Charles County Court Proceedings, 1658-1662.     31

     borne of Lucie Stratton was his, and further Sayeth that walking Liber A
     with the Sayd Turner in the woods against Poaps neke and the
     great march which belongs unto the Sayd land of Popes neke this
     deponant hard the Sayd Turner Say that if the child afor Sayd liued
     to come to womans Estate hee that married her shoold haue that
     Peece of land with her videz Popes neke and further Sayeth not.

       Mr John Hatch aged 45 years or thearabouts Sworne and ex
     amined in open Court Sayeth, that Mr Arthur Turner confessed unto
     this Deponant that hee thaught in his conscience that the Child borne
     of Lucie Stratton was his and further Sayeth not.

       Christopher Russel aged fortie flue year or thear abouts Sworne
     Sworne and examined in open Court at the request of Lucie Stratton
     Swareth that Mr Arthur Turner coming unto this deponants hous
     one eauening this deponant desiered the Sayd Turner to Stay which
     hee did and after bed time beeing in bed the Sayd Turner asked of
     this deponant his aduice whearupone this deponant Sayd hee woold
     giuc him the best he Coold, upon which Answer the Sayd turner
     Sayd hee had a Child layd to his Charge, and this deponant answered
     Sir in concience you know whether it bee yours or floe, but I woold [p. 36]
     fayne know replyed the Sayd Turner whether you can instruct me
     concerning the law, whearupon this deponant Sayed that this Act
     was Acted befor any law was Prouided for Such Cases and thear
     for according to usual custome the woomans oath woold stand good
     against him, and further this deponant Sayeth that hee heard the
     Sayd Turner Say that hee coold loue her as wel as euer hee did his
     owne wife, and that it was by her faythful promise to bee his wife
     that made him Act what hee did and further requested this deponant
     to bare him Companie the morning following to go to See whether
     hee coold win her to bee his wife, who went to Piceawakson with him,
     and their desiering to breake a questione, and not hauing opertunitie
     for Joane Morries Requested her Absence, Shee beeing gone this
     deponant told Lucie Stratton that Mr Turner was Come to make her
     Satisfactione (Saying you haue layed your Child to him which She
     did not disowne) and thearfor hee the Sayd Turner was come to
     tender boath Person and Estat unto her if She woold take him to
     bee her husband, and the Sayd Stratton Replyed Shee had Suffered
     enough by him, and that Shee woold not marrie him if shee suffered
     for it, Saying tht hee was a lustful man a very lustful man, and that
     she coold neuer bee at quiet for him, why Lucie replyed the sayd
     Turner it was by thy faythful promise to me to bee my wife that I
     acted it, which Shee denied, whearupone the Sayd turner demanded
     of her, who was most lustful Shee or hee Seeing thow Camest to the
     bed when I was in bed and put thy hand under the cloaths and tooke
     mee by the priuat parts whearupon this deponant left them together
     and told the Sayd Turner that hee Shoold find him at Mr Rob:
     Hundlies and further Sayeth not.