John Smith et al. Petition the Governor and Council for Redress, 1663

To the hon[ora]ble the Go[v]ernor & Councell

The humble Pet[itio]n of John Smith, Richard Gibbs, Samuel Coplen,

Samuel Styles &c: Ser[v]ents to W Rich: Preston Senior Sheweth

That Mr Preston doth not allow yor Pet[itione]rs sufficient Pro[v]isions for the [e]nablemt to our worke, but streightens us soe far that wee are brought soe weake, wee are not able to performe the [e]mploymts hee putts us uppon. Wee desyre but soe much as is sufficient, but hee will allow us nothing but Beanes & Bread. These premises seriously considered yor Pet[itione]rs humbly addresse themsel[v]es unto yor honors to relei[v]e our wants, & provide tht Our Master may afford us such sustenance as may enable us to goe through wth our labors for the future, & yor Pet[itione]rs shall as in duty bownd E[v]er pray &c:

[U]ppon these Pet[itio]ns of Mr Richard Preston [who complained of his servants' refusal to work] & his ser[v]ants, & uppon Examina[tio]n of the s[ai]d ser[v]ants prsent in Court: The Court taking the same into serious Considera[ti]on, Ordered tht these ser[v]ants now Petitioning (Viz) John Smith, Richard Gibbs, Samuel Coeplen, Samuel Styles, Henry Gorslett, & Thomas Broxam bee forthwth whipped wth 30 Lashes each. Then the Court further ordered tht Two of the mildest (not soe refractory as the other) should be pardoned & tht those two soe pardoned should inflict the censure or punishm[en]t on their other Companions. And thereuppon the s[ai]d Ser[v]ants kneeling on their knees, asking & Cra[v]ing forgi[v]enes of their Master and the Court for their former misdemeanor & promising all complyance & obedience hereafter, Their Penalty is remitted or suspended att prsent. But they are to bee of the good beha[v]ior towards their s[ai]d Master e[v]er hereafter (uppon their promise of amendmt as aforesd).

Source: J. Hall Pleasant, ed., Archives of Maryland, vol. 49, Proceedings of the Provincial Court (Baltimore: Maryland Historical Society, 1932), 9–10, http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc2900/sc2908/000001/000049/html/am49--9.html.