A record in rithme being an essay towards the reformation of the law offer'd to the consideration of the committee appointed for that purpose / vvritten by some men of law, at a time when they had little else to doe. Brome, Alexander, 1620-1666. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A58298 of text R2021 in the English Short Title Catalog (Wing R630). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 14 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A58298 Wing R630 ESTC R2021 12576693 ocm 12576693 63603 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A58298) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 63603) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 331:3) A record in rithme being an essay towards the reformation of the law offer'd to the consideration of the committee appointed for that purpose / vvritten by some men of law, at a time when they had little else to doe. Brome, Alexander, 1620-1666. Butler, Samuel, 1612-1680. 8 p. s.n., [London : 1670?] A burlesque of legal forms, in verse. Caption title. Written by Alexander Brome. Cf. Halkett & Laing (2nd ed.); BM. Place and date of publication from Wing. Included in the 3rd ed. of Brome's "Songs and other poems"; the preface to a 1727 edition, however, with title "The record of a famous action upon the case", notes "that it was then generally thought to have been traslated [i.e. written?] by the author of Hudibras". Reproduction of original in Bodleian Library. eng A58298 R2021 (Wing R630). civilwar no A record in rithme, being an essay towards the reformation of the law, offer'd to the consideration of the committee appointed for that purp Brome, Alexander 1660 2173 1 0 0 0 0 0 5 B The rate of 5 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the B category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 2002-03 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2002-05 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2002-06 John Latta Sampled and proofread 2002-06 John Latta Text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-07 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A RECORD IN RITHME , BEING An Essay towards the Reformation of the Law , offer'd to the Consideration of the Committee appointed for that purpose . VVritten by some men of Law , at a time when they had little else to doe . BE it remembred now that formerly , To witt last Term o' th' holy Trinitie , Before the Keepers of the liberty Of England , by the full authority Of the long Parliament , at Westminster , Priscilla Merecrave widow came , by her Atturney M. B. and preferrs , I' th Court of upper bench , a bill of hers , Against one Roger Pricklove , who doth lye A prisoner in the Marshalls Custody . Et cetera , and 't is upon a plea Of trespass on the Case , Pledges there be To prosecute the suit , to witt Iohn Doe And Richard Ro● . And the said bill also Doth follow in these very words , to wit In legal manner , London , Scilicet . Declaration . Priscilla Morecrave Widow doth complain of Roger Pricklove , who doth now remain , Prisoner to th' Marshall of the Marshalsie , Of the said Keepers of the Liberty , Of England by authority and power , Of Parliament , i' th' bench superiour , Before the same Keepers themselves that bee , For that ( to wit ) whereas the aforesaid shee Priscilla Morecrave , is a person just , Honest , and faithful , one that never durst Give the least cause for to be thought unchast , But hath lived ever modest , and was grac't , With godly education , and demurely , Behav'd her self ; and all her life most purely , Hath with the Zealous & precize consorted , And free from all uncleanesse was reported , VVho never was amongst the well affected , Stain'd with a Crime , or in the least suspected , But with the pious people of this Nation , Hath had good fame , credit , and reputation ; By which good reputation , she hath gain'd Not only love , and favour , but obtain'd A plentiful estate , by which most freely She manag'd her Affairs ; And that Ralph Seely One of the Assembly late at Westminster , A godly-Gospel-preaching-Minister , VVas earnest suiter in the way of Mariage , To have her for his yoak fellow ; his cariage , And his most Saint like loving humble speeches , Had her consent to all that he beseeches . And she agreed to give him all content , To wed him by the Act of Parliament . Three times the Contract publish't , then their trust is That all shall be compleated by the Justice . But this said Roger all aforesaid knowing , Maliciously intending her undoeing , To blast her reputation , and dishonour Her unstain'd Chastity ; to cast upon Her Infamous obloquy , to disrepute Her , And to deprive her of her foresaid Suiter ; By breaking of the mariage was intended ; To leave her to the world lost , and unfriended , In month September , day of the same Eleven , One Thousand six hundred fiftie seven , Of our Lords year , as by our computation , Our Common-wealth reckons from th' incarnation , At London in the parish of St. Mary Bow , in the ward of Cheap , he then contrary To truth most falsly and maliciously In hearing of right worthy Company , And honorable persons , Noble Lords , Did speak these false , and most reproachful words , To and of her the Plantiff ; that 's to say , You are a pockie Whore , and at this day You have three Bastards living , which do dwell , Two in Pick-hatch , and one in Clarkenwell . By reason of which false malicious speaking Of the said Roger , to her great-heart-breaking , The godly-gospel minister , her Suiter , Forbears his former suit , and for the future , Did make profession he would never take her , To be his Consort , but did quite forsake her ; And all her friends with whom she had repute , Do now esteem her for a Prostitute ; VVhereby she is the worse , and damnifi'd , One thousand and five hundred pounds , beside . And thereupon she doth her suit produce , In the Upper Bench because of this abuse . Imparlance . And now until this day , that is to say , On Munday three weeks after Michaels day In this same Term , which very day untill Roger had leave t' emparle unto that Bill , And then to answer it ; before the same Keepers , as well the said Priscilla came , I' th Court of Upper Bench , at Westminster By that Attourney nam'd before , for her As the aforesaid Roger who doth come By his Attourney , A. B. And doth defend