Whereas Jonathan Titcomb, Tristram Dalton Mosses Little Stephen & Ralph Cross Jackson Tracy, J Tracy all of Newburyport in the Colony of Afores'd have at their own Expence fixed out & Equipped for the Defence of America a Sloop called the Game Cock burthened about Twenty Tone & have recommended you as a Suitable Person to be Commander thereof ー We have thought fit to Commission you for the purpose afores'd & do accordingly by these presents give you the said Peter Roberts full power with such other persons as you shall engage to your assistance to sail in the said Vessel on the Seas attack take & bring into any Port in this Colony all armed & other Vessels which shall be found making unlawful invasions attacks or depredations on the Sea Coasts or navigation of any part of America or improved in supplying the Fleet and Army which have been or shall at any time be employed against the United Colonies or employed by the Enemies of America in any respect whatsoever and also all Vessels whose Masters or Super-Cargoes shall have had Designs of carrying supplies of any Kind to the Enemy or that shall be returning from the Enemy after having carried such supplies ー that such proceedings may be had thereon as are required by a law of this Colony passed in the present Session of the General Court entitled an Act for the encouraging the fixing out of Armed Vessels to defend the Sea Coasts of America, and for erecting a Court to try & condemn all Vessels that shall be found infesting the same, & you are hereby directed in all your proceedings to govern yourself by the said Act. ー Given under our Hands & the Seal of the s'd Colony at Watertown the Eleventh Day of December 1775 In the fifteenth year of the Reign of his Majesty the Third By their Honors Command