Articles of Agreement made and enter'd into this second day of January One thousand seven hundred & severity Seven between the Board of War of the State of Massachusetts Bay, in Behalf of said State on the one part, & Emanuel Michael Pliarne now resident in America, for himself, his Heirs, Executors, & Assigns on the other Part —

Witness —

That the said Emanuel Michael Pliarne for Considerations hereafter mentioned, promises to & agrees with the said Board of War & their Successors in said Office, in Behalf of said State, that upon the Arrival of the first Vessells belonging to the said Board at Nantes in France, the said Emanuel Michael Pliarne shall advance and ship, agreeable to the Orders of said Board any warlike Stores or other Articles to the Amount of Eighty Thousand Pounds Sterling; that the said Emanuel shall give all possible Assistance and Dispatch by his Friends & Correspondents in the different Ports & Harbours, that any of said Vessells may arrive at, & if possible will obtain such Insurance as the said Board of War shall direct

It is understood that upon the Arrival of the first Vessell which shall be employed by the said Board of War, in Behalf of said State, at Nantes, the said Michael Pliarne shall begin to execute his Part of this Contract, & shall load back as fast as possible her, & every succeeding Vessell, which the said Board of War shall order to return, & with such Articles as the said Board shall direct, untill they have advanced to the Amount of the said Eighty Thousand Pounds —

In Consideration whereof, the said Board of War for themselves & their Successors in said Office, & in Behalf of said State, do hereby promise & agree to and with the said Emanuel Michael Pliarne his Executors, Administrators or Assigns

1st That they will with all possible Dispatch, purchase Vessells & Cargoes, which they judge will best suit the European Markets, or will send Vessells to the Southern States of this Continent, & there purchase fit Cargoes for said Vessells, & them carry to a European Market —

2dly That the proceeds of said Cargoes shall be lodged in the Hands of Jacques Gruel & Company Merchants at Nantz in France, till they have received the full Amount of the said Eighty thousand Pounds, unless the said Emanuel Michael Pliarne should chuse to receive here any part thereof in the Currency of this State, at the Rate of One hundred thirty three pounds six Shillings & Eight pence, for One hundred pounds Sterling, except so far as the said Board may not have invested of the above Eighty thousand Pounds for the purposes aforesaid —

3dly That the said Emanuel Michael Pliame shall have Liberty to purchase any Vessells or Cargoes, & have all the priviledges of sending them to Sea as the said Board of War, so far as they shall be purchased in part of the Eighty Thousand pounds aforesaid —

4thly That the Vessells & Cargoes sent to Europe shall be directed & consigned to the Houses appointed by the said Emanuel Michael Pliarne, which Houses shall have full Leave to send the Vessells & Cargoes to any Markets iri Europe, which they shall judge most advantageous for the said Board in Behalf of said State —

5thly That all the V essells sent to the Southern States of this Continent by the Board of War, for the purposes aforesaid, shall be under the Direction of the said Emanuel M Pliarne, (so far as relates to assisting, forwarding & dispatching), or his Correspondents, & in Case the said Vessells & Cargoes shall not be consigned to him or them, he or they in his Behalf shall have Right to ship in any such Vessells, a proportion of the Cargo not exceeding six Tons upon One hundred, freight free

6thly The Board of War for Said State agree, that the said Emanuel Michael Pliarne for transacting the Business aforesaid shall be intitled to such Commission upon said Business, as is customary in the several ports where transacted —

7thly That the Accounts between the Board of War & the said Emanuel M Pliarne shall be examined at the Expiration of every six Months, & then, or as soon after as possible adjusted — In Witness whereof Emanuel Michael Pliarne in Behalf of himself his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns; and the President of said Board of War, in Behalf of this State, have interchangeably set their Hands & Seals the day & Year first above written —

Signed sealed & delivered
in presence of
John Pitts
Caleb Davis

NB It is understood by the 3d Article that the Board of War will purchase any Vessels Mr Pliarne shall want & provide Cargo's for them, as well as furnish him with Money for such Vessells & Cargo's as he shall chuse to purchase himself —