the force and injurie , VVhen , where et cetera . And saith that shee , The said Priscilla , ought not maintain , nor Have therupon her Suit against him , for Protesting , not acknowledging , that shee Is half so honest as shee 'ld seem to bee , Nor is her body , or her life so clear , Nor so unspotted , as shee would appear ; Nor is shee of so chast a reputation , As is pretended by her Declaration . Protesting also that the said Ralph Seely ( Though oft together did both hee and shee lye ) Nere ment to Marry her , but all his power Of love was quench'd in lesse than an half an hour . Besides hee 'd quite undoe her , if he had , His learning was so small his life so bad . For Plea he saith that at the time , wherein Shee does suppose these slandrous words t'have bin Spoke by th' aforesaid Roger , shee the sayd Priscilla was nor Widow , Wife , nor Mayd , And though shee pass'd for an unbroken virgin , Shee catch'd th' aforesaid Presbyter in her gyn ; And with his wall-ey'd Saintship plaid the sinner , Who b'ing inspir'd by a Thanksgiving dinner , Did carnally her body know , to wit The crime of Fornication did commit ; In the same Ward , and Parish , to his Honour , He at on clap got 3 great Boys upon her . All which for privacy were put to feeding , At Bridewell and Pickbatch , to learn good breeding . And she in recompence clap'd him so sore , With Anglice French-POX , it made him rore , And put his Genitalls in such a pickle , That all his Parish women did article , And out him of his Benefices twain , And into Scotland made him trot again . Wherefore ( as lawfull 't was ) on this occasion , He spake the words layd in the Declaration . And this he Iustifies , and judgment crave , If she this suit ought to maintain or have . Replication . And she the said Priscilla doth maintain her Said Action , against all that 's said to stain her , And saith this Court nor will nor can forejudge her For ought that 's pleaded by the foresaid Roger But though by his said Plea ; shee 's forc'd to tarry , Her suit against him , yet she ought to carry ; Protesting therefore she 's not such a liver , Nor of such Fame , as the said Plea doth give her Out for to be , but that she hath not vary'd , One jott in life from what she hath declared . And on the said Ralphs part protesting farther , That of the Kirke he was a Godly Father . And of as pure and chast a conversation , As any Presbyter within the Nation . And free from any lustfull act committing , With her , or any other deed unfitting . For Replication saith , she was not knowing , Of the said Ralph but 3 years last foregoing . During which time , and till the said words spoke were , By the said Roger ( that almost have broke her ) She liv'd a Matrons life , chaft , grave , and thrifty , And came unto the Age of three and fifty ; And the said Ralph all the said time , by reason Of his much preaching in and out of season , And of his fasting long , and longer praying , And from his peoples not their duties paying , In the same Ward and Parish , grew so weakly , That of his life he did despair weekly : Which weaknesse had so very much out worn-him , That in his bed he was not able turn him ; Till that a learned Doctor of the Colledge Who of his sicknesse had full perfect knowledge , For gaining of his health did much exhort him , To wedde an honest Matron to Comfort him . Which the said Ralph well liking , and well knowing The honour to the said Priscilla owing , And thinking that delayes might greatly Worse him , With Zeal , did Court her for a wife to nurse him : And She in pity to his weak Condition , Did condescend to be his shee Physician , And for their joynt desires better carrying , A day by both appointed was for marrying . But on the suddain off the same was broken By the said Roger's words aforesaid spoken : By meanes whereof , he the said Ralph , endure Could not the said Priscilla for a Cure , But of relief his expectations falling , And his long sicknesse more and more prevailing , In Month October , day thereof that first is , In the Lords year that formerly exprest is , At the said Ward , the said Ralph much in trouble , Did dye , to 's losse , possess'd of living double : And left the said Priscilla to bemoan her , For that no other man would after own her ; And that she truly doth reply and don't lye , She prayes may be inquired by the Country . Rejoynder . And the aforesaid Roger saith the Plea By her the said Priscilla formerly Put in and pleaded by her Replication , In the aforesaid manner , form , and fashion , And the whole matter that 's contained there Are not sufficient in the law , for her The said Priscilla , to maintain her foresaid Suit against him , and there need be no more said : Nor by the lawes of England is it fit , That he should make answer unto it , This he to averre is ready . Whereupon For want of better replication In this behalf , he doth a judgment pray , And that she from having her action may Be barr'd , for this against him ; And for The causes why he doth in Law demurre Upon that replication , he the said Roger according to the Stature made , And in such case provided , doth declare And shew to'th Court of Upper Bench that 's here , These causes following , to wit , that this Said Replication insufficient is , Negative , pregnant , and uncertain , nude , Double , wants forme , and does not conclude Rightly , according to the legal way . Ioyning in demurrer : And she the said Priscilla here doth say That the said Plea which by reply has bin Pleaded by her , and what 's contain'd therein , In point of Law , good , and sufficient be , Her suit against him to maintain , And she That Plea and matter , pleaded as above , Is ready here both to maintain and prove , As this Court shall consider , and think sit , And 'cause he does not answer it , nor yet Deny that Replication any way , The said Priscilla ( as before ) doth pray Judgment , and dammages , to be judg'd to her , For all this injury which he did do her . But cause this Court here not advised is Of giving judgment of the premises , A day 's giv'n to both parties to appear I' th Upper Bench , before the Keepers here At Westminster , till Munday after eight Dayes of St. Hillary , for the receipt , And hearing of their Judgment upon it , For that the Court is not advis'd as yet . FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A58298e-30 London , ss.