The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1823-07-02
THE NEW MARRIAGE ACT f:
OR-,.NJ1PTT.4LS IN JEOPARDY

From Blackeood's .Mdgdsine.
Rob. Ant please your Reverence,
queerish couple want license of ye.
.Mr. B. Bring them in, Robin, times ATE
alter'd now;
We can't despatch them as we us'd to do;
The knots not tied SO quickly; now no raw
Is sufer'd in the string But come, we'll see
'em,
And then examine if they have their papers
All cut and dried, as Parliament requires.
robin introduces Mr.. Peter and Niss Judith. }
Mr.. B. Your servant, Ma'am and Sir
take chairs-pray sit,
Robin hath told me what your business is;
But of the difficult preliminaries
Are ye as yet advised?
Peter. Why, Reverend Sir,
The sole preliminary know of is,
That this young lady, (hssitrtss) this fair
(Judith draus dOirn her reil.)
Lady, Sir,
Hath felt compunction for this beating heart
Happiest Of men, by unreserv'd CONSENT
So she, forsaking kith and kin, and name
Her virgin title Miss, her surname Pratt,
Mr. b. Your raptures, Sir, and pardon me
for saying
They are somewhat warm-a-hem, a-hem -
considering
My solemn function--they mislead you, Sir,
From sober business. What | meant was,
haveyon
The proper documents for certifying
Your age, and that Of your intended lady;
And that you know of no material reason,
Let, gainsay, bar, charge or impeachment,
Why you should not be join'd9
judith. (rather tarilyl A pretty business
What signifies the age! We are one and
twenty;
And never in our lifetime have been married.
Sure Mr.. Broadband, you won't trouble US
With any impairment questions?
Mr.. b. Madam, no
Far be impertinence from me (; | scorn
To have the imputatiou cast upon me;
But, Ma'am, the law imperatiVely SAYS,
(See Tertio Georgii Quart. chap. rs,
Sections the eighth aud ninth especially
That either party INTERCHANGEABLE
Shall swear, that he himself, or she herself.
Is offull age, and doth in fact believe
That she or he, the other contra citing party,
CAS- case may be, intended wife or husband)
Is also not a minor. Are you prepaid
To doit.
judith. Yes, Pm better than twenty one
Sos Mr.. Minikin. Pm pretty sure.
Peter. Ay, my sweet Judith speaks un-
questioned truth
I'm not minor--nor was her choice n,
TIL she had by the law, verify think,
The power of choosing.
.Hr. B. So far then 50 good
But Other requisites the law demands.
Haze you certificates of Baptism with YOU?
Judith. No, Sir. Is this life assurance
Office.
Dye think We are going to buy annuties.
Or TO ask the parish for relief? We come
To get marriage license-if we can't
Be here supplied, wen 90, Sir, where we can
MIR. b. Madam, you are unnecessarily
warm,
These postulates are not ofmy deyising-
Go where you will, you cannot now escape
'em.
judith. Well, then, let's have them.
Mr.. B. Where's your place of birth9
Judith. Here both Of us were born, baptiz'd
and bred,
Before you came as vicar.
.dr. b. Robin, 90
And bring from the iron chest the register
Of baptisns; (EEtt Robin.)
Meanwhile, Madam, if you please
To peruse this pair Of clauses, you may see
That am acting only by instructions.
! Judith. No, Sir! | don't know any thing
about it.
Peter may look if he likes.
Peter. Why, honey sweet,
Good Mr.. Broadband understands it best.
! can't say I'm Of capacity
To undercomsiumble Acts of Parliament;
They're mighty hard TO construe.
(Enter Robin wtih parchment cOpred books
Mr.. u. Well, Robins come
Now, Ma'am and Sir, your birth certificates
Will cost each, eighteen pence--so hath il been
A custom immemorial in the parish;