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 refreshing themselves with well- 

 earned rest and the best cheer the tavern offered, 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 Y B MARSHALL OF SALEM OR HIS DEPUTY 



OR Y B CONSTABLE OF BKVKRLY. 



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

 thereof y bodyes of William Dodge jun* : & Thomas Tuck Sen* : and 

 take bond of y em to the value of sixty pound : with sufficient secur- 

 ity for there appearance at the next County court held at Salem y e 

 last tusedaye of this Instant month, to answer y complaint of Cap*: 

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

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

 consent which Bell hangs in Beverly meeting-house, & withoulding y e 

 said Bell to the pl t( : great damage, heareof make returue, 

 dated 18 : 9"> : 1679 : 



HILLIARD VEREN, pr curiam 

 for the towne of Salem. 



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

 1679 : & I atached William dodge Juner : of his, a table & cheist he ten- 

 died to me & gav,e him a somons in his house this 20 : 9 : mo : 1679 : 



pr me HENRY SKERRY, Marshall. 



