Provincial Court Proceedings, 1679/80. 413

To the hono^ble The Justices of the Provinciall Court in Court
sitting &c
The humble Peticon of Mary Baines servant to James Lewis
of st Maryes County
Sheweth
That the said James Lewis her Master behaveing himself So
Rigorously towards your Peticoner, Yo^r peticoner obtained a war-
rant from yo^r Hono^r (the Chancello^r) for his appeareance last
Christmas was Twelve Monthes to answere to your Peticoners Ob-
jeccons, but hee Lyeing obsconded yo^r peticon^r Could not serve
him with the said warrant, Since w^ch time hee hath used yo^r peticon^r
and his other Servants soe Cruelly that did not the necessity of the
Case Require it Yo^r peticoner should Choose to Conceale it as a
thing to horid to Devulge
That yo^r Peticon^rs said Master will not allow her Cloathes to
her back nor Victualls to Eate, nor a bed to lye on, but Continually
beats and abuses her to the inevitable Ruine of yo^r Peticoner if not
speedily p^rvented
That on Wednesday last was fortnight the said James Lewis her
said Master sent yo^r Peticoners fellow servant Joseph Robinson
to fetch in a Logg of wood w^ch being to heavy for him to carry
his Neighbo^rs offered to help him for w^ch his Master abused his said
Neighbours, and beat the said Joseph, and the said Joseph Con-
fessing hee tooke a small bit of Meat to Eat out of the Closet, his
Master Threw him downe and Trampled Upon his Throat with
such Violence That within Two hours after the said Joseph Dyed,
and your Peticon^rs said Master Threaten'd yo^r peticon^r to serve
her the same Sauce and Swore Dam him hee car'd not a straw or
words to that effect
This yo^r peticon^r with two other Credible witnesses are ready to
averr maintaine and prove and humbly Craves releife in the p^rmisses
& Justice upon her said Master
And Yo^r Peticon^r shall ever Pray

Liber W. C.

Which Peticon being read and heard Itt is Ordered by the Court
here this day (to witt) the Nineteenth day of ffebruary in the sixth
yeare of y^e Dominion of the Right Hono^ble Charles Lord Baltemore
&c Annoq Dominj 1680 That the said Mary Baines Servant to the
said James Lewis Remaine in the Custody of William Boareman
sheriffe of st Maryes County untill this Court be better Satisfyed
in the premisses
Afterwards to witt the Two and twentyeth day of ffebruary in
the yeare aforesaid Came Thomas Courtney of st Maryes County
and Produced to the Court here a bill of sale from the said James
Lewis to him the said Thomas Courtney of the said Mary Baines
Servant to the said James Lewis as aforesaid
Whereupon Itt is Ordered by the Court here that the said Mary

p. 379