THIS list includes only documents which are printed in full, excluding summaries and extracts. The term “instructions” also requires explanation. As used here, it means the formal document which, together with the commission, was given to each governor on his appointment to his province. Single articles or so-called additional instructions which appear from time to time in the records of nearly every province are not recorded here. Letters from the home government, or from proprietors, are excluded even though they may contain more or less formal instructions on many matters connected with the government of the province. It should be said further that all the British colonies are not included in this list, but only those which afterwards became part of the United States.

     For form of royal commission, see Stokes, Constitution of the Colonies, 150. [No names; arbitrary dates.]

     1610. Proprietary commission to Lord La Warr, governor of Virginia: Brown, Genesis of the United States, i. 375.

     1618. Proprietary instructions to George Yeardley, governor of Virginia: Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, ii. 154.

     1624. Royal commission to Sir Francis Wyatt, governor, and to the council of Virginia: Rymer, Fœdera, xvii. 618.

     1626. Royal commission to Sir George Yeardley, governor, and to the council of Virginia: Rymer, Fœedera, xviii. 311.

     1626. Royal instructions to Sir George Yeardley, governor, and to the council of Virginia: Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, ii. 393.

     1627. Royal commission to John Harvey, governor, and to the council of Virginia: Rymer, Fo=edera, xviii. 980.

     1635. Proprietary commission to John Winthrop, the younger, governor of the Connecticut River: Trumbull, History of Connecticut, i. 497.

     1636. Royal commission to John Harvey, governor, and to the council of Virginia: Rymer, Fœdera, xx. 3.

     1637. Proprietary commission to Leonard Calvert, governor, and to the council of Maryland: Bozman, History of Maryland, ii. 572; Maryland Archives, iii. 49.

     1641. Royal commission to Sir William Berkeley, governor, and to the council of Virginia: Rymer, Fœedera, xx. 484.

     [1641.] Royal instructions to Sir William Berkeley, governor of Virginia: Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, ii. 281.

     1642. Proprietary commission to Leonard Calvert, governor of Maryland: Bozman, History of Maryland, ii. 621; Maryland Archives, iii. 108.

     1644. Proprietary commission to Leonard Calvert, governor of Maryland: Bozman, History of Maryland, ii. 631; Maryland Archives, iii. 151.

     1648. Proprietary commission to William Stone, governor of Maryland: Bozman, History of Maryland, ii. 642; Maryland Archives, iii. 201.

     1656. Proprietary commission to Josias Fendall, governor of Maryland Bozman, History of Maryland, ii. 689; Maryland Archives, iii. 323.

     1660. Proprietary commission to Philip Calvert, governor of Maryland: Maryland Archives, iii. 391.

     1661. Proprietary commission to Charles Calvert, governor of Maryland: Maryland Archives, iii. 439.

     1662. Royal instructions to Sir William Berkeley, governor of Virginia: Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, iii, 15.

     1664. Proprietary commission to Richard Nicolls, governor of New York: Pennsylvania Archives, 2nd Series, v. 509.

     1665. Proprietary commission to Sir John Yeamans, governor of Clarendon County: North Carolina Records, i. 97.

     [1665.] Proprietary instructions to Sir John Yeamans, governor, and to the council of Clarendon County: North Carolina Records, i. 95; Rivers, Sketch of the History of South Carolina, 338.

     1665. Proprietary commission to Philip Carteret, governor of New Jersey: New Jersey Documents, i. 20.

     1665. Proprietary instructions to Philip Carteret, governor of New Jersey: New Jersey Documents, i. 21.

     1666. Proprietary commission to Charles Calvert, governor of Maryland: Maryland Archives, iii. 542.

     1667. Proprietary commission to Samuell Stephens, governor of Albemarle County: North Carolina Records, i. 162.

     1667. Proprietary instructions to Samuell Stephens, governor of Albemarle County: North Carolina Records, i. 162.

     1669. Proprietary commission to William Sayle, governor of Carolina south and west of Cape Carteret: Rivers, Sketch of the History of South Carolina, 340.

     1669. Proprietary instructions to the governor and council at Port Royal, Carolina: Rivers, Sketch of the History of South Carolina, 347.

