Provincial Court Proceedings, 1677.     69

        Clement would for the purchase of the said Land not only acquitt Liber N N
        and discharge the said Abraham of & from a certaine debt of six
        hundred pounds of tobacco due from the Said Abraham to the said
        Clement as also from the Publique & County Levy for the yeare last
        past being 1676 & which amounted to two hundred ninty Seaven
        pounds of tobacco but also would well & truly pay unto him the said
        Abraham or his Order the summe of six thousand pounds of tobacco
        at the next Cropp of tobacco when thereunto requested And the
        Said Abraham in fact saith that according to the agreement afore
        said & at the earnest request & desire of the said Clement Hill he the
        said Abraham Rhodes did with his wife travell from his house in
        the County aforesaid to the County Court of the County aforesaid
        held On the first tuesday of August to seale execute & in Open Court
        acknowledge a Deed of bargaine & Sale of the said Land, to be
        drawne & prpared by the said Clement and did tender himselfe &
        wife ready to doe the Same, but the said Clement Sayed he had not
        time to draw the Same & desired the said Abraham & his wife to
        meet him at the then next Provinciall Court at the Citty of st Maryes
        whither he would bring a deed ready drawne, & accordingly the said
        Abraham & his wife did travell to the said Provinciall Court held in
        November 1676 & offered themselves ready to Seale & execute any
        assurance of the said land, & demanded a discharge for the said six
        hundred pounds of tobacco debt and the two hundred ninty Seaven
        pounds of tobacco Levyes as also to pay the said Six thousand pounds
        of tobacco according to the agreement aforesaid but the said Clement
        did Still beare the Said Abraham in hand protending he had not time
        as yet to drawne & prepare the same, but desired the Said Abraham
        & his wife to come to the then next County Court to be held for the
        Said County the first tuesday in January following & upon their
        sealeing & executeing of a deed of sale of the said Land he would
        release him of the debts & Levyes aforesaid & also pay unto him the
        said Abraham the said summe of six thousand pounds of tobacco, &
        accordingly the Said Abraham & his wife did goe againe to the said
        County Court & tendred themselves ready to seale & execute the Said
        Deed Yet neverthelesse the said Clement his promise & assumption
        aforesaid litle regarding but deviseing & fradulently intending him
        the said Abraham in this behalfe craftily & Subtilly to defraud &
        deceive he the Said Clement hath not Only denyed and refused to
        release & discharge the said Abraham of the debt of six hundred
        pounds of tobacco aforesaid & levyes of two hundred ninty seven
        pounds of tobacco aforesaid though often thereunto requested but
        also the said summe of six thousand pounds of tobacco to him the
        said Abraham to pay and satisfie according to his promise aforesaid
        though often also thereunto requested he the Said Clement hath a!- P. 355
        together absolutely denyed & refused & Still doth deny and refuse
        to the damage of the said Abraham twenty thousand pounds of
        tobacco & thereupon he bringeth his suite.