Signed by Robert Mackenzie, the secretary to General William Howe, commander of the British Army. This document was intended to protect the property and family of John Homan Jr. The standardized form indicates documents like this were commonly created and offered by the British Army during their Occupation of Long Island in order to protect citizens from having their property or person being injured or destroyed. This document was part of a scrapbook created by Morton Pennypacker of manuscript documents.