     1670. Proprietary instructions to the governor and council of Albemarle County: North Carolina Records, i. 181.

     1671. Proprietary instructions to the governor and council of Ashley River: Rivers, Sketch of the History of South Carolina, 366.

     1674. Proprietary instructions to Andrew Percivall, governor of a new plantation on the Edisto River: Rivers, Sketch of the History of South Carolina, 387.

     1674. Proprietary commission to Philip Carteret, governor, and to the council of New Jersey: Leaming and Spicer, Grants, Concessions, etc., 58.

     1674. Proprietary instructions to Philip Carteret, governor, and to the council of New Jersey: New Jersey Documents, i. 167. 1674. Proprietary commission to Edmund Andros, governor of New York: New York Documents, iii. 215; New Jersey Documents, i. 156.

     1674. Proprietary instructions to Edmund Andros, governor of New York: New York Documents, iii. 216.

     1675. Royal commission to Thomas, Lord Culpeper, governor of Virginia: Hening, Statutes, ii. 565.

     1676. Proprietary commission to Thomas Eastchurch, governor of Albemarle County: North Carolina Records, i. 232.

     [1676.] Proprietary instructions to the governor and council of Albemarle County: North Carolina Records, i. 230.

     1679. Proprietary instructions to John Harvey, president, and to the council of Albemarle County: North Carolina Records, i. 235.

     1679. Royal commission to John Curt [or Cutts], president, and to the council of New Hampshire: New Hampshire Provincial Papers, i. 373; also prefixed to Acts and Laws of New Hampshire (1771).

     [1681.] Proprietary instructions to Henry Wilkinson, governor, and to the council of Albemarle County: North Carolina Records, i. 333.

     1681. Proprietary commission to William Markham, governor of Pennsylvania: Charter and Laws of Pennsylvania, 470.

     1682. Royal commission to Edward Cranfield, governor of New Hampshire: New Hampshire Provincial Papers, i. 433.

     [1682.] Royal instructions to Edward Cranfield, governor of New Hampshire: New Hampshire Provincial Papers, i. 443.

     1682. Proprietary commission to Thomas Dongan, governor of New York: New York Documents, iii. 328.

     1683. Proprietary commission to Robert Barclay, governor of East New Jersey: Smith, History of New Jersey, 166.

     1683. Proprietary commission to Gawen Lawrie, deputy-governor of East New Jersey: New Jersey Documents, i. 423.

     1683. Proprietary instructions to Gawen Lawrie, deputy-governor of East New Jersey: New Jersey Documents, i. 426.

     1683. Proprietary instructions to Thomas Dongan, governor of New York: New York Documents, iii. 331.

     [1684.] Royal commission to Thomas, Lord Culpeper, governor of Virginia: Calendar of Virginia State Papers, i. 14.

     1686. Royal commission to Thomas Dongan, governor of New York: New York Documents, iii. 377.

     1686. Royal instructions to Thomas Dongan, governor of New York: New York Documents, iii. 369.

     1656. Royal commission to Sir Edmund Andros, governor of New England: Force, Tracts, iv. No. 8.

     1688. Royal commission to Sir Edmund Andros, governor of New England: New York Documents, iii. 537.

     1688. Royal instructions to Sir Edmund Andros, governor of New England: New York Documents, iii. 543.

     1689. Proprietary commission to Philip Ludwell, governor of Carolina north and east of Cape Fear: North Carolina Records, i. 360.

     1689. Proprietary instructions to Philip Ludwell, governor.of Carolina north and east of Cape Fear: North Carolina Records, i. 362.

     1689. Proprietary instructions to John Blackwell, governor of Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Records, i. 318.

     1690. Proprietary commission to Lionel Copley, governor of Maryland: Maryland Archives, viii. 200. [Draft.]

     [1690.] Royal commission to Henry Sloughter, governor of New York: New York Documents, iii. 623. [Draft.]

     1690. Royal instructions to Henry Sloughter, governor of New York: New York Documents, iii. 685.

     1691. Proprietary commission to Philip Ludwell, governor of Carolina North Carolina Records, i. 373.

     1691. Proprietary instructions to Philip Ludwell, governor of Carolina: North Carolina Records, i. 373; Rivers, Chapter in the History of South Carolina, 59.

