Oaths are useful sources for showing the expectations that the community had of the performance of its official representatives or its servants, and of the return obligation of the members of the community. At the ceremonies for swearing in officers, or for men entering thethe franchise, the text of the appropriate oath would be read out while the oath-taker had his hand on the Bible and (presumably) stated his agreement/compliance at the end of the reading of the oath. Administering sacred oaths, which relied on the strength of religious beliefs and the personal sense of honour of the oath-taker, and whose infringement could be the basis for dismissal or disfranchisement, was the chief means by which standards of conduct could be communicated and enforced.
The oaths below, of which I give only abstracts except for the elector's oath, whose text is given in full (but modernized) are drawn from the Book of Oaths and Ordinances (Norfolk Record Office Y/C18/1), ff.8-9, a volume still in fairly good condition, although with some damage to the edges of folios. They are versions drafted in the 1490s; though probably, in most regards, broadly representative of earlier versions, and likely copied from some earlier record, they show signs of minor modifications.
Oath of the 24 [councillors]
Oath of a burgess
Oath of the bailiffs
Oath of the chamberlains
Oath of electors of bailiffs and other officersHear this, you bailiffs and all good men, that I, A. B, shall well, impartially, and according to the ordinances of the town, make true election of the best and most discreet men of this town of Great Yarmouth to exercise and occupy the office of bailiffs of this town for the year next coming. And also I shall choose and make true and impartial election, according to the same ordinances, of all other officers; that is to say, 2 chamberlains, 2 churchwardens, 2 muragers, 8 herring wardens, 2 collectors of the half-doles, and 4 auditors. And I shall not fail to do this, not for friendship or affection of, favour from, or collusion with, any person, so help me God at the Last Judgement and by this book. |
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Created: March 9, 2010 Last update: 17 April, 2010 | © Stephen Alsford, 2010 |