342   Chancery Court Proceedings, 1670.





        Liber C D  William Qroome, Tobias Norton, Peter Sharpe William Berry Ed
               ward Keene, John Tawney and Robert Tyler of our County of
               Calvert Gent Greeting Know ye that we for the Great Trust and
               confidence that we have in your fidelitys, Circumspections, Providence
               & Wisdoms have Constituted Ordained & appointed & do by these
               pTsents Constitute Ordain and appoint you the Said Thomas Brooke,
               Thomas Sprigg Charles Brooke, John Abbington, Richard Perry,
               Genrgft Peake William Groome, Tobias Norton Peter Sharpe, Wil
               liam Berry Edward Keene, John Tawney & Robert Tyler Gent
               Com.rs Joyntly & Severally to Keep the peace in the County of Cal
               vert in the Said Province and to keep and Cause to be Kept all Laws
               and orders made for the Good & Conservation of the Peace and
               for the Quiett Rule and Governm.t of the people in all and Every the
           p. 413 Articles of the Same and to Chastise and punish all psons offending
         (fol. 537) against the form of any the Laws and Orders of this our Province
               or any of them in Calvert County af.d as according to the form of
               the Said Laws and orders Shall be fitt to be done, We have also
               Constituted and Ordained you & Every four or more of you (of w.ch
               you the Said Thomas Brooke, Thomas Sprigg Charles Brooke John
               Abbington, Richard Perry unless one of our Council be ptsent) to
               be one to be Commissioners to Enquire by the Oaths of Good and
               Lawfull men of your County aforesaid of all manner of ifelonys
               Witchcrafts Enchantm.ts Sorcerys majick Arts Trespasses fore
               stallings, Ingrossings & Extortions whatsoever and of all and Singu
               lar misdeeds & offences of w.ch Justices of the peace in England may
               or ought Lawfully to Enquire by whosoever or whensoever done and
               perpetrated or w.ch hereafter Shall happen to be done and perpetrated
               in the County aforesaid against the Laws & Orders of this our
               Province Provided that you proceed not in any of the Cases afores.d
               to take life or member, But that in Every Such Case you Send the
               prisoners their Indictment and the whole matter depending
               before you to the next Provinciall Court to be holden for this our
               Province whensoever or wheresoever to be holden there to be tryed,
               And further we do hereby Authorized you to issue writts process
               arrests and attachm.ts to hold plea of, hear and determine, and accord
               ing to the Laws orders & Reasonable & Customs within this our
               Province after Judgem.t Execution to award in all Causes Civil
               whether in Actions Reall or psonall where the thing in acOn doth not
               Exceed the value of three thousand pounds of Tobacco in which
               Causes Civil So to be tryed We do Constitute ordain and appoint you
               Thomas Brooke, Thomas Sprigg, Charles Brooke John Abbington
               & Richard Perry to be Judges as aforesaid unless Some one of our
               Council be then in Court & therefore We Command you that you
               diligently intend the keeping of the peace Laws & Order and all
               Singular other the premisses & at Certain days appointed according
         (fol. 538) to Act of Assembly in that Case Provided and Such places which you