Massachusetts-Bay

In Provincial Congress, Concord, April 15, 1775. Whereas it has pleased the righteous Sovereign of the Universe, in just Indignation against the Sins of a People long blessed with inestimable Privileges, civil and religious, to suffer the Plots of wicked Men on both Sides of the Atlantick, who for many Years have incessantly laboured to sap the Foundation of our public Liberties, so far to succeed; that we see the New-England Colonies reduced to the ungrateful Alternative of a tame Submission to a State of absolute Vassalage to the Will of a despotic Minister—or of preparing themselves speedily to defend at the Hazard of Life, the unalienable Rights of themselves and Posterity, against the avowed Hostilities of their Parent State, who openly threatens to wrest them from their Hands by Fire and Sword. ... By Order of the Provincial Congress, John Hancock, President. [Boston: Printed by Edes and Gill, 1775]



Printed broadside (14 3/4 x 12 1/4 in.; 375 x 311 mm, untrimmed). Docketed on verso "Genl Fast May 11 1775" and, in a different hand, "To ye Revd. Mr. Solomon Recd. in Middleborough prey Sir give Mr. Backus ye advantage of this after you Have used it if you can"; headlines faintly offset, one light stain, a few pinholes at intersecting folds, one quadrant of verso browned.

Evans 14220; Ford 1845

The final peacetime resolve of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts-Bay, passed four days before Lexington and Concord. The next broadside resolve of the Massachusetts legislature, 23 April, was printed in Watertown, to which it had removed, and called for the immediate reinforcement of the colony's militia.

The present broadside appointed 11 May as "a Day of Public Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer ... that the Provincial and especially the Continental Congresses, may be directed to such Measures as God will Contenance.—That the People of Great-Britain, and their Rulers, may have their Eyes open'd to discern the Things that shall make for the Peace of the Nation and all its Connexions—And that America may soon behold a gracious Interposition of Heaven, for the Redress of her many Grievances, the Restoration of all her invaded Liberties, and their Security to the latest Generations."