10. 1776 MASSACHUSETTS "TEST OATH" 1776 Extremely rare and important broadside, 1p. folio, [Watertown, Mass: Benjamin Edes,] issued by the "Colony of Massachusett's-Bay, 1776". This "test oath" was prescribed by an act of the Massachusetts General Court on May 21, 1776 to compel loyalty from those who were suspected to be either indifferent or covertly tory. The oath reads, in full: "We the Subscribers, Do each of us severally for ourselves, profess, testify and declare, before GOD and the World, that we verily believe that the War, Resistance and Opposition in which the United American Colonies are now engaged against the Fleets and Armies of Great-Britain, is on the Part of the said Colonies, just and necessary. And we do hereby severally promise, covenant and engage, to and with every Person of his Colony, who has or shall subscribe this Declaration, or another of the same Tenor and Words, that we will not, curing the said War, directly or indirectly, in any Ways, aid, abet or assist, any of the Naval or Land Forces of the King of Great-Britain, or any employed by him; or supply them with any Kind of Provisions, Military or Naval Stores, or hold any Correspondence with, or communicate any Intelligence to any of the Officers, Soldiers or mariners belonging to the said Army or navy, or inlist, or procure any others to inlist into Land or Sea-Service of Great-Britain, or take up or bear Arms against this or either of the United Colonies, or undertake to pilot any of the Vessels belonging to the said Navy, or in any other Way aid or assist them: But on the contrary, according to the best Power and Abilities, will defend by Arms, the United American Colonies, and every Part thereof, against every hostile Attempt of the Fleets and Armies in the Service of Great Britain, or any of them, according to the Requirements and Directions of the Laws of this Colony that now are, or are hereafter be provided, for the Regulation of the Militia thereof". The bottom portion is blank and was intended for signatures. An extraordinarily rare copy of this important oath composed only two months prior to the Declaration of Independence. OCLC identifies only two extant institutional copies, one at the New York Historical Society, and the other copy housed at the American Antiquarian Society. Evans 14840; Ford 2030. Provenance: Goodspeed's Book Shop. Light to moderate damp staining, margin chips with losses not affecting text, else very good.  $1,500-2,000