Charles County Court Proceedings, 1668—1670.   213

     stood bound & ingaged to the Merchant for & in behalfe of the sd Liber D
     Rich: for the paymt of Tobacco due from the sd Rich: to the sd
     Merchant for Certaine drink expended att the sd Richds Marriage
     & not yet pd for by him Notwthstanding a writt of execuco was
     issued out agt the sd Nicho: for the same And further the sd Nichol:
     did most falsly report tht the sd Richard was intended this prsent
     yeare to goe for England, & tht he the sd Nichol : upon the sd Richards
     refusall to pay him the sd Debt did underwrite the sd Richds name
     at St Maries wch last words the sd Richa: humbly conceaveth by an
     easy & familiar Construction doe import tht he the sd Rich: upon
     supposall of his reall intention to goe for England this yeare (wch
     nevertheless he denieth) did seek & endeavour in a Clandestine
     manner to defeate & defraude severall Creditors of his to whome he
     oweth tobacco by Concealing his sd purpose & intention from his sd
     Creditors & tht the sd Rich: would pay none of his sd Creditrs but
     those of thm as should together wth the sd Nicho: underwrite his
     the sd Richds name as aforesd Wch Construction to have beene made by
     severall of his Creditors the Ricd by theire importunate & restless
     pressing him to the paymt of his Debts (wch by reasö of many Debts
     owing to him the sd Rich: he cannot at prsent pay) & denying any
     longer to Credit him & threatning to arrest & implead him, the sd
     Rich: by sad experience hath found to the Damnifying him very
     much in his Credit and Reputation, And further the sd Nicho: not
     Considering tht he had as yet sufficiently slandered & Defamed the sd
   - Rich: did publickly report & tht to severall persons tht the sd Rich:
     Acct of Fees relating to his the sd Richs late office in this Wore'
     Court & pticularly & expresly his Acct of Fees due from the sd Nicho:
     to the sd Richd att tht time & now at this prsent in the hands of the
     sd Nicho: was dishonest & unjust & tht his the sd Nicholas Acct of
     Ordinary Accomodacons due to him from the sd Richa: was far
     more honest & Just & tht he the sd Rich: in the pticular acct last men-
     tioned had charged one & the same three severall times, wch false &
     slanderous reports the sd Richard saith he much fears may endanger
     the questioning all his othr accts of fees now in the Sheriffs hands
     whereby he may be put to great trouble & suffer great delay before
     he can be satisfied the same Although the sd Rich: saith This injury
     is the least tht may acreu to him thereupon for tht he the sd Rich:
     being at prsent destitute of imploymt hath great Cause to feare least
     the sd slanderous reports utter'd by the sd Nicho: may be a great
     hinderance & stoppage to his the sd Richs advancmt & future prefermt
     unless this Worsfull Court shall vindicate & releive his the sd Richd
     Credit according to Justice to whose mature Consideracon the sd
     Richard humbly submits the premises Humbly Craveing releafe
     therein in such way & mafler as this Worfull Court shall judge meet
     but in espiciall manner tht a Jury of the County may be impanelled
     to Consider of & returne wt Damags the sd Rich hath sustained in
     his Credit & reputacon upon Acct of any or all the sd slandrous words