I, A. B. being by the P^ruidence of God an Inhabitant w^{th}in 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^{th}out 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: