(343.)
Mr. Dunscom, and one Mr. Cox living one near the other in the countrey, fell out about five foot of ground, and nothing must serve but the law to decide the controversie: to't they went, and sued one another so long, that they were forced at last to prosecute the Suit each of them in formâ pauperis; at length the case coming to a definitive hearing, and the Judge understanding how long they had been vexatious, to the utter ruin of each other, said thus, Gentlemen, there hath been a scandal cast upon the Law for its tediousness in mens recovering their rights, the fault is not in the Law, but in you and such like, who delight in long and tedious Suits to the destruction of their own and anothers family. But to the business in hand; here is five foot of land in controversie between you, and both of you have brought equal arguments to prove the proprie∣ty; wherefore my sentence shall be, that the five foot of land be equally divided; and now let me desire you Mr. Dunscomb to permit me to divide your name too, take comb and put it to cox; then your name will be Dunce, and his Coxcomb; and so gave order for their names to be registred on Re∣cord.