Testimonial

Besides its ordinary meaning of a written recommendation to character, "testimonial" has a special meaning, under St. 39 Eliz. c. 17, § 3, passed in 1507, under which it signified a certificate under the hand of a justice of the peace, testifying the place and time when and where a soldier or mariner landed, and the place of his dwelling or birth, unto which he was to pass, and a convenient time limited for his passage. Every idle and wandering soldior or mariner not having such a testimonial or willfully exceeding for above fourteen days the time limited thereby or forging or counterfeiting such testimonial, was to suffer death as a felon, without benefit of clergy. This act was repealed, in 1812, by St 52 Geo. III. c.

81.

Mozley & Whitley.