The following record is the transcription of a portion of the Council Minutes of St. Mary’s, Maryland  in the court of Lord Philip Calvert in 1681.  Words are spelled as written in this early English document. Simon Stacy is involved in court with Mr. John Tyrling who has been accused of “uttering mutinous and seditious words to the people.”

 

At a Councill held at St Maries the 14th Day of July Anno

Dmi 1681:

 

The Rt honbl8 the Lord Propry

Philip Calvert Esqr Chancellor

William Calvert Esqr Secry

Coll Henry Darnall Present

George Talbot Esqr

William Digges Esqr

 

At wch time Mr John Tyrling according to summons makes his appearance and being called is charged with having uttered mutinous and seditious words to the people his Audi- tors Sayeing that his Lspp the Lord Propry had furnished the Indians with powder and shott and noe wonder .then the English had their throats cutt when the Propry gave them powder and shott for that purpose & words to that effect for Evidence is called William Hodgeson who Declared That James Rumsey Reported that Mr Tyrling should say  in presence of Coll Jowles and others that the Indians had received powder and shott from his Lspp and noe wonder they cutt our throates when his Lspp furnished them with powder and shott. Mr Tyrling prayes the testimony of Coll Jowles or any other person of note that was then his Auditors when he spake these words otherwise if onely the said Hodgeson heard it it cannot be tearmed sedition, but further Denies that he said any such thing but that sometime since came a man to his house and told him that Mr Rosewell should report that one Daniel Mathena of Charles County would offer to sweare that his Lspp had sent a Packett of letters to the Sinniquos for them to come and cutt off the Protestants, to wch he the said Tyrling Replied that the said Mathena and those who reported it after him ought to be whipped, that possibly he might tell this to some other person at some time but the words laid to his charge or any thing tending thereunto he utterly Denies. William Hodgeson further saith that James Rumsey (as Simon Stacy told him) made this Report of Mr Tyrling before The said Stacy. Thomas Lawson Richard Mr Darceys Overseer and others The further heareing and Examination whereof is referred till thursday next the 2 Ith of this instant July at wch time to be summoned James Rumsey Simon Stacy, Thomas Lawson and Darceys Overseer, and Mr Tyrling to give bond to the  sheriff of 20000lb tobo for his appeareance then at this board, accordingly issued the following ordr to the sheriff of Calvert County to summon the persons aforesaid viz

By the Lord Propry & Councill You are hereby willed and required as also strictly charged and comanded to summon James Rumsey, Simon Stacy, Thomas Lawson, and Richard Mr Darceys Overseer all of your County that all excuses sett apart they and every of them be and personally appeare before his Lspp and Councill at the City of St Maries on thursday next the One and twentieth instant by Nine of the Clock in the morning to testifye the truth of their knowledge to what shall be proposed unto them in behalf of the Rt honble the Lord Propry whereof they are not to faile at their peril Dated the fourteenth Day of July in the sixth yeare of his Lspps Dominion &c. Annoq Domini 1681Signed p ordr To Coll Henry Jowles high Sher. p J Llewellin Cl Consil

of Calvert County or his Depty

 

 

Then also issued the following ordr to the Sheriff of St

Maries County to summon Richard Edelen viz

 

At a Council held at the City of St. Maries the One and

twentieth day of July Anno Domini 1681:

The Rt honble the Lord Propry

Philip Calvert Esqr Chancelor

William Calvert Esqr Secry

 

John Hoskins of St Maries County according to summons from his Lspp to him formerly directed makes his appearance at this board Who was charged with saying in some Company that if he had said half soe much as Capt Coode had said he would runn away too, and being required to testifie upon oath what it was Capt Coode should say to cause those expressions to come from him being duely sworne saith that possibly in drink such or the like words might by him be spoken but that Coode should speake any thing mooveing him thereunto he knows not being sometimes apt to talk at randome in drink and speake what he cann give noe Accompt of William Hodgeson according to order of this board the last Councill Day makes his appeareance and haveing taken his oath upon the holy Evangelist saith that being up at a horse Race at Mr Rumseys in Company with Simon Stacy and others he told Stacy that he heard he had fforted in his house, To wch Stacy replyed he was afraid of the Indians ffor that Mr Tyrling had reported My Lord had furnished them with powder and shott, And that he called Thomas Lawson, and Richard Thomas to witness that Mr Rumsey heard Mr Tyrling say soe. Simon Stacy called Denyes that he ever said any such thing of Mr Tyrling Thomas Lawson called Denyes that he was desired to witness any such thing or that he heard any such thing said Richard Thomas saith that he heard Mr Rumsey say that Mr Tyrling should say My Lord had furnished the Indians with powder and shott. James Rumsey then called Saith that haveing formerly heard the Report of his Lspps furnishing the Indians with powder and shott and being One Day at Church before it begann it was the generall discourse amongst the people there that My Lord had lett the Indians have powder and shott, and that Mr Tyrling amongst the rest said he heard soe too but could not give any creditt to it Mr Tyrling is Discharged from his Recognizance taken last Councill Day and from his further appeareance at this board upon this occasion

 

At a Councill held at the City of St Maries the Eight and

twentieth day of July Anno Domini 1681:

The Rt honble the Lord Propry

Philip Calvert Esqr Chancelor

The honble William Calvert Esqr Secry Present

Vincent Lowe Esqr Sur. Genll

Coll Henry Darnall