Provincial Court Proceedings, 1681/1682.  145

     ant as aforesaid to him the said Michael though often thereunto            Liber W. C.
     required hath not delivered, but the said boy Servant as aforesaid
     afterwards (to witt) the twentyeth day of ffebruary in the yeare of
     our Lord 1679 to the Prop use and Comodity of him the said
     Clement in St Maryes County aforesaid then and there did dispose
     and Convert Whereupon the said Michael sayth he is the worse &
     hath Damage to the Vallue of Eight Thousand pounds of tobacco,
     And thereupon he bringeth his Suite.
       And the said Clement Hill by Robert Carvile his Attorney cometh
     and Defendeth the force and Injury when &c. and Prayeth Liberty
     to Imparle hereunto untill next Provinciall Court and It is granted
     unto him the same day is given to the Plantiffe Likewise
       Now here at this day (to witt) the fourth day of March in the
     Seaventh yeare of the Dominion of the Right honoble Charles Lord
     Baltemore &ca Annoq Doni 1681 Came the said Partyes by their
     Attorneys aforesaid, and the said Clement Hill by his said Attorney
     Saith that he is in noe wise guilty of the premisses above by the
     said Michael imposed upon him and of this he puts himselfe
     on ye Country and the plantiffe Likewise Therefore it is Co
     manded the sheriffe of St Maryes County that he Cawse to come
     here Twelve &c By whome &c. & who Neither &c. to Recognize &c.
     Becawse aswell &c.
       On wch said fourth day of March in the yeare aforesaid Came
     the said ptyes by their Attorneys aforesaid and the Jurors Impan
     nelled being Called likewise came (to wit) Edward ffishwick Wil
     liam Twisdale Timothy Tracy, William Harper, John Martindale,
     Wm Blankenstine. Thomas Price Thomas Williams, ffrancis Leafe,
     Dennis Sulivant Jno Evans & Richard Hartrapp Who being
     Elected tryed, and Sworne to say the truth in the prmisses Upon
     their Oathes, doe say, That the said Clement Hill is not guilty of
     the prmisses by the said Michael Imposed upon him, Therefore It
     is Considered by the Court here that the said Michael Miller take
     nothing by his writ aforesaid but be in mercy for his false Claime
     thereupon, and the said Clement Hill goe thereof without day.
     and that the said Clement Hill Recover against the said Michael
     Miller the sume of seaven hundred twenty and one pounds of
     Tobacco for his Costs and Charges by him about his defence in this
     behalfe layd out and Expended and the said Clement Hill may have
     thereof Execution

  Mareen Duvall     March ye 7th 1681
         agt
  Thomas Bowdle  Itt is Ordered by and wth the Consent of George
                 Parker Attorney for the plt and John Rousby At
     torney for the deft that the special plea formerly filed in this action
     be withdrawne, and the deft put in a plea of the general issue in-