Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 12.pdf/620

 The Bar of Early Maryland. 1643, Mr. Gerrard was appointed a member of the Governor's Council, being at this period a practising attorney. In the year 1657, Mr. Gerrard fell into divers temptations and yielded to the blan dishments of strong drink, and, as charged in the information of his Lordship's Attorney General, Richard Smith, betrayed the secrets of the debates in the Governor's Council, "aymeing at his owne greatness which, in unsettled times, he might uphold, when by the sad distrac tions of this prov ince, no one party could, for the en deavors of the other, such factious spirits sufficiently control, false and scandalous speeches and reports hath cast abroad, in sinuating cunningly unto the people that the Governor would yeald unto anything, (how prejudiciall to. that party, that had, as friends, asserted his Lordship's just rights,) requested by the people of Ann Arundell,saying there then and the

with such rogues as composed the Governor's Council. All this referred to the late rebellion in Anne Arundel against Lord Baltimore's au thority that resulted in the Battle of the Se vern and the overthrow of Lord Baltimore's forces. This had occurred about ten years previous, and Lord Baltimore had had the Province restored to him about four years, and the wounds, indeed, were not yet healed, but the Governor, Lord Baltimore's representative, was endeavoring to mol lify the late enemies of the Proprietary in Anne Arundel, and this was offensive to Capt. Gerrard, who had been a valiant defender of Lord Baltimore's inter ests. Depositions fol lowed the informa tion as to Mr. Gerrard's condition on the day of the utter ance of the seditious speeches charged. Mr. Henry Coursey deposed that "he was on board Co^ vill's ship with Mr. LEONARD CALVERT 2D LORD BALTIMORE. Governor would Gerrard, that Mr. give them anything, or words to that effect. Gerrard had drunke something extraordiWhich words, so full of malice, cunning, and nary, but was not so muche in drinke but covertly uttered to set our wounds, even then that he could get out of a cart's way, and scarcely healed, fresh on bleeding and to further saith not." Mr. Gerrard was banished from the Prov embroile the country in worse and more dangerous distempers." Then the informa ince, and his whole estate confiscated. In tion charges that the words amounted to 1660, he sued for pardon. This was granted mutiny and sedition. Mr. Gerrard also in on condition that he pay certain charges, and sinuated that Gov. Fendall took a half the one hundred pounds in money, and five thou Lord Proprietary's rents in collecting them, sand pounds of tobacco, and that he be and. finally announced that he would not sit ineligible as a member of the House of Bur