Public Record Office, Patent Roll, 1 George I, Part 8, No. 25. Compared with the Exemplification 1 in the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society (171. 2. 4).2

1 This Exemplification, which was given to the Massachusetts Historical Society about 1810, is the only document of the sort (among the Commissions printed in this volume) that is now known to be extant. It is engrossed on three sheets of parchment (the initial letter containing a representation of George I), and appending is the Great Seal of England (now broken).

2 The differences between the Exemplification and the copy in the Patent Roll are noted in footnotes.

SAMUEL SHUTE'S COMMISSION

AS

GOVERNOR OF THE PROVINCE OF THE
MASSACHUSETTS BAY

15 JUNE, 1716

DRAUGHT OF A COMMISSION FOR SAMUEL SHUTE ESQR TO May the 10th BE GOVERNOR OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY

George by the Grace of God, king of Great Britain, France and Ereland, Defender of the Faith, *r* To Our Trusty & Well beloved SAMUEL SHUTE Esq Greeting.

Whereas by a Royal Charter, under the Great Seal of England bearing date the seventh day of Oct' in the third Year of the Reign of King William the third, the Colony of the Massachusets Bay, the Colony of New Plimouth, the Province of Maine in New England, the Territory of Accadie or Nova Scotia, and the Lands lying between the said Territory of Nova Scotia and the Province of Maine aforesaid, were united, erected & incorporated into one Real Province, by the name of our Province of the Massachusets Bay. in New England, & his said Majesty did thereby grant to our loving Subjects the Inhabitants of our said Province or Territory of the Massachusets Bay in New England & their Successors, that there shall be a Governor, a Lieut Governor & Secretary of our Said Province and Territory, to be from

time to time appointed & Commissionated by the said King William, his Heirs and Successors with several Priviledges, Franchises and Immunities thereby granted to our said loving subjects; We therefore reposing especial Trust & Confidence in your Prudence, Courage and Loyalty, out of our especial Grace, certain Knowledge and Meer Motion, have thought fitt to constitute and appoint, and by these Presents, do constitute and appoint You the said Samuel Shute to be our Cap General and Governor in Chief in and over Our said Province of the Massachusets Bay in New England; And for your better Guidance and Direction,

We do hereby require and command you to do and execute all things in due manner, that shall belong unto the To execute this Trust We have reposed in you, according to the several

Commission according to Instructions

To take the
Oaths

Powers and Authorities mentioned in the said Charter, and in these Presents, and such further Powers and Instructions & Authorities as you shall receive, or which shall at any time hereafter be granted or appointed you under our Sign Manual and Signet, or by Order of our Privy Council, in pursuance of the said Charter, and according to such reasonable Laws and Statutes as are now in Force or which hereafter shall be made and agreed upon, in such manner and form as by the said Charter is directed.

And Our Will and Pleasure is, that you the said Samuel -Shute after the Publication of these our Letters Patents do in the first Place take the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy & the Oath mentioned in an Act pass'd in the first year of our Reign, entituled, An Act for the further Security of his Majesty's Person and Government & the Succession of the Crown in the Heirs of the late Princess Sophia, being Protestants; And the Extinguishing the Hopes of the Pretended Prince of Wales and his open and secret Abettors. As also that you make and subscribe the Declaration mentioned in an Act of Parliam* made in y° 25th year of the Reign of

King Charles the 2nd Entituled An Act for preventing Dangers which may happen from. Popish Recusants; And likewise that you take the usual Oath for the due Execution of the Office & Trust of our Capt" General and Gov' in Chief in and over Our said Province, for the due and impartial Administration of Justice; And further that you take the Oath required to be taken by Gov" of Plantations to do their utmost that the several Laws relating to Trade and Plantations, be observed; which said Oaths and Declarations Our Council of Our said Province or any three of the Members thereof have hereby full Power and Authority and are required to tender and administer unto you, and in your Absence to Our Lieut Governor of our said Province, if there be any upon the Place. All which being duly performed, You shall administer to Each of the members of our said Council, and to Our said Lieut Governor, if there be any upon the Place, the said Oaths appointed by Law to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and the Oath mentioned in the said Act entituled, An Act for the further Security of his Majesty's Person and Governm & the succession of the Crown in the Heirs of the late Princess Sophia being Protestants, and for extinguishing the Hopes of the Pretended Prince of Wales and his open and secret Abettors. As also to cause them to make and subscribe the foremention'd Declaration, & to administer to them the Oath for the due Execution of their Places and Trusts. As also that you administer or cause to be administered unto all the Members that shall be elected to serve in the Generall Assembly of our said Province the said Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance Supremacy, and the Oath mention'd in the foresaid Act Entituled, An Act for the further Security of his Majesty's Person and Government & the Succession of the Crown in the Heirs of the late Princess Sophia being Protestants, and for extinguishing the Hopes of the Pretended Prince of Wales, and his open and secret

To pardon or
Reprieve
Offenders

To Arm &c the People against Enemies

To put Enemies to Death at Discretion

Abettors. And likewise cause them to make and subscribe the forementioned Declaration, And until the same shall be so taken & subscribed, no person shall be capable of sitting, tho' elected.

And We do hereby give and grant unto you full Power and Authority, where you shall see cause, and shall judge any Offender or Offenders in Capitall or Criminal Matters, or for any Fines or Forfeitures due unto Us, fit objects of our Mercy, to pardon all such Offenders, & to remit such Fines and Forfeitures (Treason and Wilfull Murder only excepted) In which Cases you shall likewise have Power upon extraordinary Occasions to grant Reprieves to the Offenders therein, to the End and until our Pleasure shall be further known.

And We do hereby give and grant unto You the said Samuel Shute, by yourself, your Captains & Commanders by you to be Authorized, full Power and Authority, to levy, arm, muster, Comand or employ all Persons whatsoever, residing within our said Province & Territory of the Massachusets Bay in New England, and as occasion shall require, them to transport from one Place to another, for resisting & withstanding of all Enemies, Pirates & Rebels, both at Land & Sea, and such Forces with their own Consent or with the Consent of our Council and Assembly to transport to any of our Plantations in America as occasion shall require, for the Defence of the same, against the Invasion or Attempts of any of our Enemies; and such Enemies, Pirates and Rebels, if occasion shall require, to persue and prosecute in or out of the Limits of our said Province or any parts thereof.

And if it shall so please God, them to vanquish apprehend and take, and being taken, either according to the Law of Arms, to put to Death, or to keep and preserve alive, at your Discretion.

We do further give and grant unto you full Power and