Protestation
Black's Law Dictionary · Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
Black's Law Dictionary
In pleading. The indirect affirmation or denial of the truth of some matter which cannot with propriety or safety be positively affirmed, denied or entirely passed over.
See 3 Bl. Comm. 311.
The exclusion of a conclusion.
Co. Litt 124.
In practice
An asseveration made by taking God to witness. A protestation is a form of asseveration which approaches very nearly to an oath.
Wolff. Inst Nat. § 375.