I do swear and protest before God Allmighty and by the holy contents
of this Book to be a faithfull Servant and Councellor unto Sir
Ferdinando Gorges Knight my Lord of the Province of Mayne, and to
his heirs and assigns, to do and perform to the utmost of my power
all dutiful respects to him or them belonging, concealing their
Councells, and without respect of persons to do, perform and give my
opinion in all causes according to my conscience, and best
understanding both as I am a Councellor for hearing of causes, and
otherwise freely to give him or them my opinion as I am a Councellor
for matters of State or Common-wealths and that I will not conceal
from him or them and their Councell any matter of conspiracy or
mutinous practice against my said Lord and his heirs but will
instantly after my knowledge thereof discover the same, and
prosecute the authors thereof with all diligence and severity
according to Justice, and thereupon do humbly kiss the Book. Taken
September 2, 1639.
On the death of Sir Ferdinando in 1647, his estate in Maine passed to
his son, John Gorges, who totally neglected his inheritance not even
replying to repeated letters from the Gorges Colonists.
A Patent for lands on the Kennebeck River had been given to the New
Plymouth Colony in 1629. In 1649, they let the trade upon it for a
period of three years to Governor William Bradford, and four associates.
In 1652, the trade was sold to the same men for three years longer. In
that year, from actual survey, the east line of the Massachusetts-Bay
Colony was found to encroach upon the liberties of the trade sold by and
to the New Plymouth officers; and, in 1653, Thomas Prence was authorized
to summon all and every inhabitant of the Kennebeck country to assemble
and receive from him the instructions of the Plymouth General Court: “1.
That the people should take the Oath of fidelity to the State of
England, and to the government of New Plymouth. 2. That they were to be
made acquainted with the Colony laws, applicable to them, and establish
suitable rules and regulations to guide and govern them in their civil
affairs. 3. None were to be inhabitants there but such as should take
the Oath of Allegiance. 4. None could vote for an Assistant but such as
should take the Oath.”
The Oath required was in these words:
You shall be true and faithfull to the State of England, as it is
now established, and whereas you chuse at present to reside within
the government of New Plymouth, you shall not do, or cause to be
done, any act, or acts, directly or indirectly by land or water,
that shall, or may tend to the destruction or overthrow of the whole
or part of this government, that shall be ordered, erected or
established; but shall contrarywise, hinder, oppose, or discover
such intents and purposes, as tend thereunto, to those that are in
place for the time being; that the government may be informed
thereof with all convenient speed; You shall also submitt, and
observe all such good and wholesome laws, ordinances, and officers
as are, or shall be established within the several limits thereof,
So help you God, who is the God of Truth and the punisher of
falsehood. [1653.]
This action constituted them freemen of Massachusetts, on taking the
Oath, without the prerequisite of church membership. It was followed by
a growing discontent against the chief officers in New Plymouth being
lessees of the trade. The large returns which had been confidently
expected were not being realized, and a jealousy of the people against
those in power, finally led to the sale of the Patent, embracing seven
hundred square miles, to a committee representing the Massachusetts-Bay
Colony, for four hundred pounds. In 1677, after much controversy and
trouble with the heirs, Ferdinando Gorges, a grandson of the
Lord-Proprietary, sold his rights to the Massachusetts-Bay Colony for
one thousand two hundred and fifty pounds sterling, and the Territory of
Maine became a District of Massachusetts down to the year 1820.
* * * * *
The power of an Oath is a subject for the Casuist. But, in the brief
period of this paper—less than the span of life the Psalmist gives to
man—we have seen an Oath throne and dethrone monarchs; build up and
destroy flourishing Commonwealths; make and unmake Statehoods; be a
guarantee of peace, and an incentive for war. Who, under these
conflicting conditions, can measure their influence but Him in whose
name and power they are made!
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Transcriber’s note: