16 RARE GUESTS AT DIXEY'S TAVERN. 



Lord Protector to fight the allied Dutch and Manhaddoes, 

 and then ordered to divert against the French the naval 

 and military forces raised for that object, — no doubt these 

 worthies sat there long refreshino; themselves with well- 

 earned rest and the best cheer the tavern oifered, and pour- 

 ing into the eager ears of Landlord Dixey, himself a soldier 

 of no mean pretensions, the story of "battles, sieges, fort- 

 unes they had passed," whilst mayhap their foot-sore horses 

 stood with drooping heads at the long hitching-rail out- 

 side, over which their plethoric saddle-bags and reeking 

 girths were flung, or plunged eye-deep into welcome nose- 

 bags and crunched with greedy haste their corn and beans, 

 before boarding the horse-boat ferry-man Dixey was un- 

 der bonds to keep ready for the accommodation of "horses, 

 mares and other great beasts" at a fare of sixpence. 



The documents on record in the trial for possession of 

 the meeting-house bell give so graphic a picture that we 

 cannot omit to transcribe some of them. 



To yK Marshall of Salem or his deputy 

 OR yE constable of Bkvkrly.— 



You are required in ills Majestie's name to atach y^ goods, & for want 

 thereof ye bodyes of William Dodge junf; & Thomas Tuck Senr: and 

 take boud of y^m to the value of sixty pound : with sufficient secur- 

 ity for tliere appearance at the next County court held at Salem ye 

 last tusedaye of this Instant month, to answer ye complaint of Capt: 

 Richard More, in an action of the case for lleagally taking awaye a 

 Bell from the plaintife out of his possession without his knowledg or 

 consent which Bell hangs in Beverly meeting-house, & vvithoulding ye 

 said Bell to the pits ; great damage, heareof make returne, 

 dated 18 : 9^0 ; 1679 : 



HiLLiARD Veren, pr curiam 

 for the towne of Salem. 



I atached ye house & land of Thomas Tucke & read this 20 : 9 : mo : 

 1G79 : & I atached William dodge Juner : of his, a table & cheist he ten- 

 dred to me & gave him a souions in his house this 20 : 9 : mo : 1G79 : 

 pr me Henry Skerry, Marshall. 



