Provincial Court Proceedings, 1663.





      79

      past, to testify her knowledge in a Cause then & there depending be- Liber B B
      twixt Beniamin Hunton pIf & Dr Luke Barbier deft, uppon penalty
      of 500l Tob. in case of not appearing, She, according to the summons
      made her appearance, And when shee was gyuing in her testimony
      uppon oath Dr Barber (contrary to that Law, wch doth prouide for
      the safety & security of Wittnesses) in a reproachfull & slanderous
      manner called yor Petrs Wife whoare, And the sd Dr Barbier did
      then & there affirme seuerall times that shee was a whoare, Saying
      tht hee had caught her wth her Coates up, & that Rogue Tom Hughes
      wth his breeches downe, in such uncyuell accons nott fitt to bee named,
      And further tht hee brought in none but Rogues & Whoares wth him,
      some from Newgate: some from Bridewell: & some from the Whip
      ping Post, Saying, And thou wert the Impudance of all, By your
      Petrs Wife, shee comming in his serut, And allsoe tht her oath was [p. 117]
      false & malicious, web hee would proue. Now soe it is tht yor Petrs
      Wife hath beene ailmost these flue yeares in this Country, wthout
      the least blemish of immodesty tht Carping enuy could suspect, eyther
      in her behauior, speech, or carriage, as is manifest to all her neigh
      bours, wth whom shee hath bene conuersant, And tht her Educaon &
      former life in England being knowne to diuers in this Country to bee
      noe other but honest, modest & Ciuill, Butt now by those slaunderous
      speeches of the aforesd Barbier, wch hath so wounded her in her
      creditt, Reputaon & honor (wch is far dearer then life) That all the
      uertues of her former life is blasted & shee blazed for a whoare &
      Strumpett, unlesse yor honrs doe graunt her Reparaon agst the sd
      Barbier, wch yor Petr Conceiues you ought in Justice & honor to doe,
      Least this stands for a President for futurity, for such abusiues
      ifellowes not only to abuse Wittnesses in Contempt of Gouermt &
      lawfully summoned: Butt aliso take the Priuiledge to slaunder &
      abuse all Woemen lett them be euer soe Innocent (noe mans Wife
      Excepted) Wherefore hee humbly Craues tht tht Cause may bee
      tryed by an able Jury, & shee repayred according to the meritt of the
      offence. And hee shall euer pray &c:

      Henry Spinke plf This Cause is Respited till next Prouinciall
      Dt Luke Barbier deft Court, And the Court ordered the Clarke to
      take the Deposns of all those now summoned in this Cause, & to giue
      Copies thereof eyther to plf or deft (if demanded) whereby to pre
      pare themselues agst next Prouinciall Court.

        John Jerome aged 24 yeares or thereabouts sayth uppon Oath,
      That att the Court att New Towne Dr Luke Barbier called Henry
      Spinks wife whoare, And sayd tht hee would prone it, for hee sayd
      tht hee caught her wth her Coates up about her middle, & Thomas
      Hughes his Breeches about his heeles, & in most unciuill accons.
      And the sd Dr Barbier further sayd tht her oath was malitious & false,
      & thereuppon threw it to Mr Hall & bid him enter it, for hee would