262    Charles County Court Proceedings, 1658-1662.

              Liber A    her death bed that your petitioner had poysoned her and that hee
                    coold bring your petitioner upon her twelue Godfathers whearfor
                    your petitioner humbly Craueth Redres according to law in such
                    Cases prouided and your petitioner shall as in dutie bound bound
                    shall euer pray &c

                    and for the Confirmation of her sayd Petition shee desired that John
                    Wheler, Michell Abbot Elisabeth Walker Elenor Beane which was
                    granted who deliuered in thear depositions in writing as followeth

                     The deposition of John Wheeler is as followeth
                     That about the last of may or the begining of June last I heard
                    William heard say that Mistris Vanderdunck had arested him for
                    one thowsand pounds of tobacco beeing shee hath begun I may per
                    chance bring her befor her twelue godfathers for sumthing shee gaue
                    Joane Parker and that hee had sum of it in the bows to shew at the
                    presant and further sayeth not:

                     Michell Abbote sworne and examined in open Court sayeth that
                    about the last of may or the begining of June last hee heard William
                    heard that Mis Vanderdunck had arested him for one thowsand
                    pounds of tobacco and that hee woold bring her to her twelue god-
                    fathers for sumthing that shee had giuen unto Joane Parker and that
                    hee had sumthing to shew of it in the bows and further sayeth not

              [p.252] Elisabeth Walker sworne and examined in open Court sayeth that
                    william herd sayd that hee coold bring oath that the widow sayed
                    Mis Vandonke did poyson her and further sayeth not

                     Elenor Beane sworne and examined in open Court sayeth that
                    william heard sayd that hee coold bring oath that the widow sayd
                    Mis vandonke did poyson her and further sayes not:

                     Whearupon the defendant owning his fault and declaring that bee
                    neuer intended to defame or troble her in any such matter as bee was
                    thear accused of doth hearby acknowledge himself very indiscreet
                    in speaking in so unresarued tearmes and if that her Credit may bee
                    thearby any ways stained hee doth humbly desire her and her hous
                    band to forgiue him bee beeing Contented to pay the Cost and Charge
                    of suit
                     Whear upon the sayd hew oneale dothe hearby Clearly acknowl
                    edge him self fully satisfied thearwith and doth hearby acquit dis
                    charge exonorate and release the sayd william heard boath for him
                    self and his wife from all troble and molestation that for euer hear
                    after shall ensew or bee deriued from the aformentioned Cause of
                    action and Confirmed by Courts order

                    Hewgh Oneale Plantiue The Plantiue aresting the defendant in an
                    William heard Defendant action of the Case Prefereth his petition
                                 as followeth