The
Case
.
EVer
since
we
were
a
People
it
hath
been
our
Principle
not
to
Swear
,
make
or
take
an
Oath
in
any
Case
,
which
HE
who
is
the
Searcher
of
all
Hearts
knows
is
no
other
then
purely
a
Matter
of
Conscience
to
Us
,
and
of
sincere
Obedience
to
the
Mind
of
our
Blessed
Lord
and
Saviour
Jesus
Christ
,
as
we
really
believe
and
are
fully
perswaded
;
and
many
Eminent
Martyrs
,
and
Men
of
holy
Conversation
,
Wisdom
and
Renown
,
were
of
the
like
Judgement
against
Oaths
and
Swearing
,
in
the
Gospel
Day
,
and
not
from
any
Obstinacy
,
Disaffection
,
or
Worldly
Interest
on
our
Parts
,
we
being
really
willing
and
desirous
to
Answer
the
Just
and
good
Ends
of
Law
and
Government
,
as
a
peaceable
People
fearing
God
.
And
for
this
Cause
of
not
Swearing
we
have
been
,
and
still
are
exposed
to
great
Sufferings
,
and
extream
Hardships
in
our
Persons
and
Estates
,
by
tedious
Imprisonments
,
Sequestrations
and
Seizures
,
which
many
of
us
have
suffered
,
and
diverse
still
undergo
,
tending
to
our
great
Ruine
;
being
not
admitted
by
Law
,
to
answer
in
the
Courts
of
Chancery
and
Exchequer
without
Oath
,
nor
to
recover
our
due
Debts
,
or
defend
our
just
Titles
,
Liberties
and
Properties
from
vexatious
Suites
.
The
Reasons
.
1.
Our
Solemn
Declaration
or
Answer
without
Swearing
may
be
made
of
the
same
Validity
as
a
corporal
Oath
,
and
the
falsifying
thereof
Wittingly
and
Wilfully
,
as
punishable
as
Perjury
it self
,
and
the
one
is
as
much
in
terrorem
as
the
other
,
to
prevent
Fraud
or
Falshood
:
We
being
also
under
this
Caution
,
that
the
righteous
God
is
the
Avenger
thereof
,
and
will
Execute
as
severe
Punishment
upon
the
Lyers
as
false
Swearers
,
for
it
is
Written
in
holy
Scripture
,
All
Lyers
shall
have
their
part
in
the
Lake
which
Burns
with
Fire
and
Brimstone
,
Rev.
21.8
,
27.
2.
Tho'
the
Open
penalty
of
Perjury
be
Reproachful
and
shameful
,
(
and
sometimes
attended
with
a
small
Fine
)
yet
our
Suffering
for
not
Swearing
is
more
heavy
,
durable
,
and
destructive
,
by
our
loss
of
Liberty
,
and
Sequestration
of
our
Estates
;
which
therefore
is
an
Evidence
,
that
it
is
really
Matter
of
Conscience
to
us
,
and
not
our
Voluntary
Choice
to
suffer
such
Extremity
,
because
we
cannot
Swear
.
3.
The
PARLIAMENT
Granting
an
Act
for
our
Relief
in
this
Case
,
will
be
a
Means
to
Facilitate
the
Work
of
the
Judges
in
the
said
Courts
,
for
thereby
the
Merit
of
the
Cause
may
be
judicially
searched
out
,
when
as
otherways
we
suffer
meerly
for
not
Swearing
,
be
our
Cause
right
or
wrong
.
4.
It
will
be
a
Means
for
all
Persons
concerned
,
to
come
easier
to
their
Rights
,
without
the
ruine
and
destruction
of
the
Party
Sued
who
cannot
Swear
.
5.
It
will
prevent
ill
Disposed
and
Malicious
persons
from
Vexatious
,
unjust
and
chargeable
Suites
tending
to
our
ruine
;
And
from
taking
Advantage
against
us
because
of
our
Consciencious
Perswasion
,
in
Cases
wherein
they
have
no
right
of
Claim
upon
us
.
6.
It
will
disappoint
Fraudulent
persons
,
who
being
prosecuted
for
Debts
at
Common
Law
,
fly
into
Chancery
,
where
altho
their
Creditors
can
Swear
,
yet
joyning
a
Quaker
in
the
Bill
,
tho
a
stranger
and
unconcerned
in
the
case
,
knowing
he
cannot
swear
they
get
Injunctions
on
purpose
to
defeat
their
Creditors
of
their
just
Debts
.
We
also
propose
to
your
serious
Consideration
,
That
this
Moderation
to
persons
scrupling
to
Swear
,
hath
had
good
Effect
in
our
Neighbouring
Countries
,
as
above
one
Hundred
Years
Experience
hath
manifested
.
On
the
26th
.
day
of
January
1577.
Guilliaume
de
Nassaw
Prince
of
Orange
and
Statholder
of
Holland
,
Zealand
,
&c.
G.
Brant's
History
of
the
Reformation
in
the
Low
Countries
part
1.
p.
587.
588.
with
the
consent
of
the
Government
and
Council
,
sent
his
Mandate
to
the
Magistrates
,
commanding
(
on
behalf
of
the
People
call'd
Menists
,
who
refused
to
Swear
in
any
Case
)
That
their
Yea
should
be
accepted
and
taken
instead
of
an
Oath
,
they
being
subject
,
in
case
of
falsifying
the
Truth
,
to
the
Pains
of
Perjury
.
In
the
Year
1593.
Prince
Maurice
Son
of
the
former
Prince
,
with
the
consent
of
the
States
,
gave
forth
a
Placate
or
Mandate
in
behalf
of
the
said
Menist
,
to
the
same
effect
:
Which
is
observed
by
all
Magistrates
throughout
their
whole
Government
,
as
appears
by
the
Act
of
State
made
in
the
year
1690.
In
which
,
next
unto
the
words
Solemn
Oath
,
are
these
Words
Printed
[
As
concerning
the
Menists
they
shall
Declare
with
true
Words
instead
of
an
Oath
,
which
shall
be
holden
of
the
same
Effect
and
value
as
a
Corporal
Oath
.
So
that
no
difficulty
in
Determining
Controversies
,
nor
Obstruction
of
Justice
appearing
by
their
not
Swearing
;
the
same
Priviledge
is
still
continued
to
the
aforesaid
People
.
And
if
you
please
,
upon
the
Consideration
of
the
Premises
,
to
grant
the
said
Petition
,
and
Relieve
us
accordingly
,
we
hope
you
may
live
to
see
the
good
Effects
it
will
have
in
this
Kingdom
,
and
that
it
will
tend
to
the
Service
of
the
Government
,
the
increase
of
Trade
,
furtherance
of
Justice
,
and
Tranquility
of
the
Subject
.
We
humbly
Intreat
you
tenderly
to
consider
this
our
Consciencious
Case
for
our
Relief
,
as
if
it
was
your
own
,
and
thereby
to
Demonstrate
your
Christian
Charity
and
Compassion
,
that
in
being
Merciful
you
may
obtain
Mercy
.