter w^ch conserns this Com̄on welth being cauled there unto, will give y^t as in my conscience I shall judge may conduce to the best good of the same, w^thout respect of p^rsons or favor of any man. Soe helpe me God in o^r Lord Jesus Christe. Aprill the xth, 1640.

At a Generall Assembly held at Hartford, Aprill 20th, 1665, there was presented to the Court the Propositions of his Majesty’s Royal Commission which were read and answered as follows;

1. That all householders inhabiting this Colony take the oath of allegiance, and that the administration of justice be in his Majesties name.

To this we returne, that according to his Majesties pleasure exprest in o^r Charter, o^r Gouernour formerly hath nominated and appoynted meet persons to administer the oath of allegiance, whoe haue, according to their order, administred the s^d oath to seuerall persons allready; and the administration of justice amongst us hath been, is and shall be in his Majesties name.

2nd Propos: That all men of competent estates and of ciuill conuersation, though of different judgments, may be admitted to be freemen, and haue liberty to chuse or to be chosen officers, both military and ciuill.

To the 2d, our order for admission of freemen is consonant w^th that proposition.

3. Propos: That all persons of ciuill liues may freely injoy the liberty of their consciences, and the worship of God in that way which they thinke best, prouided that this liberty tend not to the disturbance of the publique, nor to the hindrance of the maintenance of Ministers regularly chosen in each respectiue parish or township.

To the 3d Propos: We say, we know not if any one that hath bin troubled by us for attending his conscience, prouided he hath not distu^rbed the publique.

4 Propos: That all lawes and expressions in lawes, derogatory to his Majestie, if any such haue bin made in these late troublesome times, may be repealed, altered and taken off the file.

To the 4th p^rpos: We return, we know not of any lawe or expressions in any law that is derogatory to his Majesty amongst us; but if any such be found, we count it o^r duty to repeal, alter it, and take it off the file, and this we attended upon the receipt of our Charter. [1665].

At a Gen^ll Assembly for election held at Hartford, May 11, ‘65. This Court declare that it is their full sense and determination that such persons as are or hereafter shalbe approued to be freemen of this Corporation shal take y^e Oath that is already established vpon record to be administered to y^e respectiue freemen: And further, that all such as shal refuse to take the said oath, though otherwise approued p^rsons yet shal not p^rtake of the privilidges of those that have bene formally incorporated into this civil society, vntil y^e said Oath be administred vnto them: Provided that this order includes not either freemen formerly admitted and sworne or Assistants and Com̄issioners that haue taken their corporal oaths or Deputies that haue bene accepted into y^e Gen^ll Assembly to assist in ye concernments of this corporation. [1665.]

In New Haven Colony.

“On the 4^th day of the 4^th month called June 1639, all the free planters of the town to be called a year later Newhaven, assembled together in a general meetinge to consult about settling ciuill Gouernm^t according to God. * * * Mr. John Davenport propounded divers (6) quæries to them publiquely praying them to consider seriously * * * and to giue their answers in such sort as they would be willing they should stand upon recorde for posterity.”

These six fundamental agreements were assented to by the lifting up of hands twice: once at the proposal and again after when the written words were read unto them.

And on the 25th of October next, the following charge was given and accepted by them: