COMMISSION of the COLLECTOR, SURVEYOR, AND SEARCHER OF CUSTOMS IN THE COLONIES OF NEW ENGLAND 1681

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 increasing of Shipping and Navigac̃on made in the same yeare the Act for p^rventing Frauds and regulating abuses in our Customes made in the Fowerteenth yeare of our Raigne the Act for encouragem^t of Trade made in the Fifteenth yeare of our Raigne And the Act for encouragem^t 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 Plantac̃ons 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 Plantac̃ons 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 Plantac̃ons but what should be bona fide shipped and laded in England and alsoe that the Comodities of the plantac̃ons ꝑticulerly 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 Plantac̃ons 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 plantac̃ons before the ladeing thereof to bee levyed and collected by such persons as should bee appointed in our said respective plantac̃ons vnder the managem^t 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 Collec͞cion 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 considerac̃ons aforesaid and of our especiall grace certaine Knowledge and meere moc̃on 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 Circumspec͠con of our trusty and well-beloved Edward Randolph Esq^r of our more especiall grace certeine Knowledge and meer moc̃on have given and granted and by these p^rsents 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 this our Kingdome of England and him the said Edward Randolph Collector Surveyor and Searcher of our Customes within our said Colonyes of New England vnder the management of our Com̄issioners of our Customes in this our Kingdome of England Wee doe by these p^rsents Ordayne and Constitute To have and to hold the said Office of Collector Surveyor and Searcher as aforesaid vnto the said Edward Randolph dureing our pleasure to bee executed by himselfe or his sufficient Deputy or Deputies And Know yee further that Wee of our more especiall grace certaine Knowledge and meere moc̃on have given and granted and by these presents doe give and grant vnto the said Edward Randolph for the Execuc̃on of the said Office the yearely sum̄e of One hundred pounds payable quarterly att the Fower most vsuall Feasts or termes in the yeare (that is to say) the Feasts of Saint Michaell the Arch Angell the Birth of our lord Christ the Annunciac̃on of the blessed virgin Mary and the Nativity of Saint John Baptist by even and equall porc̃ons To bee paid vnto the said Edward Randolph out of our Customes Subsidies and other duties ariseing vpon goodes and merchandizes imported or to bee imported into this our Kingdome of England or exported out of the same from time to time by the hands of our receivor generall Farmers or Collectors thereof the said Salary or allowance to comence from the Feast of Saint John Baptist now last past and the First payment to bee made for the quarter ended at the Feast of Saint Michaell the Arch Angell last past giveing and by these presents granting vnto the said Edward Randolph his Deputy or Deputies full power and authority to Collect and receive to our vse all the aforesaid rates duties and Imposic̃ons and to search for and seize all such Europian goods as contrary to the said lawes or any of them shall bee carried to any of our Colonies of New England which shall not have beene bona fide laden in this our Kingdome of England Dominion of Wales or Towne of Berwick vppon Tweed as alsoe all such of the said plantac̃on Comodities which shall come to any of our said Collonyes of New land210 and not have first paid before the ladeing thereof in any other of our said Plantac̃ons the rates and duties as aforesaid respectively imposed on the said Comodities and alsoe to seize all such shipps and vessells and theire lading respectively which contrary to the aforesaid lawes or any of them shall lade or shall have laden any of the said plantac̃on Comodities not haveing first given bond with condic̃on as is provided in the Act of Parliament made in the twelfth yeare of our Raigne for the encouragement and encrease of shipping and Navigac̃on and alsoe to search for seize and proceed against any other goods or Marchandizes shipps or vessells whatsoever as are or shalbe any otherwise lyable to Forfeiture as vncustomed or prohibited or any otherwaies whatsoever by virtue of the said Acts of Parliament or any of them or any other law now in force or that shall bee in force and to vse all lawfull wayes and meanes in relac̃on thereunto And Wee doe hereby Authorize Will and Comand the said Edward Randolph for his due Execuc̃on of the said Office to pursue and observe all such Orders rules and direc͠cons concerning the same as hee hath already received or shall from time to time receive from vs or from y^e Comissioners of our Treasury now being or our high Treasurer or Comissioners of our Treasury which hereafter shall bee or from the Comissioners of our Customes in England which now bee or hereafter shall bee strictly chargeing and requireing all Governors Deputy Governors Magistrates Officers and persons whatsoever to be ayding and assisting to the said Edward Randolph or his Deputy or Deputies in all things concerning the due Execuc̃on of the said Office and Wee doe also Comand and require all our Judges Justices of the peace and other Officers and Ministers That these our letters pattents bee allowed of in all Courts of Record or elsewhere within our said Colony of New England or any other our Dominions In Witnesse &c. Witnesse our selfe att Westminster the Fifteenth day of October.

