354 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1681-85/6.

Lib. R. R. R

an Act of Parliam^t in such cases made, and the Contract afore-
said, but also much to the greviance of your Pet^r Your Pet^r
finding himself, altogether remediless herein without he is
releived by your Hono^ts Therefore he most humbly suppli-
cates your Hono^rs ord^r for precept to issue to the sheriff of
Kent County to summons the said Henry Staples thereby
commanding him under a certain penalty to be and appeare
before your Hono^rs on a certain day to be by your Hon^rs pre-
fix'd to answer the p^rmisses, that soe upon your Hono^rs further
heareing the whole matter, your Pet' may be (out of your
bountifull goodness) releived herein, your Pet^r being alwaies
ready to pay or secure to be paid the Tobacco for their pas-
sages as aforesaid, according to agreem^t aforesaid, which
may amount to Three thousand pounds of Tobacco or
thereabouts, or at such other rates as to your Hono^rs may
seeme good, and also that the said Henry Staples may be by
your Hon^rs obleiged forthwith to discharge your Pet^r said
Sonn James from his time of Servitude, and at the said Sta-
ples his Charge to be transported into this Province, and
delivered in Maryland according to his the s^d Staples Contract
and agreem^t made in Ireland aforesaid, And that your Pet^r
s^d wife and other Child may be discharged as aforesaid.
And your Pet^r shall ever pray &c^a whereupon issued this
following precept to the sher. of Kent County (viz:)

By the hon^ble his L^sps Councill
Maryland ss:
Upon the Complaint of Abraham Gale of Som^rsett County
against One Henry Staples for betraying the wife & Children
of the said Abraham, and disposeing of them in Virginia not-
withstanding the agreement made betweene the said Staples
and the said Gale's wife, was to transport them into this Prov-
ince, and there dispose of them upon certain tearmes betweene
them concluded on
These are therefore in the name of the R^t hon^ble the Lord
Prop^ry to will and require you Edward Swettnam high Sheriff
of Kent County, immediately upon sight hereof, to summons
the said Henry Staples, and the wife of the said Gale, that all
excuses sett apart they be and psonally appeare before the
worshipfull the Commission^rs of the County Court of Talbott

p. 197

County at the first day of the next County Court to be holden
for the said County then and there to answer the p^rmisses.
And you are further ordered to take into Safe custody the
said Staples untill he shall give good security for their appeare-
ances as aforesaid.
March 4^th 1684 Signed by ord^r
To the Sheriff of Kent County J Llewellin Cl Consil
or his Dep^ty These.