WHEREAS We have received from His most Excellent Majesty our Soveraign Lord JAMES the Second, KING of ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, FRANCE and IRELAND, Defender of the Faith &c. The Ex­emplification of a Judgment in His High Court of Chauncery under His Majesty's Great Se [...]l of England, hear­ing Date th [...] T [...] of October[?] in the first year of His Maj [...]ies Reign; against the Governour and Company of the Mass­achusets Bay in New-England: whereby the Government thereof & at the Members thereunto belonging is now in His Majesties-hands.

And His Majesty having been graciously pleased to declare that He is minded to give all Protection and Encouragement to all His good Subjects therein, and to provide in the most effectual Manner that due and Impartial Justice may be administred in all Cases Civil and Criminal and all Care taken for the quiet and orderly Government of the same.

And in order thereunto it having pleased His most Excellent Majesty by His Commission bearing Date the eight Day of Octo­ber, in the first year of His Reign under the great Seal of England to erect and constitute a PRESIDENT and COUNCIL to take Care of all that His Territory and Dominion of New-England called the Massathusets Bay, the Provinces of New-Hampshire & Main, and the Narraganset Countrey, otherwise called the Kings-Province, with all the Islands, Rights and Members thereunto ap­pertaining; and to Order, Rule and Govern the fame according to the Rules, Methods and Regulations specified and declared in the said Commission: Together with His Majesties Gracious Indulgence in matters of RELIGION.

And for the E [...]ution of His Royal pleasure in that behalf, His Majesty hath been pleased to appoint Joseph Dudley Esq to be the first PRESIDEN [...] of His Majesties said Council, and VICE-ADMIRAL of these Seas. And to Continue in the said Offices until His Majesty shall otherwise direct, and also to nominate & appoint Simon Bradstreet, William Stoughton, Petter Bulkley, John Pynchon, Robert Mason, Richard Wharton, Wait Winthrope, Nathaniel Saltonstal, Bartholomew Gidney, Jonathan Tyng, John Ʋsher, Dudley Bradstreet, John Hinks, Francis Champernoon, Edward Tyng, John Fitz-Winthrope, and Edward Randolph Esq's to be His Majesties Council in the said Colony and Territories.

The President and Council therefore being convened according to the Direction & Form in the faid Commission, and having taken the Oathes in the said Commission required, & finding it primarily needful, that speedy & effectual Care be taken for the Maintenance & Preservation of the Peace; Have accordingly appointed and authorized Justices of the Peace in the several Counties, Praecincts, & principal Towns throughout the said several Provinces; & do also hereby continue all & every the Grand Juryes of the several Counties, Con­stables, Select Towns-men, and such as have lately had the Charge of Watches, in their several and respective Offices, Charge and Trast, till others be orderly appointed to succed them.

And the said Pr [...]sident and Council doe hereby in His Majesties Name strictly Charge and require the several Justices of the Peace, Select Towns-men, Overseers of the Poor, Surveyers of the High Wayes, Constables and other inferior Officers who have had the Care of Watches, and who are now Commissioned or Continued as aforesaid, diligently and faithfully to intend, pursue, and execute their several and respective Offices, Charges and Trusts, for the Presevation of the Peace, and for Suppressing and Discountenancing[?] all Disorder and Vice.

And We do hereby require all His Majesties Subjects within the said Colony and Territories to be Obedient, Aiding, and Assist­ing to all such [...]ustices of the Peace, Constables, and other Officers in the Execution of their several Offices and Places, at their ut­most peril. And order that this Proclamation be forth-with Published.