By writt of Privy Seal

— Public Record Office, Patent Roll, 33 Charles II, Part 7, No. 15.

1 Later Mr. Goodell gave copies of the Commissions of Vice-Admiral.

2 In an Instruction issued to Addington on December 11 it is stated that “His Majesty” has “been Graciously pleased, by his Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England, to Grant unto you the Office and Place of Secretary of their Majesties Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England” (Public Record Office, Colonial Office, Class 5, Vol. 905, p. 404). Hence Addington’s Commission must have been issued on or before December 11, 1691.

3 Stoughton’s Commission was presumably issued in December, 1691.

4 This Commission of Tailer was presumably issued in the spring or summer of 1711, as he was sworn on October 4th (Council Records, v. 456).

5 The exact date of this Commission has been obtained from the Council Records (vi. 379) for September 24, 1715.

6 Dummer’s Commission was presumably issued in the spring or summer of 1716, as he was sworn on October 5th (Boston News Letter, October 8, 1716, p. 2/1).

7 The Commission of Burges (1715).

8 These two volumes, it may be added, contain many documents besides Royal Commissions. The volume labelled “Crown Commissions, 1677–1774” has no index. The volume labelled “Crown Commissions, 1628–1663” has an index, doubtless made many years ago, but this index is worthless since it wrongly describes some of the documents and omits others altogether. Consequently, in order to ascertain exactly what documents are in the two volumes, the latter must be examined page by page. Moreover, the documents in the two volumes are not included in the Index volumes to the Archives. Hence an adequate index to the two volumes would be serviceable.

9 As already stated in the text, however, copies of two earlier Commissions (1685 and 1686) are in the Massachusetts Archives, cxxvi. 95–96, 7–16.

10 Council Records, iii. 325.

11 Council Records, ix. 83.

12 There are two pieces of evidence to support the statement in the text. First, the words “Old volume 3” are written in ink on the recto of the first leaf, unnumbered and otherwise blank, of the volume labelled “Crown Commissions, 1677–1774.” That volume contains, besides the leaf just mentioned, two leaves unnumbered and blank; seventy-nine leaves containing records, the folios numbered from 1 to 158; and then forty-nine unnumbered and blank leaves.

Second, on pp. 45–48 of the volume labelled “Crown Commissions, 1628–1663” is recorded the “Commission of William Burnet &c Commissioners for the trial of Pirates,” dated December 13, 1728. After the Commission is written (on p. 48) “Examined p^r J Willard Se͞c͞r͞y,” the words “J Willard Se͞c͞r͞y” being in the hand of Willard himself. Then follow these words, not in the hand of Willard: “Recorded in the Secretary’s Office in Boston in the Book of Commissions &c^a from the Crown, from Page 297, to Page 303. — ꝑ J Willard Sec̄ry Dec^r 23. 1729.” This “Book of Commissions &c^a from the Crown,” which must have been in existence in 1729, is not now extant. Following the entry dated December 23, 1729, are these entries:

Recorded the 6^th of October 1738 ꝑ Ja^s Martin Sec͞ry

The fifteen preceeding Pages make a true Copy of his Majesty’s Commission for the Trial of Pirates &c. as the Same stands on the Publick Records of the English Colony of Rhode Island &c. taken therefrom & duly Examined this first day of April 1748 By Tho Ward Sec͞ry.”

It is obvious, therefore, that this Commission of December 13, 1728, was not entered in “Crown Commissions, 1628–1663” before April, 1748. Cf. the note immediately below.

