Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1702.     135

       Ordered that a Letter be wrote to his Excellency the Lib. X.

     Governor of Virginia giving notice of the Ships being Staid

     that his said Excellency may have the Opportunity of sending

     by them his Letters for England

       Mr Nicholas Spurns Petition for the remittance of a Fine

     under ten pounds Sterling upon a Qui tam Brought by Ma

     thias Mockboy was read & Granted the said Action being

     Spiteful & Vexatious

                Friday November the1702        p. 303

           The Council Sate present as yesterday

       Came Mr Joseph Holt minister of William and Mary Parish

     in St Marys County in obedience to a summons sent him to

     attend this Board but forasmuch as there was no accusation

     transmitted against him hither by the Justices of the said

     County nor the vestry of the Parish tho directed so to do this

     Board could not proceed further against him but acquaint

     him that they are informed there was a Bastard Child laid to

     him by a Woman that pretended to be his Kins-woman &

     further that he associated with another Woman of ill Fame

     to the Dishonour of the Church & his Profession besides the

     advantage that will be taken by the Enemies thereto with the

     dissatisfaction & trouble given his Parishioners by such ill

     actions

       To which he answered that it was out of Spleen and

     Malice that, that impudent woman had charged him with

     that Fact & that she had uttered many threatning speeches

     against him & falsely accused him which he did not question

     but in some time to make appear & promised that for the

     future he would be more circumspect & avoid all just Occa

     sions of giving any Offence during his Stay in the Parish

     Upon which the Board ordered him to return thither and

     Execute his ministerical Function expecting the Parishioners

     should cultivate all the good Offices of mutual Friendship

     and that he should in three or four months transmit to this

     Board a Remonstrance or Testimonial signed by the Vestry

     & some others of the Chief of his Parishioners Confirming

     what he proposes

       Mr William Nichols his petition read praying for a speedy p. 304

     Trial of the Ship Sherburn Edwd Randolph Esqr her Majestys

     Surveyor General being present says he had no ways delayed

     the said Trial for that he had twice taken his Passage hither

     from Virginia & was once Drove on Ground & another Time

     out of the Capes & had been forced to travel two hundred

     miles before he got hither but now says he is desirous that