King1 Province for and dureing our Pleasure And lastly We have determined and made void and by these presents do determine and make void the like Comission 2 or Letters Patents vnder the Great Seale of England bearing date at Westminster the thirteenth day of February now last past granted by our said late Royall Brother King William the third vnto the said Joseph Dudley In Witnesse &c Witnesse our selfe at Westminster the first day of April By Writt of Privy Seale No. 8. 1 Sic. Public Record Office, Patent Roll, 1 Anne, 3424, Dudley's Commission of 13 February, 1701-2, of which a copy came too late for insertion in its proper place, will be found in the Appendix, pp. 391–396, post. ELIZEUS BURGES'S COMMISSION AS GOVERNOR OF THE PROVINCE OF THE 17 MARCH, 1714-15 Georgius Dei gratia Magnæ Britanni1 Francie et Hibernie Rex Fidei Defensor &ca Omnibus ad quos presentes Litere nostre pervenerint Salutem Inspeximus Irrotulamentum quarundam Literarum Patentium gerentium datam apud Westmonasterium decimo septimo die Marcii Anno Regni nostri primo Factarum et Concessarum et in Curia Cancellarie nostre Irrotulatarum ac ibidem de Recordo remanentium quarum tenor sequitur in hec verba 2 George by the Grace of God kr To our Trusty and Wellbeloved ELIZEUS BURGES Esquire Greeting Whereas by a Royal Charter, vnder the Great Seal of England bearing date the seventh day of October in the third year of the Reign of King William the Third De Concessione Burges Armigero the Colony of the Massachusets Bay the Colony Commissionis & of New Plymouth the Province of Main in New England the Territories of Accadie or Nova Scotia and the Lands lying 1 The final "e" or "a" is omitted for lack of space on the parchment. 2 This paragraph is in the Exemplification, but not in the copy in the Patent Roll. * These words are in the copy in the Patent Roll, but not in the Exemplification. between the said Territory of Nova Scotia and the Province of Maine aforesaid were vnited Erected and Incorporated into one Real Province by the Name of our Province of the Massachusets Bay in New England And Did thereby Grant to his loving Subjects the Inhabitants of the said Province or Territory of the Massachusets Bay in New England and their Successors That there should be a Governor or Lievtenant Governor and Secretary of the said Province and Territory to be from time to time appointed and Comissionated by the said King William his Heires and Successors with several Priviledges Franchises and Immunities thereby Granted to his said loveing Subjects And whereas our late Royal Sister Anne Queen of Great Britain &c Did by her Letters Pattents vnder her Great Seal of England bearing Date at Westminster the first day of April in the first year of her Reign Constitute and appoint her Trusty and Welbeloved Joseph Dudley Esquire to be her Governor and Commander in Chief in and over her Province of the Massachusets Bay in New England for and during her Pleasure as by the said several and respective Letters Patents (relation being thereunto had) may more fully and at large appear In which said Office by virtue of the Statute in such case made and provided and of our Royal Proclamation for that purpose Issued he is continued vntill Wee shall Declare our further pleasure concerning the said Office Now know yee That Wee have Revoked and determined and by these presents Do Revoke and determin the said recited Letters. Patents bearing date the First day of April in the first year of her said late Majesties Reign and every Clause Article and thing therein contained and his continuance in the said Office and him from the said Office Wee Do Remove by these Presents And further know yee that Wee reposeing Especial Trust and Confidence in your prudence Courage and Loyalty out of our especial Grace certain Knowledge and meer Mocon Have thought fit to constitute and appoint and by these presents Do Constitute and appoint you the said Elizeus Burges to be our Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over our said Province of the Massachusets Bay in New England And for your better Guidence and Direction Wee do hereby Require and Comand you to do and Execute all things in due manner that shall belong vnto the Trust Wee have Reposed in you according to the severall powers and Authorities mencond in the said Charter and in these presents and such further powers Instructions and Authorities as you shall receive, or which shall at any time hereafter be granted or appointed you vnder 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 vpon in such manner and form as by the said Charter is directed And our Will and pleasure is That you the said Elizeus Burges after the Publicacon of these our Letters Patents do in the first place take the Oathes appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oathes of Allegiance and Supremacy and the Oath menconed in an Act passed in the sixth year of her late Majesties Reign Entituled An Act for the Security of her Majesties person and Government and of the Succession to the Crown of Great Britain in the Protestant line As also that you make and Subscribe the Declaracon menconed in An Act of Parliament made in the Twenty fifth year of the Reign of King Charles the Second Entituled An Act for preventing dangers which may happen from popish Recusants And likewise that you take the vsuall Oath for the due Execucon of the Office and Trust of our Captain General and Governour in Chief in and over our said Province for the due and Impartial Administracon of Justice And further that you take the Oath required to be taken by Governors of Plantacons to do their utmost that the severall Laws Relating to Trade and Plantations to be observed which said Oaths and Declaracons 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 vnto you and in your absence to our Lievtenant Governor of our said Province if there be any vpon the place All which being duly performd you shall Administer to each of the members of our said Council and to our said Lieutenant Governor if there be any vpon the place the said Oaths appointed by law to be taken instead of the Oathes of Allegiance and Supremacy and the Oath menconed in the said Act Entituled An Act for the Security of her Majesties Person and Government and of the Succession to the Crown of Great Britain in the Protestant line As also to cause them to make and Subscribe the foremenconed Declaracon and to Administer to them the Oath for the due Execucon of their places and Trusts As also that you Administer or cause to be Administred vnto all the Members that shall be Elected to serve in the Generall Assembly of our said Province the said oathes appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oathes of Allegiance and Supremacy and the Oath menconed in the aforesaid Act Intituled An Act for the Security of her Majesties person and Government and of the Succession to the Crown of Great Britain in the Protestant line and likewise cause them to make and subscribe the aforemenconed Declaracon and vntill the same shall be so taken and Subscribed no person shall be capable of sitting though Elected And Wee Do hereby give and grant vnto you full power and Authority where you shall see Cause and shall judge any Offender or Offenders in Capital or Criminall matters or for any Fines or Forfeitures due vnto vs fitt Objects of our mercy to pardon all such Offenders and to Remit such Fines and Forfeitures (Treason and wilfull murder only Excepted) in which cases you shall likewise have power vpon extraordinary occasions to Grant Reprieves to the Offenders therein to the end and vntill our pleasure shall |