13 The fire of 1747 occurred on the morning of December 9. The same afternoon a committee was appointed in the Legislature to consider what should be done with regard to the loss of documents, and on the 11th —

Josiah Willard Esq^r from the Committee of both Houses appointed to consider the Circumstances of the Province in relation to the Desolation of the Court House, gave in the following report, viz^t

The Committee . . . Report as their Opinion . . . That the Secretary record in his Office the first or old Charter of this Province & the Charter of King William & Queen Mary with the Commissions of the Governour, Lieu^t Governour Justices of the Superiour Court & his own (Court Records, xviii. 275–276).

Now the first forty-five pages of “Crown Commissions, 1628–1663” contain, in the order named, the Colony Charter (1629), the Province Charter (1691), the Explanatory Charter (1725), Secretary Willard’s First (1717) and Second (1728) Commissions, Lieutenant-Governor Phips’s Commission (1732), and Shirley’s Commissions (1741) as Governor and as Vice-Admiral. All these, with the exception of the last two, are in the hand of Willard, and even the last two are attested by Willard. The inference is irresistible that this particular volume, which in no event could have been begun later than 1756 (in which year Willard died), must have been begun soon after the fire of 1747 in response to the report of the committee made December 11, 1747. The three Charters were saved and so could be copied, while the Commissions were doubtless in the possession of the three officials and not in the Town House. Cf. p. xviii note 4, ante. It may be added that on December 11, 1747, the house “Voted, That his Excellency the Governour be desired . . . to appoint a Day of Humiliation and Prayer throughout this Province . . . on Occasion of the great Difficulties the Province Labours under, and the Frowns of Divine Providence, more especially in Regard of the Destruction of the Court-House in Boston, and great Part of the publick Records by Fire” (House Journal, p. 186). Whoever has had occasion to search in vain for documents that must once have been in the State House realizes how fearful was the loss occasioned by the fire of 1747.

14 None of the Commissions in Vice-Admiralty previous to 1741 are in the State House, and consequently those from 1685 to 1730 are printed from copies obtained from the Royal Courts of Justice. The Commissions from 1741 to 1774 are in the State House and are here printed from copies obtained from that source. But copies of these Commissions are also in the Royal Courts of Justice, Admiralty Registry, Muniment Books, the references being as follows: Shirley (1741), Vol. 8, p. 182; Pownall (1757), Vol. 9, p. 114; Bernard (1760), Vol. 9, p. 127; Bernard (1761), Vol. 9, p. 139; Hutchinson (1771), Vol. 10, p. 128; Gage (1774), Vol. 10, p. 155.

15 The figures within parentheses, here and elsewhere in these extracts, of course refer to the twelve stages mentioned in the text, pp. xxi–xxii.

16 Second Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records, London, 1841, pp. 26–27, 28, 30, 32–33, 40, 41.

17 Ibid. pp. 41, 43, 44, 46.

18 Statutes at Large (1734), vi. 307. The Act of 4 George II, Ch. 26, was in 1733 extended to Wales by the Act of 6 George II, Ch. 14 (Statutes at Large, vi. 485).

19 For this information, the Editor is indebted to Miss Lucy Drucker.

20 Some Notes on the Commissions are in preparation and will be printed in a later volume of Publications.

21 All dates in the Preface, in these Lists, and in the Index, are New Style.

22 This date is approximate: see p, xvi note 2, ante.

23 His Commission is not extant.

24 This date is approximate: see p. xvi note 1, ante.

25 His Commission is not extant.

26 The exact date of this Commission is not known: see p. xvii note 1, ante.

27 His Commission is not extant.

28 His Commission is not extant: see p. xvii note 2, ante.

29 The exact date or this Commission is not known: see p. xvii note 3, ante.

30 His Commission is not extant.

31 His Commission is not extant.

32 This date is approximate: see p. xvi note 1, ante.

33 His Commission of 1716 is not extant.

34 The exact date of this Commission is not known: see p. xvii note 3, ante.

35 His Commission is not extant.

36 This date is approximate: see p. xvi note 2, ante.

37 His Commissions of 1711 and 1715 are not extant.

38 The exact date of this Commission is not known: see p. xvii note 1, ante.

39 This List is based on data obtained from the Council Records, the Court Records, the Massachusetts House Journals, the Boston newspapers, and other contemporary sources.