     1691. Royal commission to Lionel Copley, governor of Maryland: Maryland Archives, viii. 263.

     1691. Royal instructions to Lionel Copley, governor of Maryland: Maryland Archives, viii. 271.

     1692. Royal commission to Samuel Allen, governor of New Hampshire: New Hampshire Provincial Papers, ii. 57.

     1692. Royal instructions to Samuel Allen, governor of New Hampshire New Hampshire Provincial Papers, ii. 63.

     1692. Proprietary commission to Andrew Hamilton, governor of West New Jersey: New Jersey Documents, ii. 87.

     1692. Royal commission to Benjamin Fletcher, governor of New York: New York Documents, iii. 827; Pennsylvania Records, i. 357.

     1692. Royal instructions to Benjamin Fletcher, governor of New York New York Documents, iii. 818.

     1692. Royal commission to Benjamin Fletcher, governor of Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Records, i. 352; also drafts in New York Documents, iii. 856, and Charter and Laws of Pennsylvania, 539.

     1692. Royal instructions to Benjamin Fletcher, governor of Pennsylvania: New York Documents, iii. 861.

     1694. Proprietary commission to John Archdale, governor of Carolina: North Carolina Records, i. 389.

     1694. Proprietary commission to William Markham, governor of Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Records, i. 474; Charter and Laws of Pennsylvania, 558.

     1697. Proprietary commission to Jeremiah Basse, governor of West New Jersey: New Jersey Documents, ii. 143. [Draft.]

     1697. Royal commission to Richard, Earl of Bellomont, governor of New Hampshire: New Hampshire Provincial Papers, ii. 305.

     1697. Royal commission to Richard, Earl of Bellomont, governor of New York: New York Documents, iv. 266.

     1697. Royal instructions to Richard, Earl of Bellomont, governor of New York: New York Documents, iv. 284.

     [1698?] Royal instructions to Francis Nicholson, governor of Virginia: Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, iv. 49.

     1698. Proprietary instructions to Jeremiah Basse, governor of East New Jersey: New Jersey Documents, ii. 209.

     1699. Proprietary commission to Andrew Hamilton, governor of West New Jersey: New Jersey Documents, ii. 301.

     1702. Royal instructions to Joseph Dudley, governor of Massachusetts: Massachusetts Historical Society, Collections, 3rd Series, ix. 101.

     1702. Royal commission to Joseph Dudley, governor of New Hampshire: New Hampshire Provincial Papers, ii. 366.

     1702. Royal commission to Edward, Lord Cornbury, governor of New Jersey: Leaming and Spicer, Grants, Concessions, etc., 647; New Jersey Documents, ii. 489; Smith, History of New Jersey, 220; Field, Provincial Courts of New Jersey, Appendix B.

     1702. Royal instructions to Edward, Lord Cornbury, governor of New Jersey: Leaming and Spicer, Grants, Concessions, etc., 619; New Jersey Documents, ii. 506; Smith, History of New Jersey, 230; Field, Provincial Courts of New Jersey, Appendix B.

     1702. Proprietary commission to Sir Nathaniell Johnson, governor of South and North Carolina: North Carolina Records, i. 554.

     1702. Proprietary instructions to Sir Nathaniell Johnson, governor of South and North Carolina: North Carolina Records, i. 555.

     1708. Proprietary commission to Edward Tynte, governor of North and South Carolina: North Carolina Records, i. 694.

     1709. Royal commission to Robert Hunter, governor of New York: New York Documents, v. 92. [Draft.]

     1709. Royal instructions to Robert Hunter, governor of New York: New York Documents, v. 124. [Draft.]

     1712. Proprietary instructions to Edward Hyde, governor of North Carolina: North Carolina Records, i. 844.

     1715. Royal commission to Robert Hunter, governor of New York: New York Documents, v. 391. [Draft.]

     1717. Royal commission to John Wentworth, lieutenant-governor of New Hampshire: New Hampshire Provincial Papers, ii. 712.

     1719. Proprietary instructions to William Keith, governor of Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Records, iii. 63.

     1720. Royal instructions to Francis Nicholson, governor of South Carolina: Rivers, Chapter in the History of South Carolina, 68.