456 Assembly Proceedings, October—November 1683.

U. H. Journal
1659-98

Ordered that Coll Darnall give Notice to Cap^t Joshua Doyne
high Sheriff of S^t Maries County that to Morrow being the
Ninth Instant is the Day prefixed for the Tryall of Jacob
Young, and that the Sheriff is Commanded to give Jacob
Young Notice of the same accordingly
Then came Joseph Spernon and presented to this house
this fol. Petition Viz^t

To the Right Honble the Lord Proprietary and the Honour-
able the Upper house of Assembly
The Humble Petition of Joseph Spernon
Humbly Sheweth
That one M^r John Rousby one of the Members of the Lower
house of Assembly Obtained a Judgment against your Peti-
tioner last february was Twelve Month for 6000^ll of Tobacco
Damages and Cost of Suit for Conveying away his two Ser-
vants Simon Steins and Christopher Buttler which Judgment
was altogether unjustly Obtained as your Petitioner is ready
and willing to make appear before this honourable house, and
by false Suggestions and Indirect means of the said John
Rousby your Petitioner is wholly ruined and forced to flye the
Country, he humbly prayeth that he may be relieved by Your
Lordship & Upper house of Assembly as by your Lordship
and their honours shall seem most Meet—
And he shall ever pray &c.

Then Came Simon Steyns one of the Servants of the said
John Rousby that run away as aforesaid and made Oath as
followeth (Viz^t)

The Deposition of Simon Steines Aged thirty years or
thereabouts sworn Deposeth upon the holy Evangelists, That
Christopher Butler and your Deponent was at the house of
William Price in Elk River and Joseph Spernon Then Con-

p. 496

stable came to the said Prices house, and Examining your
Deponents and the said Butler, thought fitt to take us up for
Runaways, and Carryed us Home to the said Spernons house
and being too late that night to carry us before any Magis-
trate; the next Morning the said Spernon went abroad and
your Depon^t and the said Christopher believing the said
Spernon was gone to fetch help to Carry us before a Magis-
trate took the Opportunity and run away from the said Sper-
nons house and went back to the said Prices house and staying
there an hour or two Espyed Spernon & One or two with him
upon which your Deponent and the said Butler immediately
run away and made their Escapes to Deleware falls. But
when Your Deponent, came to the house of Price as aforesaid