Province of the Massachusetts
Bay in New-England.

By His Excellency Joseph Dudley, Esq; Captain-General
and Governour in Chief, &c.

Instructions to be Observed by Capt. Daniel Plowman, Commander of the Briganteen Charles of Boston, In Pursuance of the Commission herewith given him.

First, You are to keep such good Orders among your said Briganteen’s Company, that Swearing Drunkenness and Prophaneness be avoided, or duly Punished; And that GOD be duly worshipped.

2dly, You are upon all Occasions to Endeavour the maintaining of Her Majesties Honour, and to give Protection to Her Subjects, by endeavouring to secure them in their Trade, and in no wise to hurt or injure any of Her Majesties Subjects, Friends or Allies.

3dly. You are to take, seize, sink, or destroy any of the Ships, Vessels or Goods belonging to France or Spain, their Vassals or Subjects, the Declared Enemies of the Crown of England. And all such Ships and Vessels with their Lading, Goods, and Merchandizes, which you shall happen to seize or take, you are to carry or send into some Port or Ports within Her Majesties Kingdom or Dominions, to be proceeded against and adjudged: And if near this Coast, then to bring or send them to Boston, your Commission Port.

4thly. You are to take effectual Care, That no Money, Goods, Merchandizes, or what else shall be taken by you in any Ship, Vessel, or otherwise, be Imbezelled, Purloyned, Concealed, or Conveyed away. And that Bulk be not broken until the same be first adjudged to be Lawful Prize: And Order given for the landing and securing thereof, as by Law is directed. And likewise you are carefully to preserve all Books, Papers, Letters and Writings which shall be found in any Ship or Vessel to be by you taken, to the intent a more clear Evidence and Discovery may be made to what Persons such Ship or Vessel and her Lading did belong.

5thly. You are to take care, That no Person or Persons taken or surprized by you in any Ship or Vessel as aforesaid, though known to be of the Enemies side, be in cold Blood killed, maimed, or by Torture or Cruelty inhumanly treated contrary to the Common Usage or Just Permission of War.

6thly. You are to keep a fair Journal of all your Proceedings, That so you may be the better enabled to give a Copy thereof when you shall be thereunto duly required.

7thly. You may not at any time wear on Board your said Briganteen, by Virtue of the said Commission, any other Jack than that Ordered by Her Majesties Royal Proclamation, of the Eighteenth of December 1702, to be worn by such Ships as have Commission of Mart or Reprizal; and upon meeting with any of Her Majesties Ships of War, you are to pay all Customary Respect unto them, according to the Laws and Orders of the Sea.

8thly. You may not enter or retain on Board your said Briganteen any Mens Sons under Age, or Servants, contrary to the Law of this Province: And before you depart with your said Briganteen from the same, you are to deliver into the Secretaries Office a List by you signed, of the Names of the Company belonging to your said Briganteen with the Place of their Respective Dwellings, or Aboad, as near as you can learn; and such of them as are Inhabitants, or belonging to this Province, you are to bring back with you to the same, or use your best Endeavours so to do, not willingly leaving any of them behind in other Parts.

9thly. You are to take care, That the Prisoners which you shall take in any Prize Ship or Vessel, or so many of them as you may be able to keep under Command (especially the Officers or more Principal of them) be brought or sent into your Commission Port, or where else within Her Majesties Dominions you send your Prizes: To the intent there may be the more full Evidences for Condemning the same, and also an advantage for the Exchange of Prisoners.

Lastly. You are carefully to observe and keep all the foregoing Articles and Instructions, and not to make any breach thereof, or of Her Majesties Laws, respecting Letters of Reprisal, and Prize Ships and Goods; and to see that the full and just Parts and Shares of all such Vessels and Goods as shall be taken and seized by you, by Law accruing unto Her Majesty, and the Lord High Admiral, be duly and truly answered and paid.

Given under my Hand at Boston, the Thirteenth Day of July, in the Second Year of Her Majesties Reign, Annoque Domini, 1603.

Copy of the Instructions given unto me J. DUDLEY.

 Daniel Plowman.

Register.