INTRODUCTION liii

did not appear to the venire facias which issued following the above indictment.
One entry indicates that John Mortemore was cleared of his indictment when
nobody appeared against him at the June court but another refers to his giving
sufficient caution to the sheriff for his fine to the King. 37

At the same March 1699 session true bills were also brought in against Rooke
and Laurance Russell for being drunk and fighting, on the information of James
Moore, a constable. Again Rooke did not appear; upon submission Russell's fine
was remitted; he was later cleared by proclamation of an unspecified offense.38
True bills were also found against Benjamin Stephens, Solomon Stimpson, Peter
Scamper, Thomas Wells and John Robinson for being drunk and fighting against
"the Goods laws of God and this Province." All except Stimpson submitted to the
court, received fines of 100 pounds of tobacco and were cleared by proclamation.
Stimpson, when asked how he pleaded, declared he would fight again if he had
like occasion; he was then put in the stocks for 3 hours and required to give security
for his good behavior and appearance at the next court. At the June court he was
cleared by proclamation, nobody appearing against him. 39

The two most serious offenses presented at the March 1699 court were committed
by Matthew Mockeboy—assaulting and biting the ear of Isaac Williams against the
"Good Laws of God and this Province" and assaulting and biting the ear of
Thomas Orton "Feloniously... in Contempt of the Publick Peace and the forme
of the Statute in that Case made and Provided." To the first charge Mockeboy
submitted to the court, and was fined 100 pounds of tobacco and was cleared by
proclamation. As to the other, it was ordered that he remain in the custody of the
sheriff until he and two sureties put up £400 security for his appearance at the
next Provincial Court. Appearing at the April 1699 court, Mockeboy pleaded
guilty and was fined 1000 pounds of tobacco. 40

All these indictments apparently arose from the same disturbance for Charles
Walker was presented for beating and striking James Moore, a constable, "in the
contempt of the good Laws of this Province and allso of the Kingdome of England"
when "hee was in the administration of his office in Commanding the Peace in a
Riott" in Charles Town on March 28, 1699 "against the tennor and provision of
the Good Laws of God and this Province." Walker submitting to the court was
fined 100 pounds of tobacco and later cleared by proclamation. 41

One presentment, made at the same court, seemingly not connected with the riot,
was of Thomas Thickpenny for presenting and firing a gun at William Sewell.
An incomplete entry indicates that the justices ordered that the offender receive 10
lashes. 42

At the August 1696 court William Prather complained that when returning
from Annapolis, on the road crossing the land of John Joyce, he was "verry much
abused with abusive words and threatnings." He requested that Joyce be ordered
to allow petitioner to pass through his plantation or else the commissioners clear
a convenient way for Prather to pass without disturbance. However, the petition
was "condemned" by the court. 43

37. Infra 458, 461, 463, 465, 485, 489, 496, 498, 513.

38. Infra 458, 461, 518, 548.

39. Infra 458, 460-61, 463-64, 484-85, 489, 495-97.

40. Infra 460, 465, 498; PCJ, Liber WT, No, 3, 12-13. There is also an entry of a true bill on
a presentment for biting "John Harysons" ear; this may be a clerical error. Infra 458.

41. Infra 458, 462-63, 498.

42. Infra 458, 475.

43. Infra 23.