EDWARD RANDOLPH'S FIRST COMMISSION AS SECRETARY AND REGISTER OF THE TERRITORY AND DOMINION OF NEW ENGLAND 21 SEPTEMBER, 1685 James Ker James the Second by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France & Freland defend' of the Faith &c. to all to whome these presents shall come greeting Whereas we have thought fitt to appoint a President & Councill Vntill we shall send over A Governor in Chiefe to take Care of all our Territory & Dominion in New England Commonly Caled or knowne by the names of the Collony of the Massachusetts Bay the province of New Hampshier & Maine and the Narragansett Country otherwise Caled the Kings Province with all the Islands Rights & members thereunto belonging. Know yee that wee reposing Especiall trust & Confidence in the Loyalty & Abilities of our trusty & well beloved Edward Randolph Esq' have given & Granted and by these presents do give and grant onto him the said Edward Kandolph the severall and respective places & Offices of Secretary and Sole Register of our Governor & Councill and of our Government there for the time being of and in our Territoryes and Dominion afore said and him the said Edward Randolph Secretary and Register of our sa Territoryes & Dominions wee do by these presents make Ordain and Constitute to have hold Exercise and Enjoy the s Places and Offices onto him the sd Edward Randolph by himselfe or his Deputy or Deputies during our Pleasure together with all fees Rights Privilidges Proffitts Perquisits and advantages to the said Places & Offices or either of them belonging or in any wise appertaining or which shall belong or in any wise appertaine in as full and ample manner to all Intents and Purposes as the Secretary and Register of our Island of Jamaica or of any other our Plantations in America have had or doe now receave and Enjoy.—and hereof all persons whom it may Concerne are to take due notice and yeild obedience therevnto accordingly. Given att our Court att Windsor y 21 day of September 1685 in the first year of our Reigne. Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 126, pp. 95-96. Memorand On the 26th of August 1685. Mr Randolph's petition is read to their LoPS praying that he may be recommended to his mats favour, that in Consideracon of his Petition of Mr Randolph for yo places of Secry & Register &c. past Services he may have a grant of the office of Secretary and Register of all those Places wch are or shalbee brought under his mat Governm in New England, Whereupon their LoP agree to Consider further of this Petition when the Governm of all the Colonyes of New England shall be setled. p. 251. Public Record Office, Colonial Office, Class 5, Vol. 904, EDWARD RANDOLPH'S SECOND COMMISSION AS SECRETARY AND REGISTER OF THE TERRITORY AND DOMINION OF NEW ENGLAND 25 APRIL, 1688 James the Second † Freland Defender of the Faith bc. To all to Whom &c Know yee, that Wee for divers good Causes and Consideracons Us thereunto moving have Created Erected and Established and by these presents for vs our Heires De Concessione Randolph officand Successors do Erect Create and Establish an ium Office which for ever shall be and be called the Office of Secretary and Sole Register of Our Territory and Dominion of New England in America And Wee doe also for vs Our Heires and Successors hereby Ordeyne and Declare that the Person who shall from time to time be appointed to Execute the said Office shall have and enjoy all Priviledges Fees p'heminencies Rights Profitts and Advantages which any other Secretary or Register of or within any of Our Plantacons or Colonies in America hath Enjoyed or doth or ought to enjoy in respect of such his Office And further Know yee that Wee reposing speciall Trust and Confidence in the Fidelity Prudence and Circumspection of Our Trusty and Welbeloved Edward Randolph Esq" of Our Especiall grace certain Knowledge and meer mocoñ have given and granted and by these presents doe give and grant vnto the said Edward Randolph the said Office or place of secretary and Sole Register of our Territory and Dominion of New England in America aforesaid And him the said Edward Randolph secretary and sole Register of our said Territory and Dominion of New England Wee doe name make Create and Ordeyne by these presents To have hold exercise and enjoy the said Office and place of secretary and sole Register of New England aforesaid vnto the said Edward Randolph by himselfe or his Sufficient Deputy or deputies during Our Pleasure and further Wee have given and granted and by these presents do give and grant vnto the said Edward Randolph all and singuler such and the like Fees Rights Powers Preheminences Perquisites Profitts and Advantages for and in respect of the Execucon of the said Office or Place as any other of Our Secretaryes or Registers of Within or belonging to any of Our Plantacons or Colonies or other Places Whatsoever in America aforesaid now doe or doth or at any time or times heretofore have or hath of Right taken received or Enjoyed for the Exercise of his or their said respective Offices or Places To have receive perceive and enjoy the the same unto the said Edward Randolph by himselfe or his Sufficient Deputy or Deputies during Our Pleasure In Witness &c Witnesse the King at Westm the five and Twentyeth day of Aprill No. 22. By writt of Privy Seal Public Record Office, Patent Roll, 4 James II, Part 4, SAMUEL WOODWARD'S COMMISSION AS SECRETARY OF THE PROVINCE OF THE 23 JUNE, 1715 George by the Grace of God kr To all to whom these p'sents shall come Greeting know yee that Wee of Our especiall Grace certain knowledge and meer močon have Given And Granted and by these p'sents Do give and Grant unto Our Trusty and (De Concessione Welbeloved Samuel Woodward Esq" the Office Woodward Armigero or place of Secretary of our Province of Massa-Officium chuset's Bay in New England in America And him the said Samuel Woodward Secretary of Our said Province of Massachuset's Bay in New England in America Wee do make Ordain and constitute by these p'sents To have hold Exercise and enjoy the said Office or place unto the said Samuel Woodward by himself or his sufficient Deputy or Deputys (for whom he shall be answerable) for and during Our pleasure and his residence Within Our said Province with all Fees Rights profits priviledges and advantages Whatsoever thereunto belonging in as full and ample manner as any Secretary of Our said Province hath heretofore held and enjoyed or of right ought to have held and enjoyed the same provided always that if the said Samuel Woodward shall not transport himself to Our said Province of Massachuset's Bay in New |