NOVEMBER, 1696 COURT 99

name fame Creditt and Reput aforesaid and to bring him into hate disgrace and
Evill Opinion of all his neighbours and other worthy persons of this province
but alsoe Innocently to Cause him the Said John Short to be brought in dainger
of Suffering Such fines Corporall paines and punishments as by the Law and
Stattutes for or against Such offences As aforesaid uppon Such Offenders
ought to be Laid and Inflicted upon the 26th Day of August in the year of our
Lord 1696 at Charles Towne within the Jurisdiction of this Court then and
there in the hearing of Severall good people of this province Espetially in the
hearing of Charles Weeler and Francis Billinger openly and publickly with an
Audible and Lowd voyce these false feigned Scandelous and Opprobrious words
falsely and Malitiously of the Said John Short did Say (Viz.) you John Short
(the Said plantife meaning) hath taken a false oath and are forsworne and that
he the Said John Short meaning was a forsworne fellow and that he the Said
John Gardiner meaning will prove itt whereas in truth the Said John Short did
never perpretrate or Committ any Such Fact neither is guilty of any Cheating
falsity Cozeanage deceipt Perjury or Dishonnesty whatsoever By Reason of the
Saying publishing Affirmeing and declareing of which Said false Feigned
Scandulous Infamous and Opprobrious words the Said John Short is not only
Extreamly hurt and damnified in his good name fame Creditt and Estimation
aforesaid amongst his neighbours and other faithfull and worthy persons of this
Province to whome the Innocency of the Said John Short in this part is un-
knowne who before the Speaking and publishing of the Said words were used
to keep Company Consort and Associate with him the Said John Short and with
whome before that time the Said John Short did usually Negotiate deale traffick
Contract buy and Sell and who hath Since withdrawne themselves from Consort-
ing Associateing dealeing trafficking buying and Selling with him the Said John
Short but alsoe the Said John Short is thereby Innocently brought in dainger
and perrill of Suffering Such fines Corporall pains and Punishments as by the
Lawes and Stattutes for or against Such offences as aforesaid upon Such offenders
ought to be Layd and Inflicted and whereupon the Said John Short Saith he is
damnified and hath Damage to the vallew of Eight thowsand pounds of tobaccoe
and thereupon he brings this Suite etc.

Cleborn Lomax. Pledges etc. John Doe, Richard Roe.

T[he above] Action was by vertue of a writt of Habeas Corpus Removed to
the Provintiall Court and ordered that a transcript thereof Should be Sent which
was Accordingly done.

[91] Archable Edmonson plan tiffe: Thomas Plumer Defendant

Prince Georges County Ss. Thomas Plumer Late of Prince Georges County
planter was Atteched to Answer unto Archable Edmonson of a plea of trespass
upon the Case etc.

And whereupon the Said Archable by Cleborn Lomax his Attorney Com-
playneth that whereas upon or about the Seaventh day of Aprill in the yeare of
our Lord 1695 Att Calvert County that is to Say at Charles Towne within the
Jurisdiction of this Court a Certaine Conferrence was had and moved between
the Said Thomas and the Said Archable of and Conserning the Setting Free
a Certaine man Servant Called Ninian Dew in possesion of the Said Archable
and had nineteen months to Serve the Said Archable in the trade of a Car-
penter at the time aforesaid upon which Said Conference it was agreed between
the Said Thomas and the Said Archable Inconsideration that he the Said Arch-
able at the Spetiall Instance and Request of the Said Thomas would Lett goe