contained, together with the Oath of Abjuration; and also an Oath, that he would faithfully discharge the Duties of the Office of Secretary of the said Province Before T. HUTCHINSON Examin p JN° COTTON D. Secry Crown Commissions, 1677-1774, p. 118. EDWARD RANDOLPH'S COMMISSION AS COLLECTOR, SURVEYOR, AND SEARCHER OF CUSTOMS IN THE COLONIES OF NEW ENGLAND 15 OCTOBER, 1681 Charles the second &c. To all to whome &c. Whereas by severall Acts of Parliament vizt the Act of Tonnage and Poundage made in the twelfth yeare of our Reigne the Act for encouraging and encreasing Mr Randolph of Shipping and Navigacon made in the same Office yeare the Act for p'venting Frauds and regulating abuses in our Customes made in the Fowerteenth yeare of our Raigne the Act for encouragemt of Trade made in the Fifteenth yeare of our Raigne And the Act for encouragem of the Greenland and East land Trades and for better securing the plantacon trade made in the twenty Fifth yeare of our Raigne for the Keepeing of our Plantacons beyond the Seas in a more firme dependance vppon this our Kingdome of England in asmuch as they are peopled with the subiects thereof and for the makeing this Kingdome a staple not onely of the comodities of those Plantacons but alsoe of the Comodities of other Countryes for the supplyeing of them Provision hath beene made that noe comodities of Europe should bee carried to any the said Plantacons but what should be bona fide shipped and laded in England and alsoe that the Comodities of the plantacons pticulerly therein enumerated and named should bee brought into this our Kingdome of England or Ireland Principality of Wales or towne of Berwicke vppon Tweede and that for such of the said Plantačons Comodities for which bond should not bee First given before the ladeing thereof to bring the same to England Wales or Berwicke and to no other place certeine rates and duties are imposed on the said Comodities payable to us our heires and successors in our said plantacons before the ladeing thereof to bee levyed and collected by such persons as should bee appointed in our said respective plantačons vnder the managem* of the Comissioners of our Customes in this Kingdome vnder the authority of our high Treasurer or Comissioners of our Treasury for the time being for the Colleccion of which rates and Duties in our severall Colonies of New England and alsoe to the End the said lawes may bee duely observed and obeyed according to the true intent and purport thereof and alsoe that Wee may be duely answered our parte and share of all such Forfeitures as ought to accrew to vs by virtue of the said lawes Now Know yee that Wee for the consideracons aforesaid and of our especiall grace certaine Knowledge and meere močon have created and erected and by these presents for vs our heires and Successors doe create and erect the Office which shall bee and shall bee called the Office of Collector Surveyor and Searcher of our Customes within our Colonyes of New England vnder the management of our Commissioners of our Customes in this our Kingdome of England And that further alsoe Wee reposeing especiall trust and Confidence in the Fidelity care and Circumspecčon of our trusty and wellbeloved Edward Handolph Esq' of our more especiall grace certeine Knowledge and meer močon have given and granted and by these p❜sents doe give and grant vnto the said Edward Randolph the said Office of Collector Surveyor and Searcher of our Customes within our Colonyes of New England vnder the management of the Commissioners of our Customes in |