ABIDING BY PLEA - English law. A
defendant who pleads a frivolous plea, or a plea merely
for the purpose of delaying the suit; or who for the
same purpose, shall file a similar demurrer, may be
compelled by rule in term time, or by a Judge's order
in vacation, either to abide by that plea, or by that
demurrer, or to plead peremptorily on the morrow;
or if near the end of the term, and in order to afford
time for notice of trial, the motion may be made in
court for rule to abide or plead instanter; that is,
within twenty-four hours after rule served, provided
that the regular time for pleading be expired. If
the defendant when ruled, do not abide, he can only
plead the general issue but he may add notice of set-off.
