1002 PAPERS RELATING TO

the Councill for Mary Ashwell viz^ Serjcnt Newdigall of Serjents Inn in fleete Street London, and Charles Dollinson of Lincholns Inn, made defense by suffitient witnesse (viz^) Richard Gussy of Coddington Wilham Bell & Edward Goodyear of the same place, and by the Certificate of their marriage ; subscribed by the people called quakers & others ; proved theire SoUemne Marriadge, & theire sober Conuersation together w^Mn w<^*» time of wedlocke Mary Ashwell was Borne, & so the true heire to her fifather's Lands ; John Archer the Judge of Assize after heariuge ye Evidence pties and what either ptie could alreadge. Directed his Discoure to the Jury telling them that as for the Quakers wee know not theire opinions -- but did beleeue they did not goe together like Bruit Beasts as had beene said, but as Christians ; therefore did Beleeue that the Marriadge Betweene William Ashwell & Anne Ridge was lawfull, & Mary theire daughter Heire to the lands in question ; & Brought a case to satisfie y« Jury it was to the purpose, A man y' was weake of Body and kept his Bed in that Condition -- his desire was to take a wooman p^sent to be his wife ; accordingly he then declared y* he tooke that wooman to be his wife k shee declared y' shee tooke that man to be her Husband & all Bishopps at that time did conclude it to be a lawfull marriage as the Judge then said ; and ffurtlier told ye Jury tliat there was a Marriage in Parradise ; Addam tooke Eue, and Eue tooke Addara, & none other p^sent, and it was, said he, ye Consent of y^ pties y*^ made a marriadge. So ye Jury found it for y« Defendant and Mary Ashwell has Euer since Continued in peaceable possession of her ffathers said lands & Inherritance.