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.