40 Stoughton held this office not by Royal commission, but by appointment from President Dudley.

41 The Andros government was overthrown on April 18, 1689.

42 The Andros government was overthrown on April 18, 1689.

43 The Andros government was overthrown on April 18, 1689.

44 The names or Acting-Governors are printed in italics, as is also the Council when the government devolved upon the latter.

45 Stoughton died July 7, 1701.

46 Burges never came to this country.

47 Burnet died September 7, 1729.

48 Spencer Phips died April 4, 1757.

49 The outbreak or the Revolution makes it impossible to say exactly when Gage, Thomas Oliver, and Flucker left office.

50 This date is approximate: see p. xvi note 2, ante.

51 Stoughton died July 7, 1701.

52 This date is approximate.

53 The exact date of this Commission is not known: see p. xvii note 1, ante.

54 The exact date of this Commission is not known: see p. xvii note 3, ante.

55 Tailer died March 1, 1732.

56 Spencer Phips died April 4, 1757.

57 Andrew Oliver died March 3, 1774.

58 See p. xxxiv note 6, ante.

59 This date is approximate: see p. xvi note 1, ante.

60 Addington died March 19, 1715. On March 26, 1715, Gov. Dudley appointed Addington Davenport and Paul Dudley to keep the Seals.

61 This date is approximate.

62 Willard died December 7, 1756.

63 Andrew Oliver was appointed Secretary by Lt.-Gov. Phips on December 13 and took office December 15, 1756. He was sworn under his Royal Commission June 1, 1758.

64 See p. xxxiv note 6, ante.

65 See Province Laws, i. 753, footnote †, respecting the change in enumerating the Year occasioned by the death of Queen Mary which occurred 28 December, 1694.

66 Sic.

67 These words occur in the printed copies, but are not in the original. See also Colony Charter.

68 Omitted in the original.

69 Sic.

70 Sic.

71 Sic.

72 Liberties.

73 Narragansett.

74 Sic.

75 Sic.

76 In printed copies this is “the,” but the omission in the original seems better supplied as above.

77 Sic.

78 Sic in the original, but “for” in the printed copies.

79 profession.

80 Sic.

81 Sic.

82 rejected.

83 Sir John Trevor, Sir William Rawlinson, and Sir George Hutchins were appointed Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal, 15 May, 1690; and were succeeded by Lord Somers as Chancellor, 3 May, 1693.

84 This heading, as throughout the volume, is not a part of the Commission, having been inserted for convenience by the Editor. A short rule always separates the heading from the Commission.

85 Sic.

86 Sic.

87 Sic.

88 Sic.

89 Sic.

90 Sic: our high.

91 Sic: settle.

92 The copy of Dudley’s Commission as President recorded in the Public Record Office, Colonial Office, Class 5, Vol. 904, pp. 252–258, bears date 27 September; but the copy on the Patent Roll bears date 8 October: see p. 43, ante.

93 In the Commissions of which there are copies both in the Public Record Office in London and in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, words and letters in brackets are such as appear in the Record Office copies, but not in the copies in the Secretary’s office; and words in brackets, italicized, occur in the copies in the Secretary’s office, but not in the copies in the Record Office. Trivial differences — such as the use of the ampersand, punctuation, initial capital letters, and spelling (as “Massachusetts” or “Massachusets,” “mere” or “meer,” “tried” or “tryed,” “shore” or “shoar,” “well beloved” or “welbeloved,” “Lieutenant” or “Lieu^t,” “territories” or “territorys,” etc.) — are not noted.

94 Sic: on.

95 Sic: any.

96 Sic.

97 Sic: and grant.

98 Sic: the same.

99 Sic: by you.

100 Sic.

101 Sic.

102 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.

