By vs whose hands are underwritten, to propagate a Plantation in the
midst of the Island or elsewhere; And doe engage ourselves to bear
equall charges, answerable to our strength and estates in common;
and that our determinations shall be by major voice of judge and
elders; the Judge to have a double voice. [William Coddington, and
eight others.] On the 28th of the 2d Month, 1639.
Agreeing and ordering that the Plantation now begun shall be called
Newport.
The remaining members of the Aquidneck settlement then organized a new
government.
Aprill the 30th, 1639.
We whose names are underwritten doe acknowledge ourselves the legall
subjects of his Majestie King Charles, and in his name doe hereby
binde ourselves into a civill body Politicke, assenting unto his
lawes according to right and matters of justice. [William
Hutchinson, and thirty associates.]
* * * * *
By the Body Politicke on the Ile of Agethnec, inhabiting this
present, 25 of 9 = month, 1639.
In the fourteenth yeare of y^e Raign of our Sovereign Lord King
Charles. It is agreed, That as natural subjects to our Prince, and
subject to his Lawes, all matters that concerne the Peace shall be
by those that are officers of the Peace transacted; And all actions
of the Case or Dept, shall be in such Courts as by order are here
appointed, and by such Judges as are Deputed: Heard and Legally
Determined.
* * * * *
At the Generall Court of Election began and held at Portsmouth, from
the 16th of March to the 19th of the same mo., 1641.
1. It was ordered and agreed before the Election, that an Ingagement
by oath should be taken of all the officers of this Body now to be
elected, as likewise for the time to come; the ingagement which the
severall officers of the State shall give is this; To the execution
of this office I judge myself bound before God to walk faithfully,
and this I profess in y^e presence of God.
3. It is ordered and unanimously agreed upon that the Government
which this Bodie Politick doth attend vnto in this Island, and the
Jurisdiction thereof, in favour of our Prince is a Democracie, or
popular Government; that is to say, It is in the Powre of the Body
of Freemen orderly assembled, or the major part of them, to make or
constitute Just Lawes, by which they will be regulated, and to
depute from among themselves such Ministers as shall see them
faithfully executed between Man and Man.
16. It is ordered that Ingagement shall be taken by the Justices of
the Peace in their Quarter Sessions of all men or youth above
fifteen years of age, eyther by the oath of Fidelity, or some other
strong cognizance.
28. It is ordered and received, that the Ingagement that already was
given by the Freemen was and is of the same force as that oath is
which is authorized to be administered to the Inhabitants, which
oath Nicholas Easton, Rob’t Jeoffreys, and Wm. Dyre did take in
presence of the Courte.
29. It is ordered, that if any person or persons on the Island,
whether Freeman or Inhabitant, shall by any meanes open or covert,
endeavour to bring in any other Powre than what is now established
(except it be from our Prince by lawfull commission), shall be
accounted a delinquent under the head of Perjurie.
30. It is ordered, that the Law of the last Court made concerning
Libertie of Conscience in point of Doctrine is perpetuated.