40 AUTHENTIC HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY. 



And whereas divers persons within this government, cannot, for con- 

 science sake, take an oath, upon any account whatsoever. Be it therefore 

 enacted by the authority aforesaid. That all and every such person and 

 persons, being, at any time hereafter, required, upon any lawful occasion, 

 to give evidence, or take an oath, in any case whatsoever, shall, instead 

 of swearing, be permitted to make his, or their solemn affirmation, attest, 

 or declaration, which shall be adjudged, and is hereby enacted and de- 

 clared to be of the same force and effect, to all intents and purposes 

 whatsoever, as if they had taken an oath; and in case any such person 

 or persons shall be lawfully convicted of having wilfully and corruptly 

 afl&rmed, or declared any matter or thing, upon such solemn affirmation 

 or attest, shall incur the same penalties and forfeitures, as by the laws 

 and statutes of England are provided against persons convicted of wilful 

 and corrupt perjury. 



And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That all persons 

 who shall be hereafter either elected to serve in Council and Assembly, 

 or commissionated or appointed to be Judges, Justices, Masters of the 

 Rolls, Sheriffs, Coroners, and all other offices of State and trust, within 

 this government, who shall conscientiously scruple to take an oath, but 

 when lawfully required, will make and subscribe the declaration and 

 profession of their Christian belief, according to the late act of parlia- 

 ment, made in the first year of king William^ and the late queen Mary^ 

 entitled. An act for exempting their majesties' Protestant subjects, dis- 

 senting from the Church of England^ from the penalty of certain laws, 

 shall be adjudged, and are hereby declared to be qualified to act in their 

 said respective offices and places, and thereupon the several officers 

 herein mentioned, shall, instead of an oath make their solemn affirmation 

 or declaration in manner and form following; that is to say, 



The form of Judges' and Justices' attest shall be in these words, viz. 



Thou shalt solemnly promise, that as Judge, or Justice, according to 

 the Governor's commission to thee directed, thou shalt do equal right to 

 the poor and rich, to the best of thy knowledge and power, according to 

 law, and after the usages and constitutions of this government; thou 

 shalt not be of council of any matter or cause depending before thee, but 

 shalt well and truly do thy office in every respect, according to the best 

 of thy understanding. 



The form of the attests to be taken by the Masters of the Rolls, Secre- 

 taries, Clerks, and such like officers, shall be thus, viz: 



Thou shalt well and faithfully execute the office of, &c., according to 

 the best of thy skill and knowledge ; taking such fees only as thou 

 oughtest to receive by the laws of this government. 



The form of the Sheriffs' and Coroners' attest, shall be in these words, 

 viz: 