103 The final “e” or “æ” is omitted for lack of space on the parchment.

104 This paragraph is in the Exemplification, but not in the copy in the Patent Roll.

105 These words are in the copy in the Patent Roll, but not in the Exemplification.

106 What follows is found in the Exemplification only.

107 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).

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

109 Sic: further Pleasure.

110 Sic.

111 Sic: if it.

112 Sic: same or.

113 Sic.

114 Sic: the Third.

115 Sic.

116 Sic.

117 Sic: Province.

118 Sic: which shall.

119 Sic: to.

120 See footnote, p. 56, ante.

121 Sic.

122 See footnote, p. 56, ante.

123 Gov. Bernard was created a Baronet 5 April, 1760.

124 See footnote, p. 56, ante.

125 See footnote, p. 56, ante.

126 See footnote, p. 56, ante.

127 Doubtless a clerical error for “twenty eighth:” see p. 173, ante.

128 See footnote, p. 56, ante.

129 In our texts of Latin documents, abbreviations are expanded in italics, and letters omitted without marks of abbreviation are placed within square brackets.

130 Sic: Portorico.

131 Sic: per.

132 Sic: eorum.

133 Sic: eorum.

134 Sic: eorum.

135 Sic: assistentium.

136 Sic: repertis.

137 Sic: Forisfactis.

138 Sic: Poenis.

139 Sic: ad.

140 Sic: commissa.

141 Sic: eorum.

142 Sic: dependentibus.

143 Sic: Potestate.

144 Sic: eorum.

145 Sic: earundem.

146 Sic: eorum.

147 Sic: eorum.

148 Sic: eaque.

149 Sic: et.

150 Sic: exiget.

151 Sic: eorundem et eorum.

152 Sic: provisorum.

153 Sic: earundem et earum.

154 Sic: eorundem et eorum.

155 Sic: eorundem et eorum.

156 A translation of this Commission will be found in the Appendix, pp. 357–368, post.

157 Sic: quadraginta.

158 “Lord” omitted by mistake.

159 See pp. 187–198, ante. A translation of this Commission will be found in. the Appendix, p. 369, post.

160 See pp. 187–198, ante.

161 Sic: quadraginta.

162 Sic: but the letters doubtless belong to the next entry.

163 See pp. 187–198, ante. A translation of this Commission will be found in the Appendix, pp. 370–371, post.

164 Sic: observata.

165 Sic: exigendam.

166 Sic: positorum sive poneudorum.

167 Sic: flumiua.

168 Sic: crassitudinem.

169 Sic: nostra.

170 Sic: nostra.

171 Sic: nostra.

172 Sic: contingente.

173 Sic: nostra.

174 Sic: duraturas.

175 Sic: receperis.

176 A translation of this Commission will be found in the Appendix, pp. 372–380, post.

177 The Commission of Sir William Beeston, Governor of Jamaica, dated 15 September, 1692, is entered in Royal Courts of Justice, Admiralty Registry, Muniment Books, Vol. 4, p. 98. It is identical with that of Sir William Phips (pp. 206–215, ante) except as regards the names and date and that against the words “(Judice Registrario et Mariscallo exceptis)” (p. 213, ante) there is written in the margin “This clause was by order of Sir Ch. Hedges y^e Judge left out in this patent.”

178 This Commission and the five following Commissions were not enrolled in full, the Commissions to Beeston, Crow, etc., mentioned therein having numbers put in to correspond with the numbers in the margin to show where the differences lay. This was a common practice in these Admiralty Muniment Books to save time in enrolling.

179 The Commission of Mitford Crow, Governor of Barbados, dated 26 February, 1701–2, is entered in Royal Courts of Justice, Admiralty Registry, Muniment Books, Vol. 5, p. 58. It is identical with that of Sir William Phips (pp. 206–215, ante) except as regards names and date, and as follows: The words “(Judice Registrario et Mariscallo exceptis)” (p. 213, ante) do not appear, nor is there any note about them. Also, at the end, where Phips’s Commission reads “decet sub pena Juris et periculo incumbenti” (p. 215, ante), Crow’s Commission reads “decet sub poena contemptua Literarum patentium ipsius Regiae Majestatis de et super premissis omnibus et singulis Nobis factarum et concessarum et periculo incumbente Datum” etc. And at the end is this note:

This I approve of as a standing forme of a vice Admirall’s Patent for the Forreigne Plantations.

