Quakers Act 1695
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
(7 & 8 Will. 3) C A P. XXXIV.
'WH E R E A S divers Dissenters, commonly calledQuakers , refusing to take an Oath in Courts of Justice and other Places, are frequently imprisoned, and their Estates sequestred, by Processof Contempt issuing out of such Courts, to the Ruin of themselves and Families:' For Remedy thereof be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritualand Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authorityof the same, That from and after the fourth Day ofMay , which shall be in the Year of our Lord one thousand six hundred ninety-six, every Quaker within this Kingdom of England , Dominion of Wales , or Town of Berwick upon Tweed , who shall be required upon any lawful Occasion to take an Oath, in any Case where by Law an Oath is required, shall, instead of the usual Form, be permitted to make his or her Solemn Affirmationor Declaration in these Words following,viz .
'IA. B. do declare, in the Presence of Almighty God, the Witness of the Truth of what I say.'
II which is to be of the same Force in Law as an Oath.
II. Which said solemn Affirmation or Declaration shall be adjudged and taken, and is hereby enacted and declared to be, of the same Force and Effect to all Intents and Purposes, in all Courts of Justice and other Places where by Law an Oath is required within this Kingdom ofEngland , Dominion of Wales , or Town of Berwick upon Tweed , as if such Quaker had taken an Oath in the usual Form.
III Penalty on false Affirmation.
III. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any Quaker, making such solemn Affirmation or Declaration, shall be lawfully convicted, wilfully, falsly, and corruptly to have affirmed or declared any Matter or Thing, which, if the same had been in the usual Form, would have amounted to wilful and corrupt Perjury; every such Quaker so offending shall incur the same Penalties and Forfeitures, as by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm are enacted against Persons convicted of wilful and corrupt Perjury.
IV ...
To continue reading
Request your trial