Oaths,
Solemn appeals to God for the truth of an affirmation.
There are two classes of oaths; (1) assertatory, when made as to a fact, etc.; (2) promissory, oaths of allegiance, of office, etc. Taken by Abraham, 1892 B. C. (
Gen. XXI. 24), and authorized 1491 B. C. (Exod.
XXII. 11). The administration of an oath in judicial proceedings was introduced by the Saxons into
England, 600.
| Of supremacy, first administered to British subjects, and ratified by Parliament, 26 Henry VIII | 1535 |
| Oaths were taken on the Gospels so early as 528; and the words, “So help me God and all saints,” concluded an oath until | 1550 |
| Ancient oath of allegiance in England, “to be true and faithful to the King and his heirs, and truth and faith to bear of life and limb and terrene honor; and not to know or hear of any ill or damage intended him without defending him therefrom,” to which James I. added a declaration against the pope's authority | 1603 |
| It was again altered | 1689 |
| Affirmation of a Quaker authorized instead of an oath, by statute, in 1696 Et seq. |
| Of abjuration, being an obligation to maintain the government of King, lords, and Commons, the Church of England, and toleration of Protestant Dissenters, and abjuring all Roman Catholic pretenders to the crown, 13 William III | 1701 |
| Affirmation, instead of oath, was permitted to Quakers and other Dissenters by acts passed in 1833, 1837, 1838, and 1863. |
| In 1858 and 1860 Jews elected members of Parliament were relieved from part of the oath of allegiance. |
| New oath of allegiance by 31 and 32 Victoria c. 72 (1868), for members of the new Parliament: “I do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to her Majesty Queen Victoria, her heirs and successors, according to law, so help me God.”
（Bradlaugh case, Parliament, 1880.) |
| Following is the form of the oath of allegiance Washington was directed by Congress to administer to the officers of the army before leaving Valley Forge: “I [name and office], in the armies of the United States of America, do acknowledge the United States of America to be free, independent, and sovereign States, and declare that the people thereof owe no allegiance or obedience to George III., King of Great Britain; and I renounce, refuse, and abjure any allegiance or obedience to him; and I do—that I will to the utmost of my power support, maintain, and defend the said
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United States against the said King George III., his heirs and successors, and his or their abettors, assistants, and adherents, and will serve the said United States in the office of—— which I now hold, with fidelity according to the best of my skill and understanding” | June, 1778 |
[By act of Congress, Aug. 3, 1861, the oath of allegiance for the cadets at
West Point was amended so as to abjure all allegiance, sovereignty, or fealty to any State, county, or country whatsoever, and to require unqualified support of the
Constitution and the national government.] “Iron-clad” or “test” oath, prescribed by Congress July 2, 1862, to be taken by persons in the former
Confederate States appointed to office under the national government.
The text was as follows: “I, A. B., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I have never voluntarily borne arms against the
United States since I have been a citizen thereof; that I have voluntarily given no aid, countenance, counsel, or encouragement to persons engaged in armed hostility thereto; that I have neither sought, nor accepted, nor attempted to exercise the functions of any office whatever, under any authority or pretended authority in hostility to the
United States; that I have not yielded a voluntary support to any pretended government, authority, power, or constitution within the
United States, hostile or inimical thereto.
And I do further swear (or affirm) that, to the best of my knowledge and ability, I will support and defend the
Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic ; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter, so help me God.”
For another form of special oath, see
Aguinaldo, Emilio. 
