At the close of the whole, came the awful picture and history of the burning of Mr. John Rogers, minister of the gospel, the first martyr in the time of Queen Mary, accompanied by his wife with nine small children, and one at the breast. Then followed many mournful and pathetic verses of advice to his children, saying:

Give ear, my children, to my word,
Whom God hath dearly bought.
Lay up his laws within your heart,
And print them in your thought.

I leave you here a little book,
For you to look upon,

That you may see your father's face,
When he is dead and gone.

The picture and verses solemnized many a little heart, and were probably intended thus early to generate in protestant minds, an early and abiding aversion to papacy, once deemed an essential part of English education; and it may not escape notice, that Mr. Carey, who was himself a papist, was liberal enough to give it the passport of his imprint as a publisher. It was in keeping with his publishing afterwards, and selling numerous copies of the protestant Bible. The little book had also some little counsels and maxims, now none the worse for age, such as:

boy.

The picture shows a Death's anatomy, with his dart, in swift pursuit of a running

VOL. I.-2 N

PRIMITIVE COURTS AND TRIALS.

"Where gross misconduct meets the lash of law."

IN the first judicial proceedings of the city, the governor and council exercised a general jurisdiction, so that all matters, whether . original or appellate, down to the most trivial events, were subject to their decision. The punishments, too, were such as they might choose to decree. These earliest records are preserved. The first are dated Philadelphia, 10 th of 1st mo. 1682-3. Some cases which I deem most curious I here preserve, to wit:

At the first court held 11 January, 1682-the list of the Juries were thus:

Andrew Grissman,*

The Grand Jury present, to wit:

Erick Cock,

Christian Thomas,
Peter Dalbow,
Evan Oliver,
Lacy Anderson,
Nehem. Michel.

1st. That the swamps coming into the Blue anchor (Dock creek,) be forthwith made passable for footmen. 2d. That Coquenakar [Pegg's Run] creek, at the north end of the city, be made also passable for footmen. 3d. That the creek called Coan.ren [Coacksink,] going to Shakamaxon be bridged, or cannowed [passed by canoes.] 4th. That the creek at Tankanney [Takony] and Gunner Rambo's be bridged or cannowed. 5th. That the king's road from Scuilkill (Schuylkill) through Philadelphia to Neshemeney creek may be marked out and made passable, for horses and carts, where needful. and to ascertain, with Chester and Bucks, where to fix the ferries

· Spelt Andrew Grescome.

of those creeks, the Scuilkill and Neshemeney. 6th. We present the want of a county court house.

In the said first court, appeared sundry Swedes, Finns and Dutch, to be naturalized, by their petitions for allegiance, according to an order of Assembly, held at Chester the 7th of 10th mo. 1682, to wit:

Lacy Cock,
Peter Rambo,
Swan Swanson,

Andrew Swanson,

Wollis Swanson,

Lacy Anderson,

Mounts Cock,

Erick Cock,

Gunner Rambo,

Peter Nelson.
Christian Thomes,
Erick Mulloker,*
Peter Cock, jun.

John Bowles,
Andrew Galem,

John Stiller, [now Stille.]
Lacy Dalbo.

The examination of the evidence of Christian Closses' dead child is stated to this effect, the 22d of 10th mo. 1682. It is signed by ten names, examiners on jury, and by Doctors Thomas Wynne and John Goodson, and by John Longhurst, as justice. The child was found dead-had black and blue spots, and a crooked leg. It was proved the mother had a quarrel in the harvest field, with her husband, and that she got then bruised in the same places generally. The two physicians thus certify, that "they found it much after the manner that the witnesses proved." The Grand Jury-mark it "we finde not."

At the second court, held 7th February 1682, I see among names of the Petit Jury, to wit:

Among the presentments, I read: stumps in the streets to be removed. The want of a bridge on Chooxunck (Tomamamby) near Shackamaxon; a bridge or ferry over Takonie, Pomobem, Pootquessing, Neshamaneh, &c. That Mr. Jacobus Fabritius, &c. hath broken the ceremony of their own church, by making John Skeetch and Mary Smith believe they were married, and causing them to lie together, which is unseemly. They present that men do come armed with swords and guns, and especially one young man, name unknown-[on a side slip, the above Indian names are

[* Is not this the name of Mulliker's hill, N. J.]

plainer spelled thus: Cooxen, Tamaramaming, Tackaney Pemapecka, now Pennepack.]

Benja. Chambers is Sheriff. John Cock constable, for lower part of county, and Nathaniel Harden, for upper part of county. The indictment against said Skeetch, said he had before two wives in Bristol, England; and had now taken Mrs. Smith here to wife"not found." His petition was filed praying to be stocked, rather than to be beaten with twenty lashes; J. Fabritius signed their marriage as "pastor," &c.

