380    Charles County Court Proceedings, 1662-1666.

              Liber B    Mr Baker Comming thither and Richard Dod and his wife and Joane
                    neuill asked Richard dod what hee came about and Richard dod sayd
                    it behoues any one to Come hearing murder Cried and so hee left
                    them at it discourcing amoung them selues and beeing almost got to
                    the fence of John Neuill and hearing againe such an uproare hee went
                    backe againe so when hee came up to them hee see Joane neuill haue
                    hoult of goodie dods hands whearupon shee sayd sumbodie take the
                    Child and thearupon hee sayd haue a Care goodie neuill what you doe
                    dont hurt the Child, and Richard Dod steped and sayd nohodie med-
                    dell with the Child so shee seeing that it was so I will haue one blow
                    for the other sayd Joane Neuill and swor by God that shee woold for
              [p. 150]   giue her now but if shee shoold meet her shee woold bane a further
                    reuenge and further Sayeth not:
                     Whearupon the Plantiue demandeth an appeale to the Prouinciall
                    Court: alleaging that his wiues Reputatione beeing so far Ruinated
                    that the Reperation thearof is beyond the Cognisance of this Court:
                    which is granted him

                    Richard dod Plantiue     The Plantiue aresting the defen
                    John & Joane Neuill Defendants dant in an action of defamation
                                        Prefereth his declaration as fol
                                    loweth

                     Richard Dod Plantiue John and Joane Neuill his wife defendants
                    the plantiue declares against the defendants in an action of the Case
                    upon defamation (to witte) that whearas the sayd Joane Neuill did
                    in or about the mounth of June last Past to the heigh Prciudice defa
                    mation and iniury of him the sayd Plantiue faulsly and malicious
                    utter publish and declare that the Plantiue was a periured fellow and
                    that hee the Plantiue had taken a fals oath upon Record and that shee
                    wold at her plesier haue the plantiues Eaers upon the poynt of a kniff
                    which words at the Publication thearof maed, hath bin and still is to
                    the great dammage and defamation and detriment of the Plantiue;
                    whearfor hee sayeth in fact hee is thearby totally without Reparation
                    dispoylled in his Reputation and for his dammages and Satisfaction
                    hee humbly Prayeth Judgment of the worshipfull Court against the
                    defendant: and for his Cost of suit &c

                     And for the Confirmation of the Precedent declaration the Plantiue
                    humbly Requesteth That Richard Roe Thomas Baker Robert Cock
                    erill and Mary Roe (who are the plantiues witneses) might haue
                    thear oaths giuen them which is granted

              [p. 151] Richard Roe sworne and examined in open Court sayeth that
                    Richard dod Came ouer the fence and iohn neuill put his hand into
                    his Pocket and tooke out his knife and sayd hee woold stab him if hee
                    came thear and thear upon goodie neuill layd her hand upon her