| Description | This sub-series consists oaths of allegiance, supremacy, etc, including:
- registers of persons taking the oaths of allegiance, supremacy and abjuration and making declarations against transubstantiation and not to injure the protestant church. From 1687-1716 it includes lists of persons taking the oaths with place of residence, style, and copy signatures. After that date there are original signatures and no other details [1689-1838]
- registers of persons making declarations against transubstantiation. They include signatures only and no other details [1692-1766]
- original oaths: this is an incomplete series. They include names, signatures and sometimes style. Offices are sometimes given on the endorsement and on the declarations not to injure the established church (after 1828). They also include Justices' oaths of allegiance [1820-1877] |
| Administrative history | Under the Test Act of 1672 persons delivering sacrament certificates into court were required to subscribe to oaths of allegiance and supremacy and to make a declaration against transubstantiation. New oaths were appointed from time to time and an oath abjuring allegiance to the Old Pretender was added in 1701. This was altered in 1766 (6 George III cap. 53) after the Pretender's death.
On the repeal of the Test Acts in 1828 (9 George IV cap. 17) an undertaking not to injure the protestant established church was substituted for the sacrament certificate. This was abolished in 1868 (31 & 32 Victoria cap. 72) when a standard oath of allegiance and official and judicial oaths were appointed. Declarations against transubstantiation was repealed by an Act of 1829 (10 George IV cap. 7) but continued in the North Riding until at least 1834, when there is a gap in the series. |