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By Root 588 0

his opinion of Luke Hill against Grace Sherwood as being suspected of witchcraft in the following words to-wit: viz Upon perusal of the above order of this honorable Board I doe conceive & am of the opinion that the charge or accusation is too general that the county court ought to make a further Examinacon of the matters of fact & to have proceeded therein pursuant to the directions & powers of County Courts given by a late act of Assembly in criminal cases made & provided & if they thought there was sufficient cause to have (according to that Law) committed her to the Generall prison of this Colony whereby it would have come regularly before the Generall Court and whereupon I should have prepared a bill for the Grand jury & if they had found it I should have prosecuted it. I therefore with humble submission offer & conceive it proper that the said County Court do make a further Enquiry into the matter, and if they are of opinion there be cause they act according to the above said Law and I shall be ready to present a Bill and if found proceed thereon

Ordered that a copy of the said Report be sent to the court of Princess Anne County for their direction in the premises.

[After this order, the action shifted back to the Princess Anne County Court]

May 2nd 1706

Whereas a former Complaint was brought against Grace Sherwood for Suspicion of Witchcraft which by the Atturny Genrll Report to his Excellency in Councill was to Generall & not Charging her with any particular Act therefore represented to them that Princess Ann Court might if they thought fitt have her examined De Novo & the Court Being of Oppinion that there is great Cause of Suspicion Doe therefore order that the Sherr take the Said Grace into his Safe Costody until She Shall give bond & Security for her appearance to the next Court to be examined Denovo & that the Constable of that precinktt go with the Sherr & Serch the Said graces House & all Suspicious places Carfully for all Images & Such like things as may any way Strengthen the Suspicion & it is likewise Ordered that the Sherr Som an Able Jury of Women also all Evidences as Cann give in anything against her in Evidence in behalf of our Soveraign Lady the Queen To Attend the next Court Accordingly

June 6th 1706

Whereas Grace Sherwood of this County have been Complained of as a person Suspected of Witchcraft & now being Brought before this Court in order for examinacon this Court have therefore requested mr Maxmll Boush to present Informacon against her as Councill in behalf of our Soveraign Lady the Queen in order to her being brought to a regular Tryall

Whereas an Informacon in Behalf of her Magty was presented by Luke Hill to the Court in pursuance to Mr Generall Attorneys Tomson report on his Excellency order in Councill the 16th Aprill Last About Grace Sherwood being Suspected of Witchcraft have thereupon Sworn Severall Evidences against her by which it Doth very likely appear

June 7th 1706

Whereas at the Last Court an order was past that the Sherr should Sommon an able Jury of Women to Serch Grace Sherwood on Suspicion of witchcraft which although the Same was performed by the Sherr yet they refused And did not appear it is therefore order that the Same persons be again Somd by the Sherr for their contempt To be Dealt with according to the utmost Severity of the Law, & that a new Jury of women be by him Somd To appear next Court to Serch her on the aforesaid Suspicion & that he likewise Som all evidences that he Shall Be informed of as materiall in the Complaint & that She continue in the Sherr Costody unless She give good bond And Security for her Appearance at the next Court & that She be of the Good behaviour towards her Majestie & all her Leidge people in the mean time

At a court held the 5th July anno Dom 1706

Whereas for this Severall Courts the Business between luke hill & Grace Sherwood on Suspicion of witchcraft have Benn for Severall things omitted particularly for want of a Jury to Serch her & the Court being Doubtfull That they Should not get one this Court & being willing to have