Tuesday, Aug. 3,[297]
1619.
This morning a thirde[298]
sorte of lawes (suche as might proceed out of
every man's private conceipt[299]
) were read and referred by halves to the
same comitties[300]
wch were from the beginning.
This done, Captaine[301]
William Powell presented to the Assembly a
petition to have justice against a lewde[302]
and trecherous servante of his
who by false accusation given up in writing to the Governor[303]
sought not
onely to gett[304]
him deposed from his government of James citty and
utterly (according to the Proclamation) to be degraded from the place and
title of a Captaine, but to take his life from him also. And so out of the
said Petition sprang this order following:
Captaine William Powell presented a Petition to the generall[305]
Assembly
against[306]
one Thomas Garnett, a servant of his, not onely for extreame
neglect of his business to the great loss[307]
and prejudice of the said Captaine,
and for openly and impudently abusing his house, in sight both of Master
and Mistresse, through wantonnes[308]
wth a woman servant of theirs, a
widdowe, but also for falsely accusing him to the Governor[309]
both of
Drunkenes &[310]
Thefte, and besides for bringing all[311]
his fellow servants
to testifie[312]
on his side, wherein they justly failled[313]
him. It was thought
fitt by the general assembly (the Governour himselfe
[314]
giving sentence),
that he should stand
[315]
fower dayes with his eares nayled to the Pillory,
viz: Wednesday, Aug. 4
th, and so likewise Thursday, fryday and Satturday
[316]
next following, and every of those sower dayes should be publiquely
whipped. Now, as touching the neglecte of his worke, what satisfaction
ought to be made to his M
r for that is referred to the Governour and
Counsell of Estate.
The same morning the lawes abovewritten, drawen out of the instructions,
were read, and one by one thoroughly examined, and then passed
once again[317]
the general[318]
consente of the whole Assembly.
This afternoon the committies brought in a reporte, what they had
done as concerning the third sorte of lawes, the discussing whereof spente
the residue of that daye. Excepte onely the consideration of a petition of
Mr John Rolfes againste Captaine John Martine[319]
for writing a letter to
him wherein (as Mr Rolfe alledgeth) he taxeth him both unseemly[320]
and
amisse of certaine thinges[321]
wherein he was never faulty, and besides, casteth
some aspersion upon the present goverment, wch is the most temperate
and juste[322]
that ever was in this country, too milde, indeed, for many of[323]
this Colony, whom unwoonted[324]
liberty hath made insolente and not to
knowe[325]
themselves. This Petition of Mr Rolfes' was thought fitt to be
referred to the Counsell of State.