An arrest was granted upon Andrew Ball, for Swanson's geese. I see the name of Lasse Cock, in its original, pretty good! [two years after he was naturalized,] company meets at the Blue anchor Inn, I see occasionally.

The third court 7th of 1st mo. 1683.-The Grand Jury present John Day and Thomas Phillips, overseers, for not removing stumps, &c., out of the front lots,-also a want of a prison. They present a ship firing guns, on the first day of the week. They present Griffith Jones, one of the Justices, for selling victuals and drink without a license-a true bill.

At the fourth court 4th of 2d mo. 1683.-The Grand Jury present the want of rings to snouts of swine. They present those who know their lots in the Front street, and do not clear them of stumps and roots.

At the fifth court 20th of 12th mo. 1683.-Benjamin Acrod high constable returns nine names which neglected to attend to make a foot bridge at Pemma-pecca [Pennepack,] making those which did attend discontented. Say William Ball, Joseph Ashton, John Summers, Christian Closson, and Benjamin Duffill, &c.

The Grand Jury present, the trees that are offensive in this city shall be cut down. The want of a bridge at Qucinomin creek.

At this court is a case of an award of "the peace makeis," (say William Warner, Henry Lewis, and Gunner Rambo,) who decided, that the six men shall pay Justa Andrason his demand. They are all Swedes, and each to pay 40 gilders 10 stivers severally to him. Two Swedish women are indicted for drunkenness.

At the sixth court 1st of 6th mo. 1683.-A mittimus was ordered to be drawn to commit Jos. Fisher to the Sheriff for affronting the court !

The Grand Jury present the necessity of a prison for the county, and recommend that a tax be laid, and that an estimate be made and reported to the next court.

At the eighth court 2d of 7th mo. 1685.-The Grand Jury agree, that in lieu of £60 to be paid to Lassy Cock, for building of a log house in the Second street intended for a county gaol, he shall have the said log house with the ground it stands on, with the spot of ground adjacent, and a legal title thereto to be procured from the governor with a proportionable lot in the Second street, for which the said county shall satisfy the governor, and shall pay to said Lassy

Cock £6 out of the first collected publick levy, on consideration, that it doth appear that the said log house cannot be sufficient for the purpose aforesaid intended.

The court notified the above agreement, and "the rather, because the said Lassy Cock was satisfied with the same."

In 1693-Indian Ben petitions the court for his freedom-states, that he was originally a native Indian of New England, brought from Rhode Island by William Coddington, Esq., that after his death, the widow became the wife of Robert Ewer, [a Friend, owner of Blackhorse alley,] who now holds him still to service. He prays release, &c.

'The 17th October, 1693-appears an order for the regulation of the Market by the governor and council, to be located in High street, where the Second street crosses it, and in no other place. That the market shall be opened twice a week by ringing of bell. That none shall vend, and none shall buy on the way, under a penalty. A clerk of the market is appointed, and his fees are derived from the sellers.

The 29th November, 1693-Michael Gambler and Joan Sellers, on their marriage, give bond to the king and proprietary, to forfeit and pay, in case there should thereafter appear any lawful impediment-so also Joseph Davenport and Margaret Bradshaw, in 1696, [fine signatures to their bonds.] From another book of record, I extract the following, to wit:

20th of 1st mo. 1683, Nathaniel Allen complained to the governor and council, that he had sold a servant to Henry Bowinan for six cwt. of beef, with the hide and tallow, and £6 sterling; also that he had hired his boat to the said Bowman and another, for one month, which they detained eighteen weeks. The beef, tallow, hide, and money were all detained. He prayed redress of those grievances; whereupon it was ordered that William Clarke, John Simcoe, and James Harrison, should speak to Henry Bowman concerning this matter. The simplicity of the subject, brought before the Governor of a great country, reminds one strongly of the Patriarchal tribunal of Moses, when he was worried with petty complaints, until he got him seventy of council to help him!

9th of 4th mo. 1683, a proclamation issued by the governor and council, saying, that ye constables in this city should go to public houses to see good order kept, and the people should not stay longer at an ordinary than such an hour.

20th of 4th mo. 1683, the County Court of Philadelphia is fined L40" for giving judgment against law." The property for which action was brought, was a tract of land in Bucks county. The case was brought before the governor and council by appeal. It was decided by the board" that an appeal did not lie. They ventured, however, while the matter was fresh in their memory, to fine the County Court of Philadelphia as above stated.

On the 25th of 4th mo. 1683, Nicholas Bartlet, plaintiff, vs. F'.