Provincial Court Proceedings, 1674.  337



      the execution of his Office, the Said George of his owne Pverse Liber M M
      ma!itious & wicked will plotting and contriveing him the Said
      Thomas of Such his creditt, estate, honesty, & reputation to deprave
      & also to bring him the Said Thomas within the danger of forfeit
      ing his Said bond & looseing of his Office aforesaid Att a Pro
      vinciall Court of the Said Lord Proprietary held at the Citty of
      St Maries the 15th day of April in the 42th yeare of the Dominion
      of his Said Lopp Annoq Doth 1674 before his Said Excellency the
      Capt Generall Cheife justice of the Said Court & other his Associates
      justices of the Said Court the Said George falsely, malitious!y Sub
      tilly and wickedly in the Open Court of the Said Lord Proprietary
      in the presence and heareing of the Said Capt Generall & cheife jus
      tice of the Said Court & others his Associates justices of the Said
      Court & of other Officers & Ministers of the Said Court & also in
      the presence & heareing of a great multitude of the Inhabitants of
      the Said Province at the said Provinciall Court being present attend
      ing the Said Court of the Said Lord Proprietary about their Severall
      affaires these false Scandalous words of the Said Thomas the Said
      George (with a loud & audible Voice) did Speake pronounce publish
      & declare to wit That to his Know!edge (meaneing the Knowledge
      of the Said George) Severall writts (meaning Severall writts Sealed
      with the Seale of the Said Lord Proprietary and to the Said Thomas
      directed as he was his Said Lopps Sheriff of his Said County of
      Dorchester) came to Mr Taylors hands (meaning to the hands &
      possession of the Said Thomas Taylor in due time) which he (mean
      ing him the Said Thomas) might have Served, & he (meaning him
      the Said Thomas) refused it (meaning he refused & delayed to
      execute them) By reason of which Said false Scandalous & ma!itious
      words the Said Thomas is not only much greived, troubled vexed &
      perplext in his mind but also is brought in danger of forfeiting the
      Said bond So entred into for the true & faithfull execution of the
      Said Office of Sheriff of the Said County as aforesaid but also the
      Said Thomas is brought into Very great distrust & infamy aswell
      with the Said Lord Proprietary & his Capt Genll & Councill aforesaid
      as with all other the justices Officers & great & eminent persons
      within this Province & with all other the Inhabitants of this Prov
      ince To the damage of him the Said Thomas two hundred thousand
      pounds of tobacco & thereupon he bringeth his Suite.
       And the Said George by Kenelm Chese!dyn his Attorny doth come
      and defend the force & injury when &c and Saith he is not guilty of
      the premisses in manner & forme as the Said Thomas above in his
      declaration hath declared against him & of this he putts himself e upon
      the Country.
       Now here at this day to witt the 16th day of October in the 43th
      yeare of his Lopps Dominion &c Came the Said George by his At
      torney to defend the force & injury aforesaid but the Said Thomas