parts of the county, so far as Pocomoke River, to
come together and arm themselves for defence against any that might
invade them, in consequence "of the rumors that the Quakers and factious
fools have spread, to the disturbance of the peace and terror of the
less knowing."

The following extracts, from the records of the county court of Accomac,
exemplify the simplicity of the times, and the quaint orthography, and
the verbosity of the records of courts; while the final decision of the
case is not less equitable than those of Sancho Panza, sometime Governor
of the Island of Barataria, or those celebrated in Knickerbocker's
History of New York.

"At a Court held in Accomack County, y{e} 16{th} of November,
by his ma{ties} Justices of y{e} Peace for y{e} s{d} County,
in y{e} Seaventeenth yeare of y{e} Reigne of o{r} Sovraigne
Lord Charles y{e} Second, By y{e} Grace of God, of Great
Britaine, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of y{e} Faith,
&c.: And in y{e} Yeare of o{r} Lord God 1665.

"Whereas, Cornelius Watkinson, Philip Howard, and William
Darby, were this Day accused by Mr. Jno. Fawsett, his ma{ties}
Attory for Accomack County, for acting a play by them called
y{e} Bare & y{e} Cubb, on y{e} 27{th} of August last past;
upon examination of the same, The Court have thought fitt to
suspend the Cause till y{e} next Court, & doe order y{t} the
said Cornelius Watkinson, Phillip Howard, & W{m.} Darby,
appeare y{e} next Court, in those habilemts that they then
acted in, and give a draught of such verses, or other speeches
and passages, which were then acted by them; & that y{e} Sherr
detaine Cornelius Watkinson & Philip Howard in His Custody
untill they put in Security to performe this order. It is
ordered y{t} the Sherr. arrest y{e} Body of William Darby, for
his appearance y{e} next Court, to answere at his ma{ties}
suit, for being actour of a play commonly called y{e} Beare
and y{e} Cubb.

"At a Court held in Accomack County, y{e} 18{th} of December,
by his ma{ties} Justices of y{e} Peace for y{e} s{d} County,
in y{e} Seaventeenth yeare of y{e} Raigne of o{r} Sovraigne
Lord Charles y{e} Second, By y{e} Grace of God, of Great
Britain, France, & Ireland, King, Defendr of y{e} Faith, &c.:
And in y{e} yeare of o{r} Lord God 1665.

"Its ordered y{t} y{e} Sherr sumons Edward M