Provincial Court Proceedings, 1663.    9





       nary labour uppon the account (as they then alleaged) that if they Liber B B
       had not flesh they would not worke. Yor supplyants answere then
       was to them, tht if they would not goe to worke, unlesse they had
       flesh, I could not helpe it, for I had not flesh then to giue them
       (yor Supplyants busines calling him that day abroad) And att night
       returning home, fownd tht his sd seruts had not beene att worke,
       uppon tht acct of not hauing that day some meate Alithough untill
       tht time they haue not wanted for the most part since the Crop of
       Tob was in, to haue meate three times in the weeke & att least twice:
       They hauing other prouision by them att all times to dresse & eate
       when they will. And they continuing still in tht obstinate rebellious
       condicon allthough I haue insteed of flesh for the prsent prouided
       sugar, fish, oyle & uinegar for them, am constrayned to addresse my
       selfe to this Court, That according to equity & their demeritts they
       may receaue such Censure as shall bee iudged equall for such peruerse
       seruants; Least a worse euill by their example should ensue by en
       cowraging other seruants to doe the like. And though by the sheriffe
       they were summoned to this Court uppon the 6th day last, yett since
       I haue profered them, if yett they will bee contented wth such as I
       can possibly prouide for them, there should bee noe further pro
       ceeding publikely in the thing. Moreout I did offer them to giue
       them a note from under my hand for three of ffowre of them to
       take my Boate & to spend a weekes time or more, to see, if they could
       buy any prouision of flesh or any thing else, & I would pay for it,
       though neuer soe deare bought. Yett notwthstanding they still con
       tinew in their obstinate Condicon & would come to the Court, all-
       though I haue sundry times told them, tht I was loath to bring them
       or my selfe to appeare publikely in the thing.
                                      Rich:    Preston.

       To the honble the Gouernor & Councell
        The humble Petn of John Smith, Richard Gibbs, Samuel Coplen,
       Samuel Styles &c: Seruents to W Rich: Preston Senior Sheweth

        That Mr Preston doth not allow yor Petrs sufficient Prouisions for
       the inablemt to our worke, but streightens us soe far that wee are
       brought soe weake, wee are not able to performe the imploymts hee
       putts us uppon. Wee desyre but soe much as is sufficient, but hee
       will allow us nothing but Beanes & Bread. These premises seriously
       considered yor Petrs humbly addresse themselues unto yor honors to [p. 10]
       releiue our wants, & prouide tht Our Master may afford us such sus
       tenance as may enable us to goe through wth our labors for the future,
       & yor Petrs shall as in duty bownd Euer pray &c:
        Vppon these Petns of Mr Richard Preston & his seruants, & uppon
       ExaminaOn of the sd seruants prsent in Court: The Court taking
       the same into serious Consideraon, Ordered tht these seruants now
       Petitioning (Viz) John Smith, Richard Gibbs, Samuel Coeplen,