Assembly Proceedings, May 10-June 9, 1692. 481

Criminall shall justly deserve and the Law will allow of this
Act to endure for three years or to the End of the next Gen-
erall Assembly which shall first happen.
June 4th 1 692 June 2^d 1692.
Assented to by the Councill Board. The house of Assembly
Signed p Order have Assented.
John Llewellin Clk. Signed p Ord^r
Hen: Denton Clk.

Lib. L. L.
No. 1.

An Act for limitation of certain
Actions for avoiding suits at Law.

Forasmuch as nothing can be more Essentiall to the Peace
and Tranquility of this Province then the quieting the Estates
of the Inhabitants thereof and for the Effecting of w^ch no better
measures can be taken then a limitation of time for the com-
mencing such Actions as in the severall and respective Courts
within this Province are brought from the time of the cause of
such Actions ariseing. Be it therefore Enacted by the King
and Queens most Excellent Majesties by and with the Advice
and consent of this Generall Assembly & the Authority of the
same, that all Actions of Trespass quare clausum fregit, all
Actions of Trespass detinue sur Trover or Replevin for taking
away goods and chatties, all actions of Account, contract debt
Book and upon the case other then such Accounts as concerne
the Trade of Merchandize between Merchant and Merchant
their factors & Servants which are not Resident within this
Province, all Actions of debt for tending or contract without
specialty all Actions of debt for arrearages of Rent, all Actions
of Assault, menace, battery wounding and Imprisonment or
any of them w^ch shall be sued or brought by any person or
persons within this Province at any time after the end of this
present Gen^ll Assembly shall be commenced and sued within

p. 98

the time and limitation hereafter expressed and not after (that
is to say) and the said Actions for account and the said Actions
for debt detinue & replevⁿ for goods and Chatties, and the
said actions for Trespass quare clausum fregit within two
years ensuing the Cause of such action and not after And the
said Actions of the Case for words and Actions of Trespass,
of assault, Battery, wounding and Imprisonment or any of
them within one year from the time of the cause of such
Action ariseing and not after And be it further Enacted by
and with the advice and consent aforesaid, That in all Actions
of the Case for Slanderous words to be sued or prosecuted by
any person or persons in any Courts of Record of this Prov-
ince that hath pow^r to hold Plea of the same after the end

p. 99