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Lunae 10 die Aprilis Anno Regni Ca∣roli II. Regis 28. 1676.
Ordo Curiae.
WHereas divers persons that go under the Name of Quakers, being sued and served to answer Bills in this Court, or served with Process to testifie their knowledge in Causes here depending, have used many devises to
prevent the taking of their Oaths to their Answers, and procured themselves to be personated by others, and yet their Answers have been certified as if they were really sworn, whereby the Suitors have been hindred from disco∣very of the matter charged on them, and the truth is suppressed. And in case of false swearing, the Persons can∣not be proceeded against according to Law. For the preventing therefore of all abuses of that nature for the future, the Right Honourable the Lord High Chancellor of England doth Order, That such Suitors to this Court, who demand the Answer, Examination, or Deposition of any person that goes un∣der the name of, or is reputed a Qua∣ker, he or his Clerk in this Court, shall duly inform and leave a Note in wri∣ting with the Clerk of the other side thereof. And the Clerk for such De∣fendant, Respondent, or the Party on whose behalf such Witnesses is to be examined,* 1.1 shall take care that two days notice in writing as aforesaid, be given to the Plaintiffs Clerk of the place of abode, the time when, and before what Master such person shall be sworn, either to his Answer or Plea, or to any Interrogatories, in order to take his De∣position or Examination in this Court,
to the end that some person may if they think fit, be present and receive satis∣faction, that the party is duly and re∣gularly sworn, and is the same person intended for the Defendants Respondent or Witness; and that every Defen∣dant shall subscribe his Name or Mark to his respective Plea or Answer, which the said Master is to certifie, and also in whose presence such Answer or Plea was sworn; and in case any Defen∣dant or Respondent shall put in any Answer, Plea or Examination, or Wit∣nesses be examined, without such no∣tice being left as aforesaid, such De∣fendants or Respondents may be pro∣ceeded against, as if no Answer were put in or Examinations taken, and the Depositions of such Witness or Wit∣nesses are to stand suppressed. And the Masters of this Court are to be very circumspect, careful and wary in the Administring of Oaths to all per∣sons whatsoever, that the same be ad∣ministred reverently, and according to Law.
Finch, C.
Two days no∣tice in writing of the persons abode and time, and before whom the De∣fendant is to be sworn.