Gage, Thomas, British Governor of Massachusetts-Bay

"By His Excellency, the Hon. Thomas Gage, Esq. Governor, and Commander in Chief, in and over his Majesty's Province of Massachusetts-Bay ... A Proclamation. Whereas the Infatuated Multitudes, who have long suffered themselves to be conducted by certain well known Incendiaries and Traitors ... I do hereby publish, proclaim and order the Use and Excercise of the Law Martial ..." [Boston: Margaret Draper, 1775]



Broadside, folio (14 x 9 1/2 in.; 355 x 246 mm). Woodcut royal arms above, eight words underlined and "no. 3" written in upper right corner by an early hand; trimmed to text block and mounted, upper half inlaid, vertical and lateral crease, small fold-tears at edges, very light offsetting at a few points. Matted, glazed and framed.

Evans 14184; Ford 1814

trimmed to text block and mounted, upper half inlaid, vertical and lateral crease, small fold-tears at edges, very light offsetting at a few points. Matted, glazed and framed.
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Declaration of martial law in Massachusetts, after the "unnatural Revolt" in Lexington and Concord.

The widely-detested British Governor Thomas Gage acknowledges that a state of open rebellion exists in the colony: "The Authors of the present unnatural Revolt never daring to trust their Cause or their Actions, to the Judgment of an impartial Public ... have uniformly placed their chief Confidence in the Suppression of Truth ... The Press, that distinguished Appendage of public Liberty ... has been invariably prostituted to the most contrary Purposes ..."

The Governor proceeds to characterize the recent cowardly outrages at Lexington and Concord: "The minds of Men having been thus gradually prepared for the worst Extremities, a Number of armed Persons, to the amount of many Thousands assembled on the 19th of April last, and from behind Walls, and lurking Holes, attacked a Detachment of the King's Troops who ... made use of their Arms only in their own defence. Since that period the Rebels ... have added Insult to Outrage; have repeatedly fired upon the King's Ships and Subjects ... "

He offers to pardon all who will lay down their arms, except Samuel Adams and John Hancock "whose offences are of too flagitious a Nature to admit of any other consideration than condign Punishment." Since justice cannot be administered under the Common Law in these circumstances, the Governor does " ... hereby publish, proclaim and order the Use and Excercise of Law Martial, within and throughout this Province."

Very rare in the trade, only one of two copies offered at auction since 1975.