Provincial Court Proceedings, 1681/1682.  143

    the Custody of the said William Price the Said Joseph Spernon            Liber W. C.
    haveing Notice of such Runawayes being there afterwards. to wit
    the One or two and twentyeth day of June aforesaid being Con
    stable of Bohemia hundred aforesaid did (wth others whome for
    that purpose he comanded to assist him) goe to the house of the
    Said William Price and theire Seized & apprehended the said Chris
    topher Butler and Symon Staynes & in his custody them kept &
    Secured and from the house of the said William Price them did
    lead and Carry away But the said Joseph Spernon the said Act
    not at all Regarding the said Servants Soe in his Custody being
    did wilfully neglect to Carry the said servants before the next
    Majestrate or Justice as by the said Act is directed there to be
    disposed of according to Lawe, but did Carry them to his owne
    house in the hundred & County aforesaid & there did wittingly and
    willingly (Knowing them to be Runawayes as aforesaid) Enter-
    tame them in his said house & sett them on worke to weede out his
    Corne feild, & haveing Kept them for the space of foure days &
    nights did voluntarily Permitt & Suffer them to Escape and Run-          p. 516
    away out of this Province Contrary to the said Act of Assembly
    By meanes whereof the said John hath not onely lost his Cropp
    for the said yeare 1680 but also all future Services of the said Serv
    ants To the Damage of the said John Twelve thousand pounds of
    Tobacco and thereupon he bringeth his suite
      And the said Joseph Spernon by Robert Ridgely his Attorney
    cometh and defendeth the force and Injury when &c and Prayeth
    Liberty to Imparle hereunto untill next Provinciall Court and it
    is granted unto him the same day is given to both Partyes.
      Att wch said next Provinciall Court came the said partyes by
    their Attorneys aforesaid, and the said Joseph Spernon by his said
    Attorneys sayth: that he is in noe wise Guilty of the Premisses
    above Imposed upon him in manner and forme as the said John in
    his Declaracon against him hath Complayned & of this he Putts
    himselfe upon the Country and the Plantiffe likewise Itt is there
    fore comanded the sheriffe of St Maryes County that he Cause to
    come here Twelve &ca by whome &ca and who neither &ca to Recog
    nize &c. because as well &c.
      Now here at this day to wit the seaventh day of November in
    sixth yeare of the Dominion of the Right Honoble Charles Lord
    Baltemore &ca Annoq Doni 1680 Came the said partyes by their
    Attorneys aforesaid and the Jurors Impannelled being called like
    wise Came to wit, Raymond Stapleford William Thomas. Joseph
    Edloe Jacob Looton, William Smithson; Robert Graham William
    Cole Andrew Abington. Richard Cloud. Timothy Tracy Darby
    Dunavan & John Bailey. Who being Elected tryed and Sworne to
    Say the truth in the Premisses Upon their oathes doe say That the
    said Joseph Spernon is guilty of the Premisses above imposed upon
    him in manner and form as the said John in his Declaration afore