Provincial Court Proceedings, 1666.     67

    Called from the Bench where for that Court he Satt as Judge to give Liber FF
    his Testimony in a Cause depending betweene him the sayd Staple-
    fort and John Bayley of Calvert County Merchant in the presence
    of the sayd Court and hearing of very many of the good people of
    this Province then and there being openly and publiqly and faisly
    Scandalously and Malitiously Did speake utter publish and Proclayme
    That is to say You the said Thomas Sprigg meaneing are Con fedate
    with Bayley him the sayd John Bayley meaneing and have falsyfyed
    your Oath to the Lord Proprietary by reason of the Speaking and
    publishing of which false Feygned Scandalous and Malitious Words
    chargeing him the sayd Thomas with Hatefull Perjury and base
    breach of Trust the sayd Thomas not only in his good name Fame
    Estimacon and Reputacon aforesayd wherein he was before that
    tyme Endued is much hurt and made Worse but alsoe is brought in
    Danger of the Grevious Censure of the Governour and Councell and
    and Divers great Sumes of Money in this behalfe for the manifes-
    tacon and Cleering his Innocence in the Premisses was forced and [p. 303]
    Compelled to Lay out and Expend to the Dammage of the sayd
    Thomas Sprigg Five hundred pounds sterling And thereof hee
    bringeth his sute

    Thomas Sprigg Plaintiffe The deft put's in his answere (uizt) The
    Reymd Staplefort Deft Defendant Demurreth in law, that who-
    soeuer informeth On behalfe of the King Cannot be Molested nor
    Sued for his informacon let it be right or wrong
      This answere not being allowed sufficient The Defendant was
    demanded, if he could proue those words spoken by him and sett
    downe in the Declaracon—Answered, I cann, being askt againe if
    he would doe it Answered, I could, then askt how hee Could,
    Answered att Prsent he could not for want of some meanes that is
    not at present wth hime
      Whereuppon it is Ordered, That the Defendt Reymound Staplefort
    be Committed into the Sherriffs Custody, there to lye and remaine
    untill hee giue in Sufficient Security for his appearance the next
    Prouinall Court to answere the said suite and abide Judgmt therein


    To   the Honble the Gouernor and Councell of the prouince of Maryland
      William Lister Complaines agst John Gilson of Kingsaile in the
    Kingdom of Ireland for that whereas the said John Gilson hired the
    said William Lister as a marriner to sayle and doe the labor of a
    marriner in the Hopewell of Kingsale for and in Consideracon of
    which, the said Gilson did Assume uppon himselfe to pay unto the
    said Lister forty shillings p month wages, And for that whereas [p. 3041
    the said William Lister for & during the space of four months and
    twenty dayes or thereabouts in the said Hopewell of Kingsale did
    sayle and the labor of a marriner did doe whereby there became due
        9