the Massachusetts Bay Colony Seal, featuring a male native american or indian holding a bow in one hand an arrow in the other, standing between two trees 
✚ SIGILLUM: GUB: ET: SOCIET: DE: MATTACHUSETS: BAY: IN: NOVA: ANGLIA  
COME OVERDO AND HELP US  At the second SESSIONS of the GENERAL COURT HELD AT Boston in New-England.  
WHereas it hath pleased his most excellent Majesty our Gracious King, by his Letter bearing Date the twenty seventh of April, 1678. to signify his Royal pleasure, That the Authority of this his Colony of Massachusets in New-England, do give forth Orders that the Oath of Allegiance as it is by Law established within his Kingdom of England, be administered and taken by all his Subjects within this Colony, who are of years to take an Oath:  
In Obedience whereunto, and as a demonstration of our Loyalty; It is Ordered and Enacted by this Court and the Authority thereof, that as the Members of this Court now sitting have readily taken the Oath of Allegiance, so by their Example and Authority they do require and command that the same Oath be given and taken by all his Majesty's Subjects within this Jurisdiction, that are of sixteen years of Age and upwards. And to the end this Order be duly executed, It is hereby Ordered, that a convenient number of printed Copies of the said Oath of Allegiance, exactly agreeing with the written Copy Enclosed in his Majesty's Letter, and signed by the Secretary of State, be sent forth unto every Magistrate and Justice of Peace, and to the Constable of every Town within this Jurisdiction.  
And it is further Ordered that the Magistrates and Justices, or such as are Commissioned with Magistratical Authority in every County of this Colony do with all convenient speed repair to the several Towns and Villages within this Jurisdiction, at such time, and in such order as they best may, and accomplish the same; giving forth their warrant to the Constables of each Town to convene all the Inhabitants of the Age above said, and taking their names in writing, administer the said Oath of Allegiance to each of them, and return their Names to the Recorder of each 〈◊〉 Court to be enroled. And if any shall refuse to take the said Oath, or absent themselves, unless in case of sickness, the Names of such shall be returned to the Recorder of the County, who are to be proceeded against by the County Courts respectively, for the first offence whereof he is legally convicted, to pay such a Fine as the County Court shall impose not exceeding five pounds, or three Month's Imprisonment in the common prison or house of Correction: And for the second offence whereof he shall be lawfully convicted, what sum the County Court shall inflict, provided it exceed not ten pounds, or six Month's Imprisonment without Bail, or Mainprize.  Printed and published by Order of the General Court. 
Edward Rawson Secretary