Boston; the large reinforcement of Troops expected; the late Circular Letter to the Governours upon the Continent; the general tenour of intelligence from Great Britain, and the hostile preparations making here; as also from the threats and repeated insults of our enemies in the Capital Town, we have reason to apprehend that the sudden destruction of this Province is in contemplation if not determined upon.

And, whereas, the great law of self-preservation, may suddenly require our raising and keeping an Army of observation and defence, in order to prevent or repel any further attempt to force the, late cruel and oppressive Acts of the British Parliament, which are evidently designed to subject us and the whole Continent to the most ignominious slavery. And whereas, in case of raising and keeping such an Army, it will be necessary that the Officers and Soldiers in the same be fully acquainted with their duty, and that the Articles, Rules, and Regulations thereof, be made as plain as possible; and having great confidence in the honour and publick virtue of the inhabitants of this Colony, that they will readily obey the Officers chosen by themselves, and will cheerfully do their duty when known, without any such severe Articles and Rules, (except in capital cases,) and cruel punishments as are usually practised in Standing Armies, and will submit to all such Rules and Regulations as are founded in reason, honour, and virtue. It is, therefore,

Resolved, That the following Articles, Rules, and Regulations for the Army, that may be raised for the defence and security of our lives, liberties, and estates, be, and are hereby earnestly recommended to be strictly adhered to, by-all Officers, Soldiers, and others concerned, as they regard their own honour and the publick good.

Article 1st. All Officers and Soldiers not having just impediment, shall diligently frequent Divine Service and Sermon in the places appointed for the assembling of the Regiment, Troop, or Company, to which they belong; and such as wilfully absent themselves, or being present, behave indecently or irreverently, shall, if Commissioned Officers, be brought before a Regimental Court Martial, there to be publickly and severely reprimanded by the President; if Non-Commissioned Officers or Soldiers, every person so offending, shall, for his first offence, forfeit one Shilling, to be deducted out of his wages; for the second offence, he shall not only forfeit one Shilling, but be confined twenty-four hours; and for every like offence, shall suffer and pay in like manner; which money so forfeited shall be applied to the use of the sick Soldiers of the Troop or Company to which the offender belongs.

Article 2d. Whatsoever Non-Commissioned Officer or Soldier shall use any unlawful oath or execration, shall incur the penalties expressed in the preceding Article; and if a Commissioned Officer be thus guilty of profane cursing and swearing, he shall forfeit and pay for each and every such offence, four Shillings, lawful money.

Article 3d. Any Officer or Soldier, who shall begin, excite, or cause any mutiny or sedition, or join in such mutiny, in the Regiment, Troop, or Company, to which he belongs, or in any other Regiment, Troop, or Company of the Massachusetts Forces, either by Land or Sea, or in any Party, Post, Detachment, or Guard, on any pretence whatever, shall suffer such punishment, as by a General Court. Martial shall be ordered.

Article 4th. Any Officer or Soldier who shall behave himself with contempt or disrespect towards the General or Generals, or Commanders-in-Chief of the Massachusetts Forces, or shall speak words tending to his or their hurt or dishonour, shall be punished according to the nature of his offence, by the judgment of a General Court Martial.

Article 5th. Any Officer, Non-Commissioned Officer, or Soldier, who, being present at any mutiny or sedition, does not use his utmost endeavours to suppress the same, or coming to the knowledge of any mutiny, does not without delay, give information thereof to his Commanding Officer, shall be punished by order of a General Court Martial according to the nature of his offence.

Article 6th. Any Officer or Soldier who shall strike his Superiour Officer, or draw, or offer to draw, or shall lift up any weapon, or offer any violence against him, being in the execution of his office, on any pretence whatever, or shall disobey any lawful commands of his Superiour Officer, shall suffer such punishment as shall be, according to the nature of his offence, ordered by the sentence of a General Court Martial.

Article 7th. Any Non-Commissioned Officer or Soldier, who shall desert, or without leave from his Commanding Officer, absent himself from the Troop or Company to which he belongs, or from any detachment of the same, shall, upon being convicted thereof, be punished according to the nature of his offence, at the direction of a General Court Martial.

Article 8th. Whatever Officer or Soldier shall be convicted of having advised or persuaded any other Officer or Soldier to desert, shall suffer such punishment as shall be ordered by a sentence of a General Court Martial.

Article 9th. All Officers of what condition soever, shall have power to part and quell all quarrels, frays, and disorders, though the persons concerned should belong to another Regiment, Troop, or Company, and order Officers to be arrested, or Non-Commissioned Officers, or Soldiers, to be confined and imprisoned till their proper Superiour Officer shall be made acquainted therewith; and whoever shall refuse to obey such Officer, (though of an inferiour rank,) or shall draw his sword upon him, shall be punished at the discretion of a General Court Martial.

Article 10th. No Officer or Soldier shall use any reproachful or provoking speeches, or gestures, nor shall presume to send a challenge to any person to fight a duel, nor shall second, promote, or carry any challenge; and whoever shall knowingly and willingly suffer any person whatsoever to go forth to fight a duel, or shall second any such conduct, shall be deemed as a principal; and whatsoever Officer or Soldier shall upbraid another for refusing a challenge, shall be considered as a challenger; and all such offenders in any of these or the like cases, shall be punished at the discretion of a General Court Martial.

Article 11th, Every Officer commanding in quarters, or on a march, shall keep good order, and to the utmost of his power, redress all such abuses or disorders which may be committed to any Officer or Soldier under his command; if upon any complaint made to him, of Officers or Soldiers breaking, or otherwise ill treating any person, or committing any kind of riots to the disquieting of the inhabitants of this Continent, he, the said Commander, who shall refuse or omit to see justice done to the offender or offenders, and reparation made to the party or parties injured, as soon as the offender's wages shall enable him, or them, shall, upon due proof thereof, be punished, as ordered by a General Court Martial, in such manner, as if he himself had committed the crimes or disorders complained of.

Article 12th. If any Officer should think himself to be wronged by his Colonel, or the Commanding Officer of the Regiment, and shall, upon due application made to him, be refused to be redressed, he may complain to the General, or Commander-in-Chief of the Massachusetts Forces, in order to obtain justice, who is hereby required to examine into the complaint, and see that justice be done.

Article 13th. If any inferiour Officer or Soldier shall think himself wronged by his Captain, or other Officer commanding the Troop or Company to which he belongs, he is to complain thereof to the Commanding Officer of the Regiment, who is hereby required to summon a Regimental Court Martial for the doing justice to the complaint, from which Regimental Court Martial, either party may, if he thinks himself still aggrieved, appeal to a General Court Martial; but if upon a second hearing, the appeal shall appear to be vexatious and groundless, the person so appealing, shall be punished at the discretion of a General Court Martial.

Article 14th. Whatsoever Non-Commissioned Officer or Soldier shall be convicted at a Regimental Court Martial of having sold, or designedly, or through neglect, wasted the Ammunition, Arms, or Provisions, or other Military Stores, delivered out to him to be employed in the service of this Colony, shall, if an Officer, be reduced to a Private Soldier; and if a Private Soldier, shall suffer such punishment as shall be ordered by a Regimental Court Martial.

Article 15th. All Non-Commissioned Officers or Soldiers, who shall be found one mile from the camp, without leave in writing from their Commanding Officer, shall suffer such punishment as shall be inflicted on him or them, by the sentence of a Regimental Court Martial.