Feb. 23 1701–2	HEN: NEWTON.
19° Feb. 1701°	Jurat sub valore 50^ɫ ꝑ annum

180 The Commission of Robert Lowther, Governor of Barbados, dated 12 February, 1714–5, is entered in Royal Courts of Justice, Admiralty Registry, Muniment Books, Vol. 6, p. 161^b, and is identical with that of Sir William Phips (pp. 206–215, ante) except as regards the names and date and that the words “(Judice Registrario et Mariscallo exceptis)” (p. 213 ante) do not appear, nor is there any note about them.

181 See the note to Elizeus Burges’s Commission, page 225, ante.

182 The Commission of Robert Hunter, Governor of Jamaica, dated 11 September, 1727, is entered in Royal Courts of Justice, Admiralty Registry, Muniment Books, Vol. 7, p. 120, and is identical with that of Sir William Phips (pp. 206–215, ante) except as regards names and date and that the words “(Judice Registrario et Mariscallo exceptis)” (p. 213, ante) do not appear, nor is there any note about them.

183 The Commission of George, Lord Forbes, Governor of the Leeward Islands, dated 8 January, 1729–30, is entered in Royal Courts of Justice, Admiralty Registry, Muniment Books, Vol. 8, p. 10^b, and is identical with that of Sir William Phips (pp. 206–215, ante) except as regards names and date and that the words “(Judice Registrario et Mariscallo exceptis)” (p. 213, ante) do not appear, nor is there any note about them.

184 Sic: Rowers.

185 Sic.

186 Sic: wont.

187 Sic: forfeitures.

188 Sic.

189 Sic.

190 Sic.

191 Sic: Treasures.

192 See pp. 257–266 ante.

193 Sic.

194 Sic: artificers.

195 Sic: our.

196 Sic.

197 Sic: Sentence.

198 Dummer’s First commission (1716) is not know to be extant.

199 Tailer’s First Commission (1711) and his Second Commission (28 April, 1715) are not known to be extant.

200 See footnote, p. 56, ante.

201 See footnote, p. 56, ante.

202 See footnote, p. 56, ante.

203 Sic.

204 See footnote, P. 56, ante.

205 See footnote, p. 56, ante.

206 See footnote, P. 56, ante.

207 Sic: to be.

208 See footnote, p. 56, ante.

209 See footnote, P. 50, ante.

210 Sic: New England.

211 The late Mr. R. E. G. Kirk of London, to whom we were indebted for collating our copy of this Commission with the Patent Roll, stated that this enrolment is a transcript from the original letters patent, which may still be extant, perhaps in the Registry of the Bishop of London. As usual in enrolments, the first and last clauses are abbreviated. The letters patent no doubt began thus: “Georgius, Dei gratia Rex Magne Britannie,” etc.; and ended thus:

In cuius rei testimonium presentes has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes. Teste meipso, apud Westmonasterium, nono die Februarij, anno regni nostri terciodecimo.

With respect to this Commission, see the Publications of this Society, v. 112–115, where will be found an English translation of a part of the Commission and a letter from Mr. Goodell relating to it. A translation of the Commission in full will be found in the Appendix to this volume, pp. 381–385, post. This Commission was revoked and a new Commission, which follows, was issued to Gibson by George II on 29 April, 1728.

212 Mr. Kirk, who furnished us with a copy of this Commission from the Patent Roll, stated that in the printed copy “ꝑtiñ ꝑagenđ” are said to be inserted in the original, “as it seems by mistake of the clerk.”

213 Mr. Kirk stated that the original, in Colonial Office, Class 323, Volume 9, No. 10, begins thus: “Georgius Secundus, Dei gratia Magnæ Britanniæ, Franciæ, et Hiberniæ, Rex, fidei defensor, &c. Reverendo,” etc.; and ends thus:

In cujus rei Testimonium, has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes. Teste meipso apud Westmonasterium, vicesimo nono die Aprilis, Anno Regni nostri primo. Per Bre’ de Privato Sigillo. Bisse & Bray.

