I John Bowes here in the Presence of Almighty God, as I hope for Ease, Honour, & Comfort in this World, and Happiness in the World to come, most earnestly devoutly & religiously swear neither directly or indirectly to assist the wicked Instruments of ministerial Tyranny & Villainy commonly called the Kings Troops & Navy by furnishing them with Provisions or Refreshments of any Kind, unless authorized by the Continental Congress, or the Legislature as at present established in this particular Colony of Rhode Island. I do also swear by the same tremendous & Almighty God that I will neither directly or indirectly convey any Intelligence, nor give any Advice to the afsd Enemies so described, and that I pledge myself, if I should by any Accident get the Knowledge of such Treasons, to inform immediately the Committee of Safety ー And as it [is] justly allowed that when the sacred Rights and Liberties of a Nation are invaded, Neutrality is not less base & criminal, than open and avowed Hostility, I do further swear & pledge myself as I hope for Eternal Salvation, that I will, when ever called upon by the Voice of the Continental Congress, or that of the Legislature of this particular Colony under their Authority, to take Arms & subject myself to military Discipline in Defence of the Common Rights & Liberties of America So help me God.
John Bowes.
Sworn at Newport Decr 25th 1775.
[Endorsed] Similar Depositions were taken by
1. John Hancock Papers, II, 112, LC. A copy was sent to the British Admiralty by Admiral Graves, entitled "Affidavit, Tendered by Lee to the inhabitants of Rhode Island." It listed no names, and is in PRO, Admiralty 1/484.
