Charles County Court Proceedings, 1658-1662.     133

      To the worshipfull Commissioners of Charleses Countie the humble Liber A
    Petition of John Neuill most humbly sheweth:
      That Whearas William Robisson standeth indebted unto your
    Petitioner by bill and Account the ful sume of eight or nine hundered
    pounds of tob: as more largly doath Appear upon record and order
    passed for the sayd Debt but in regard it was in the time of owr
    Last disturbance and distraction of Gouerment (and your Petitioner
    beeing thearupon denied his iust debt) your petitioner in that respect
    hath entered his suit The Premisses beeing taken into your serious [p. 142]
    Considerations your Petitioner most humbly craueth order for his
    sayd debt with Cost and Charge of suit and your Petitioner as in
    dutie bound shal euer pray &c

      Whearupon the Defendant most humbly Craueth a referance
    which is granted

    William Robisson Plantiue The Plantiue Aresting the defendant
    William Wennam Defendant in an action of trespas prefereth his

                        petition as followeth

      To the Worshipfull Commissioners of Charleses Countie the
    humble petition of William Robisson most humbly sheweth
      That Whearas William Wennam hath dishonored your Petitioners
    hous by Committing Fornication with your petitioners woman Sar
    uant Anne Mardin as shee herself hath declared: and your petitioner
    thearupon went unto the sayd Wennam and told him of his abuse in
    priuate and aduised the sayd Wennam to tacke of the dishonor of
    his house whearupon the sayd Wennam replied hee woold first see
    whether shee proued with Child or no and your petitioner not find
    ing him to take any Care of the Premisses your petitioner most
    humbly Craueth relife by order of Court with Cost and Charge of
    suit and your petioner as in dutie bound shall euer pray

      The deft denieth (by his Atturney Umpherie Haggate whom was
    granted him in open Court) to haue committed any such fact as the
    Plantiue hath accused him of whearupon the pantiue desiereth that
    his subpened witnes may haue ther oaths giuen them Concerning the
    Premisses which is granted

      Richard Smith Aged 23 years or thearabouts sworne and examined
    in open Court sayeth tht hee was going to Mr Bakers about his occa
    sions and William Wennam desiered to speake with him and Con- 376
    fessed unto him tht hee had Layne with Anne Mardin once and hee
    knew not what to doe to procure a pare of shoes and stockings to bee
    married in and further sayed hee knew not what to doe by reson hee
    was afrayd Mr Fitch herbert woold excommunicate him and tht none
    of his frinds woold abid him and tht hee shoold bee Confined to one
    place, and told this deponant tht at night hee wold go ouer to Com