Charles County Court Proceedings, 1662-1666.     417

     read it ouer unto him againe and demanded of him as aforsayd and Liber B
     the sayd Cherman answeared againe as aforsayd and againe the sayd
     Chearman was intreated to giue good Attention to his oath and it
     was the third time very deliberatly distinckly and Clearly read unto
     him and beeing againe examined as aforsayd answeared as aforsayd
     whearupon Laying his hand upon the holy Euanglists swore (to the
     Predicted oath that it was the truth the whole truth and all that hee
     know of the truth in differance depending between Mr John Meeks
     and Mr James Lee) by the Contence thearof:
      It is thearfor the opinion of the Court that John Cherman is not [p. 203]
     Capable of an Oath

      Joane Wilmot Sworne and examined in open Court sayeth that the
     night before the Court which was held in Charleses County at the
     latter end of May or the begining of June James Lee did cum to
     Mr Meekeses stoar to bee in a redines the next morning to goe to the
     sayd Court and Mr John Lewger also was with him Mis Cherman had
     Prouided a bed for them but Mr Lewgar lay downe upon Mr Meekees
     bed and fell asleepe and Mr Meekes Layd downe upon his Chest and
     slept thear but James Lee did not go to bed at all but kept himself
     in the stoar all night I the sayd deponant was Called up very Early
     next morning to beate Come did heare sum noys in Mr Meekeses
     stoare and I the sayd deponant did looke into the stoare and did see
     James Lee a drawing a bottell of strong drincke alone by himself
     and I saw Mr Lewgar asleepe upon Mr Meekeses bed and Mr Meekes
     asleepe upon his Chest so I went to my worke againe by and by
     the sayd iames Lee Called to this deponant to bring him a Coale of fler
     which the deponant did and James lee hauing a full bottell of drinck
     in his hand asked whether I woold drinck and I sayd no and went
     away to my worke after a while Mr Lewgar and Mr Meekes awaked
     and Rose and began to prepaer to go to the Court but be for thay
     went Mr Meekes mist his bottell which hee did use to draw drinck in
     began to inquir for his bottell sarch was maed all ouer the hows and
     about the ground and amoungst the saruants and allso amoungst owr
     selues no news coold bee heard of it for it was denied by all partys
     and further sayeth that James Lee sayd it may bee I may draw a
     bottell of drincke in my drunken humor but say nothing and further
     sayeth not

      Sarah Chad Sworne and examined in open Court sayeth that about
     the latter end of June last 1663 that her Master Mr James lee cam
     home from Mr Meekeses stoare with a parcell of goods which bee
     sayd bee had of the sayd nieekes I the deponant beeing then in the
     hows did see the sayd goods opened as soone as thay wear in the [p. 204]
     hows of the sayd James Lee I the deponant did see the parcels of
     them or most of them which I Remember very well sum in Red Cloath
     sum sarge sum Canuice one paer of mens wosted hoose one parcell of