proof of his covenant

[pars]

Dear all:
What is the exact meaning of "proof of his covenant" in the following passage? It is from the book The East India Company in Persia by Peter Good, p. 62. Does it mean "documented views of the former employers of someone about him"?

In one instance in 1729, Martin French, who served both as a ship’s captain and as Resident in Basra, was asked to provide proof of his covenant, for which purpose one of his guarantors was traced all the way to Lisbon where he was convalescing after an illness.

Thanks very much.

 

[Barque]

Do you have more context? Why was French asked to provide "proof of his covenant"?

A covenant is a promise or an undertaking to fulfil an obligation.

It sounds as if he was asked to provide proof that he could do something he'd undertaken to do. He undertook to do something (a covenant) and he was asked to provide proof that he could do so, from the reference to a "guarantor".

 

[pars]

Do you have more context? Why was French asked to provide "proof of his covenant"?

A covenant is a promise or an undertaking to fulfil an obligation.

It sounds as if he was asked to provide proof that he could do something he'd undertaken to do. He undertook to do something (a covenant) and he was asked to provide proof that he could do so, from the reference to a "guarantor".

The whole passage is as follow:
While Hejeebu’s argument that the Company’s various legal mechanisms for the prevention of illicit activity were unsuccessful seems bolstered by these
examples, the power of the Company to identify irregularity, recoup losses and censure their servants for breaching what was considered proper conduct
suggests this conclusion is an over-generalisation. Th is is supported by the great lengths to which the Company would willingly go to check whether the covenants of their servants were genuine.

 

[Barque]

Right. Thank you. Then I think I was right when I said:

It sounds as if he was asked to provide proof that he could do something he'd undertaken to do. He undertook to do something (a covenant) and he was asked to provide proof that he could do so,

 

[Tdol]

The undertaking sounds as if it had been written and they were checking on someone who had signed the deed or contract.

He was a Resident, which is a kind of representative, so an important position.