✚ SIGILUM· PRAESID· &· CONCIL· DOM· REG· IN·NOU· ANGLIA   
A PROCLAMATION  BY The PRECEDENT and COUNCIL of his Majestly's Territory and Dominion of NEW-ENGLAND in AMERICA. 
WHEREAS We have received from His most Excellent Majesty our Sovereign Lord JAMES the Second, KING of ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, FRANCE and IRELAND, Defender of the Faith etc. The Exemplification of a Judgement in His High Court of Chancery under His Majesty's Great Se●l of England, hearing Date th● T 〈…〉 of October in the first year of His Majesty's Reign; against the Governor 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 administered 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 PRECEDENT 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 Country, 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 Majesty's 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 PRECEDENT 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 Ting, John Usher, Dudley Bradstreet, John Hinks, Francis Champernoon, Edward Ting, John Fitz-Winthrope, and Edward Randolph Esq's to be His Majesty's Council in the said Colony and Territories.  
The Precedent and Council therefore being convened according to the Direction & Form in the faid Commission, and having taken the Oaths 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 Townsmen, 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 succeed them.  
And the said Precedent and Council do hereby in His Majesty's Name strictly Charge and require the several Justices of the Peace, Select Townsmen, Overseers of the Poor, Surveyors of the High Ways, 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 Majesty's 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 forthwith Published.  
Given from the Council-house in Boston this 25th Day of May Anno Domini 1686. Annoq: Regni Regis Jacobi Secundi secundo. By the Precedent and Council, Edward Randolph Secr 
 GOD SAVE THE KING.