Correspondence
| Published date | 01 January 1965 |
| Date | 01 January 1965 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X6503800114 |
| Subject Matter | Correspondence |
THE CONSTABLE'S OATH
To the Editor 0/
THE
POLICE
10URNAL
Dear Sir,
Your article in the September issue
of THE
POLICE
10URNAL
on the subject
of the constable's
oath
was quite
informative,
but
from my point of
view rather disappointing for it left
unanswered aquestion
that
has been
on my mind for some years.
Britain laid claim to the Islands of
Bermuda in the year 1609, when Ad-
miral Sir George Somers was ship-
wrecked here on the way to Virginia.
A Royal
Charter
to colonize Bermuda
was granted to the Virginia Company
in 1612, and in the same year they sold
their rights in the Charter to the
BermudaCompany.
Governors were appointed from time
to time by the company to administer
the colony
and
records indicate
that
the office
of
constable was instituted at
the very earliest date. Governor
Nathanial Butler leaves no
doubt
in
the mind for in 1620, he provided the
constable's
oath
which read as follows:
.. You shall swear
that
you shall well
and truly serve
our
Sovereigne Lord
the King in the office of constable. You
shall see and cause his Masters peace
to be well and truly kept and preserved
according to your power. You shall
arrest all such persons as in your sight
shall go around offensively or shall
commit or make any riot, affray. or
breach of Masters peace. You shall do
your best endeavours upon complaint
to you made to apprehend all felons,
Barrators, and riotous persons riot-
ously assembled; and if any such
offender shall make resistance with
force, you shall levy hue and cry and
shall persue them until they be taken.
36
You do your best endeavour that hue
and cry shall be duly persued and
that the statutes made for punishment
of rogues, vagabonds, night-walkers,
and such other idle persons coming
within your bounds or limits be duly
put in execution. You shall have a
watchful eye to such persons as shall
maintain or
keep
any common house
or plaee where any unlawful game isor
shall be used, as also such as shall
frequent or use such places or shall use
or exercise any unlawful games and or
else where contrary to Statute. You
shall well and duly execute all precepts
and warrants to you directed from me
the Governor of these Islands, and you
shall well and duly according to your
knowledge, power, and ability do and
execute all other things belonging to
the office of a constable so long as you
shall continue in this office. So help me
God."
From
the police angle this
oath
would appear to be quite a historical
gem: however, as many of the early
laws of Bermuda were copied word
for word from English statutes, I
wonder whether it can be claimed as
strictly Bermudan or whether it, too,
originated in England. No
doubt
it was
the latter, but in any event it is evident
that the Governor wanted a lot for
nothing-for
it was the custom, and
duty, in those days for every able man
to serve in the office of constable for a
period of twelve
months-without
pay.
But in those far off days they didn't
have the Judges' Rules!
Yours faithfully,
E. A.
BURTON,
Sergeant, Police H.Q.,
Prospect, Bermuda.
January /965
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