THE CASE Of the PEOPLE commonly Called QUAKERS, Relating to oaths and SWEARING, Humbly Offered.  
IT is not unknown to this Nation, that ever since we were a People, it hath been our Principle not to Swear, make or take oaths, which He who is the searcher of all Hearts knows, is no other than a Case of pure Conscience, in tender Compliance with the Mind of our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ( as we apprehended) and of many Eminent Martyrs, and Men of Wisdom and Renown who Testified against oaths and Swearing in the Gospel-Day, and not any Obstinacy, Disaffection or Worldly Interest whatsoever on our parts; nor to shun any Office or Service due to King or Country that lies in our power to perform: 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 exposed to great Sufferings and Inconveniences in our Persons and Estates, by tedious Imprisonments, and Disabled from Receiving our due Debts, or defending our Just Titles or Properties; not suffered to give Evidence in Courts of Judidicature at Common or Civil Law, nor to Answer in Chancery or Exchequer, prove Wills or Testaments, or take Administrations, or to proceed in our Trades at Custom-House, or be admitted to our Lands, or Trusted in our Duties and Services in Courts Leet, and Courts Baron, but great Advantage is taken against us, because we so fear an Oath, as that we Dare not Swear; For which cause also our Children and Young Men are not Allowed their Freedoms in Cities or Corporations, when they have Faithfully served out their apprenticeships. Nor are we suffered to serve in Civil Offices, when thereunto duly chosen( but often Grievously Fined, tho we Refuse not the Office but only the Oath.) Nor admitted to give our Voices in Elections of Magistrates, and Parliament Members in divers Places, tho known to have Right thereunto as Free-holders, &c.  
Wherefore Our Request is, That in all Cases where oaths are Imposed, and Swearing Required, Our Word, that is, our YEA and NAY may be accepted instead of an OATH, for which we Humbly Offer, and freely submit, that if any under the same Profession among us break their Word, or be found false in their YEA or NAY, or guilty of Forgery in any Unsworn Testimony, Evidence, or Answers, That then such Penalty be inflicted on the Person so Offending, as Law and Justice Require in Case of False Swearing or Perjury.