Provincial Court Proceedings, 1675.  577




      Said bill of exchange by endorsement on the backside thereof accord- Liber M M
      ing to the Custome of merchants under the proper hand of the
      Said Charles to be paid by the Said John ifoster unto Mr Henry
      Meese or his Order And that the said Henry Meese On the third
      day of the month October Anno Doth 1674 in the twenty Sixth yeare
      of the Reigne of Our Soveraigne Lord Charles the Second by the
      grace of God King of England Scotland ifrance and Irland de
      fender of the ffaith &c by Nicholas Hayward Notary and Tabellion
      Publique dwelling in London by Authority of his Said Matie ad
      mitted and Sworne went Severall times to the house of Mr John
      ifoster Scituate in Gratious Street London where Speakeing to his
      man Servant he demanded of him if the Said W ifoster were within
      or if he would pay the Originall bill of exchange of eleven pounds
      five shillings and foure pence whereupon he answered that Mr ifoster
      his master was not within but haveing informed him of the Said
      bill he told him respondent that he neither would accept nor pay the
      same which being by the Said Notary heard he did Solemnly pro
      test and does by those presents at the request of Mr Henry Meese
      protest aswell against the said Wm Stevens drawer of the Said bill of
      exchange as all other whom it did or might concerne of exchange and
      reexchange and of all costs damages and interests for want of pay
      ment of the said Summe Suffered and Susteined and hereafter to be
      Suffered and Susteined to be all recovered in time and place con
      venient All which the Said Nicholas Hayward Notary and Tabellion
      Publique admitted & Sworne as aforesaid haveing heard the things p.
      acted and done as aforesaid the day yeare and place aforesaid did
      therefore by a certaine instrument of protest Subscribe his name and
      putt his wonted and accustomed Seale of Office being requested to
      testifie and certifie the premisses which said instrument of protest
      is by the Said Charles here in Court produced Notwithstanding
      which the said William little regarding his promise and assumption
      So as aforesaid Made but plotting & fraudulently intending him the
      Said Charles in that behalfe craftily and Subtilly to deceive and de
      fraud the Said eleven pounds five shillings and foure pence to him
      the Said Charles hath not paid though he hath been thereunto often
      required but doth utterly refuse and deny to pay the Same by which
      the Said Charles the whole profitt gaines & advantage which he with
      the Said eleven pounds five shillings & foure pence if it had been paid
      unto him according to the promise and assumption of the Said Wm
      in that behalfe made by buying Selling & lawfull bargaining with
      the same might have had and gained is now totally lost and deprived
      of whereupon he Saith he is the worse and hath damage to the Value
      of One hundred pounds Sterling And thereupon he bringeth his
      Suite.
        And the Said Wm Stevens by Robert Ridgely his Attorny comes
      and defends the force and injury when &c and prayeth the heareing