It should be added that this Commission is printed, both in Latin and in English, in Documents relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York, v. 849–854. A translation will be found in the Appendix to this volume, pp. 386–390, post.

214 The translation of the Latin Commissions of Vice-Admirals (pp. 187–236, ante) has been made with constant reference to the English phraseology of William Shirley’s Commission (pp. 237–246, ante), and of the Commission of Hans Stanley as Vice-Admiral in the Isle of Wight in 1765 (as printed in Sir Sherston Baker, The Office of Vice-Admiral of the Coast, 1884, pp. 51–63).

215 The Latin text of this Commission will be found on pp. 187–198, ante.

216 Or Binney, as Benin was then sometimes called. See Rymer’s Fœdera, xix. 370. The Latin text (p. 187, ante) has Binniœ.

217 The Latin text (p. 188, l. 26, ante) has vel, but we should certainly read per (“throughout”). See Andros’s Second Commission, p. 204, l. 23, ante, and cf. Rymer’s Fœdera, xv. 158, 194.

218 Here ubicunque should doubtless be inserted in the Latin text (p. 188, l. 31, ante). See Phips’s Commission, p. 207, l. 2, ante.

219 The Latin text (p. 189, l. 29, ante) erroneously omits quœ. See Phips’s Commission, p. 207, l. 29, ante.

220 The Latin text (p. 190, l. 22, ante) has existentium by error for assistentium. See Phips’s Commission, p. 208, l. 22, ante.

221 The Latin text (p. 190, l. 30, ante) has reportis by error for repertis. See Phips’s Commission, p. 208, l. 30, ante.

222 An old word for “whale.”

223 The Latin text (p. 191, l. 23, ante) has forisfacturis by error for forisfactis. See Phips’s Commission, p. 209, l. 18, ante.

224 Made agrees with letters, above.

225 Here the Latin text (p. 192, l. 6, ante) has Ac and begins a new paragraph. The ms is unreadable as printed. The scrivener or copying clerk did not heed or understand the sense. The emendation ad is certain (see the formula in Rymer’s Fœdera, xv. 195). The connection is: “appointed or to be appointed . . . for hearing and determining . . . all and singular the treasons,” etc.

226 These participles and adjectives belong grammatically to “amercements, issues, fines, perquisites, mulcts, and pecuniary punishments whatsoever and forfeitures of [all] recognizances” in lines 26–28, p. 361, ante.

227 I. e., the premises.

228 The Latin text (pp. 192–193, ante) is somewhat corrupt here. For a better reading, see Phips’s Commission (p. 211, ante; with translation, p. 376, post, and the footnote).

229 The Latin text (p. 194, l. 3, ante) erroneously omits “being” (existentibus) here and adds “and being” (ac existentia) to “adjacent” (adjacentia). Compare Phips’s Commission, p 211, l. 11, ante.

230 See p. 377 note 1.

231 Literally “made” (factam) (p. 194, l. 17, ante).

232 The Latin text (p. 195, l. 2, ante) has eosque by error for eaque. See Phips’s Commission, p. 212, l. 9, ante.

233 The Latin text (p. 195, l. 8, ante) has ad (“to or for”) by error for et (“and”). See Phips’s Commission, p. 212, l. 14, ante.

234 See p. 378 note 1.

235 The Latin text (p. 195, l. 14, ante) has exigit (“requires”) doubtless by error for exiget (“shall require”). See Phips’s Commission, p. 212, l. 20, ante.

236 Per is accidently omitted in the Latin text (p. 195, l. 20, ante). Cf. p. 358 note 1, ante.

237 Grammar requires editorum et provisorum for the edits, et provisa of the Latin text (p. 195, l. 30, ante.) The sense is beyond question.

238 Happening belongs to mayhem.

239 See p. 379 note 2.

240 The Latin text of this Commission will be found on pp. 199–200, ante.

241 The Latin text (p. 200, l. 1, ante) has quadrigenos (“four hundred”), an error for quadraginta (“forty”). The same error occurs in Andros’s Second Commission, p. 204, l. 4, ante.

