Exhibit 99.1350CERT

         Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act

I, Terry K. Glenn, President of Merrill Lynch Basic Value Principal Protected
Fund of Merrill Lynch Principal Protected Trust (the "Fund"), certify that:

      1.    The N-CSR of the Fund (the "Report") fully complies with the
            requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
            Act of 1934; and

      2.    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
            material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
            of the Fund.

Dated: August 13, 2004

                                          /s/ Terry K. Glenn
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Terry K. Glenn,
                                          President of
                                          Merrill Lynch Basic Value Principal
                                          Protected Fund of Merrill Lynch
                                          Principal Protected Trust

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other
document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that
appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement
required by Section 906, has been provided to Merrill Lynch Basic Value
Principal Protected Fund of Merrill Lynch Principal Protected Trust and will be
retained by Merrill Lynch Basic Value Principal Protected Fund of Merrill Lynch
Principal Protected Trust and furnished to the Securities and Exchange
Commission or its staff upon request.



Exhibit 99.1350CERT

         Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act

I, Donald C. Burke, Chief Financial Officer of Merrill Lynch Basic Value
Principal Protected Fund of Merrill Lynch Principal Protected Trust (the
"Fund"), certify that:

      1.    The N-CSR of the Fund (the "Report") fully complies with the
            requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
            Act of 1934; and

      2.    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
            material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
            of the Fund.

Dated: August 13, 2004

                                          /s/ Donald C. Burke
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Donald C. Burke,
                                          Chief Financial Officer of
                                          Merrill Lynch Basic Value Principal
                                          Protected Fund of Merrill Lynch
                                          Principal Protected Trust

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other
document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that
appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement
required by Section 906, has been provided to Merrill Lynch Basic Value
Principal Protected Fund of Merrill Lynch Principal Protected Trust and will be
retained by Merrill Lynch Basic Value Principal Protected Fund of Merrill Lynch
Principal Protected Trust and furnished to the Securities and Exchange
Commission or its staff upon request.