Page:The Federal and State Constitutions 1.pdf/556

520 allwayes there be sixe chosen besids the Gouernour; w$ch$ being chosen and sworne according to an Oath recorded for that purpose shall haue power to administer iustice according to the Lawes here established, and for want thereof according to the rule of the word of God; w$ch$ choise shall be made by all that are admitted freemen and haue taken the Oath of Fidellity, and doe cohabitte w$th$in this Jurisdiction, (hauing beene admitted Inhabitants by the maior p$r$t of the Towne wherein they liue, ) or the mayor p$r$te of such as shall be then p$r$sent.

2. It is Ordered, sentensed and decreed, that the Election of the aforesaid Magestrats shall be on this manner: euery p$r$son p$r$sent and quallified for choyse shall bring in (to the p$r$sons deputed to receaue thē) one single pap$r$ w$th$ the name of him written in yt whom he desires to haue Gouernour, and he that hath the greatest nūber of papers shall be Gouernor for that yeare. And the rest of the Magestrats or publike Officers to be chosen in this manner: The Secretary for the tyme being shall first read the names of all that are to be put to choise and then shall seuerally nominate them distinctly, and euery one that would haue the p$r$son nominated to be chosen shall bring in one single paper written vppon, and he that would not haue him chose shall bring in a blanke: and euery one that hath more written papers than blanks shall be a Magistrat for that yeare; w$ch$ papers shall be receaued and told by one or more that shall be then chosen by the court and sworne to be faythfull therein; but in case there should not be sixe chose as aforesaid, besids the Gouernor, out of those w$ch$ are nominated, then he or they w$ch$ haue the most written pap$r$s shall be a Magestrate or Magestrats for the ensueing yeare, to make vp the aforesaid nūber.

3. It is Ordered, sentenced and decreed, that the Secretary shall not nominate any p$r$son, nor shall any p$r$son be chosen newly into the Magestracy w$ch$ was not p$r$pownded in some Generall Courte before, to be nominated the next Election; and to that end yt shall be lawfull for ech of the Townes aforesaid by their deputyes to nomiate any two whō they conceaue fitte to be put to election; and the Courte may ad so many more as they iudge requisitt.

4. It is Ordered, sentenced and decreed that noe p$r$son be chosen Gouernor aboue once in two yeares, and that the Gouernor be always a mēber of some approved congregation, and formerly of the Magestracy w$th$in this Jurisdiction; and all the Magestrats Freemen of this Com̃onwelth: and that no Magestrate or other publike officer shall execute any p$r$te of his or their Office before they are seuerally sworne, w$ch$ shall be done in the face of the Courte if they be p$r$sent, and in case of absence by some deputed for that purpose.

5. It is Ordered, sentenced and decreed, that to the aforesaid Courte of Election the seu$r$all Townes shall send their deputyes, and when the Elections are ended they may p$r$ceed in any publike searuice as at other Courts. Also the other Generall Courte in September shall be for makeing of lawes, and any other publike occation, w$ch$ conserns the good of the Com̃onwelth.

6. It is Ordered, sentenced and decreed, that the Gou$r$nor shall, ether by himselfe or by the secretary, send out sum̃ons to the