242 The Latin text of this Commission will be found on pp. 203–205, ante.

243 The Latin text (p. 204, l. 4, ante) has quadrigenis (“four hundred”), a manifest error for quadraginta (“forty”). Cf. Dudley’s Commission, p. 200, l. 1, ante.

244 The Latin text of this Commission will be found on pp. 206–215, ante.

245 The Latin text (p. 208, ante) omits aut.

246 The words here translated by “to be heard and determined, assigned or to be assigned” (audiendis et terminanais assignatis seu assignandis, p. 209, ll. 33–34, ante), are an erroneous adaptation by the scrivener of a formula belonging to a provision not contained in Phips’s Commission (see pp. 192, 209, ante). They may be disregarded. The participles that follow (“happening,” etc.) belong to “amercements, issues,” etc., in l. 14, above.

247 I. e., the premises.

248 The words translated thus (“to proceed . . . thing”) refer to summary process. The Latin (p. 211, ll. 1–2, ante) is “velo levato sine strepitu et figura judicii sola facti et rei veritate inspecta procedendum.” Velo levato is a formula of the civil law meaning “openly and plainly” (literally, “the curtain being raised”). Strepitus judicialis (or judicii) and figura judicii are practically synonymous phrases for “formalities or technicalities in procedure.” An English commission for the trial of pirates (May 29, 1519) authorizes the court to proceed “summariè et de piano sine strepitu et forma seu figura Judicii ac solâ Facti Veritate inspectâ” (Rymer’s Fœdera, 2d edition, xiii. 700), these phrases occurring in a treaty of 1518 between England and France which had for its object the execution of summary justice in such cases, with avoidance of vexatious appeals and dilatory motions (Fœdera, xiii. 650). See Ducange, s. vv. velum, strepitus, figura, planum; Fœdera, xv. 161, 197; R. G. Marsden, Select Pleas in the Court of Admiralty, vol. i. p. lvi (Selden Society Publications, vi).

249 The words translated thus (“to proceed . . . thing”) refer to summary process. The Latin (p. 211, ll. 1–2, ante) is “velo levato sine strepitu et figura judicii sola facti et rei veritate inspecta procedendum.” Velo levato is a formula of the civil law meaning “openly and plainly” (literally, “the curtain being raised”). Strepitus judicialis (or judicii) and figura judicii are practically synonymous phrases for “formalities or technicalities in procedure.” An English commission for the trial of pirates (May 29, 1519) authorizes the court to proceed “summariè et de piano sine strepitu et forma seu figura Judicii ac solâ Facti Veritate inspectâ” (Rymer’s Fœdera, 2d edition, xiii. 700), these phrases occurring in a treaty of 1518 between England and France which had for its object the execution of summary justice in such cases, with avoidance of vexatious appeals and dilatory motions (Fœdera, xiii. 650). See Ducange, s. vv. velum, strepitus, figura, planum; Fœdera, xv. 161, 197; R. G. Marsden, Select Pleas in the Court of Admiralty, vol. i. p. lvi (Selden Society Publications, vi).

250 The words in brackets are not omitted in the Latin by accident; they are involved in the Latin conservandum et exequi et conservari faciendum (p. 211, l. 27, ante).

251 The Latin text (p. 211, l. 21, ante) has “as” (quam).

252 Of course per Transitum is to be read as one word (pertransitum), as in Willoughby’s Commission, p. 195, l. 5, ante.

253 “Mere office, i. e., inquisition. Office promoted, i. e., accusation.” (Sir Sherston Baker, The Office of the Vice-Admiral of the Coast, p. 83 note.)

254 Happening belongs to mayhem.

255 So the MS.

256 The Latin text (p. 214, l. 13, ante) has duraturum by error for duraturas.

257 All these titles belong to one and the same person.

258 The Latin text of this Commission will be found on pp. 341–347, ante.

259 That is, Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.

260 The Latin text of this Commission will be found on pp. 348–353, ante.

261 Sic.