In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

Origins_151-200.indd 161 2/17/12 6:32 PM 32 [Providence Agreement] August20, I637 Roger Williams, who refosed to take any ofthe oaths required by the Massachusetts Bay Colony because he believed any oath constituted taking God's name in vain, moved with his followers to Providence, which wasfounded using this document. The simple covenantformula isfomiliar, but without the oath it becomes a compact resting on implicit popular sovereignty. In addition to being one ofthe first political compacts, the Providence Agreement also contains the first expression in the new world ofthe separation ofchurch andstate-achieved by limiting the town meeting to "civil things. " The following year the second Rhode Island colony was established at Aquidneck (Pocasset), using an oath in the traditional covenant form (see the Government ofPocasset fJJ}). A minority withdrew thefollowingyearfrom Pocasset anddrew up its civil compact at Newport withoutan oath (see the NewportAgreement !34}). Another colony, which was established at Portsmouth, drew up its new agreement two days after Newport's (see the Government of Portsmouth fJs}); unlike the Newport Agreement, the Portsmouth one contained an oath. The Providence Agreement ofI637 was replaced by the Plantation Agreement at Providence, I64o {36}. Portsmouth and Newport joined in a ftderation in I642 that allowed each town to retain its respective government and thus to preserve the differences (see the Organization ofthe Government of Rhode Island !37}). Warwick formed itselfin I647 [38}, andfinally, in I647 these towns all united in the Acts and Orders !39}, which was a complete constitution. 161 Origins_151-200.indd 162 2/17/12 6:32 PM RHODE ISLAND We whose names are hereunder, desirous to inhabit in the town of Providence , do promise to subject ourselves in active and passive obedience to all such orders or agreements as shall be made for the public good of the body in an orderly way, by the major consent of present inhabitants, masters of families, incorporated together in a Towne fellowship, and others whom they shall admit unto them only in civil things. [Signed by Richard Scott and twelve others.] The complete text is taken from Charles Evans, "Oaths ofAllegiance in Colonial New England," Proceedings ofthe American Antiquarian Society, n.s., 31 (April 13-0ctober 19, 1921): 424. Evans's spelling is used. 162 ...

Share