Section LXIX 7 & 8 W. III. c. 22. § 3.

12 Car. II. c. 18; 15 Car. II. c. 7; 7 & 8 W. III. c. 22; Further Time allowed for administering and taking the Oath in the said Acts mentioned.

And whereas by an Act of Parliament made in the Seventh and Eighth Yeares of the Reigne of his p[re]sent Majestie entituled An Act for preventing Frauds and regulating Abuses in the Plantation Trade it is amongst other things therein enacted That all the present Governors and Co[m]manders in Chief of any English Colonies or Plantations shall before the Five and Twentieth Day of March One thousand six hundred ninety seven and all who shall be made Governors or Co[m]manders in Chief of the said Colonies or Plantations or any of them before the entring into their Governments shall take a solemne Oath to do their utmost that the Clauses Matters and Things contained in one Act of Parliament made in the Twelfth Yeare of the Reigne of the late King Charles the Second intituled An Act for encourageing & increasing of Shipping and Navigation and One other Act made in the Fifteenth Yeare of his said late Majesties Reigne intituled An Act for Encouragement of Trade and also the said Act made in the Seventh and Eighth Yeares of the Reigne of his present Maj[es]ty. intituled An Act for preventing Frauds and regulating Abuses in the Plantation Trade be punctually and bona fide observed according to the true intent and meaning thereof so farr as appertains unto the said Governors or Co[m]manders in Chief respectively And whereas the Persons appointed to administer the said Oaths are by some Accidents prevented from performing the same within the time limitted by the said Act to the end therefore that the good intent of the said Act may not be disappointed for want of time to putt the same in Execution Be it therefore enacted That further time shall be allowed for administring the said Oath and that all present Governors & Comanders in Chief of any English Colonies or Plantations shall before the Five and Twentieth Day of March One thousand six hundred ninety eight and who shall hereafter be made Governors or Co[m]manders in Chief of the said Colonies or Plantations or any of them shall att their Entrance upon their respective Governments or within the space of Six Months after the same take a solemne Oath to do their utmost that all the Clauses Matters and Things contained in the before recited Acts of Parliament or any of them heretofore passed and now in force relateing to the said Colonies and Plantations be punctually and bona fide observed according to the true intent & meaning thereof which Oath shall be taken before such Person or Persons as shall be appointed by his Majesty his Heires and Successors who are hereby authorized to administer the same so farr as appertaines to the Governors or Co-manders in Chief respectively.