Test Act

Act 25 Car. II. c. 2, by which it was enacted that all persons holding any office, civil or military (excepting some very inferior ones), or receiving pay from the crown, or holding a place of trust under it, should take the oath of allegiance and supremacy, and subscribe a declaration against transubstantiation, and receive the sacrament according to the usage of the Church of England, under a penalty of £500 and disability to the office. 4 Bl. Comm. 59. From this act the word "test" originally acquired its signification in connection with the word "oath." 116 III. 606. An odious act now abolished, 9 Geo. IV, c. 17, so far as taking sacrament is concerned, and a new form of declaration substituted. Enc. Brit.

The act of 25 Car. II. c. 2, by which it was enacted that all persons holding any office, civil or military (excepting some very inferior ones), or receiving pay from the crown, or holding a place of trust unaer it, should take the oath of allegiance and supremacy, and subscribe a declaration against transubstantiatlon, and receive the sacrament according to the usage of the Church of England, under a penalty of £500 and disability to the office. 4 Pda. Com. 59. Abolished 9 Geo. IV. c, 17, so far as taking the sacrament is concerned, and a new form of declaration substituted. Mozl. & W.

The sta]ute 25 Car. II. c. 2, which directed all civil and military officers to take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, and make the declaration against transubstan-tiation, within six months after their admission, and also within the same time receive the sacrament according to the usage of the Church of England, under penalty of £500 and disability to hold the office. 4 Bl. Comm. 58, 59. This was abolished by St. 9 Geo. IV. c. 17, so far as concerns receiving the sacrament, and a new form of declaration was substituted.

Defined under Test in Black's Law Dictionary.

An act of parliament which prescribed that all officers, civil and military, should take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, with the oath of office, and make declaration against transubstantiation, in any of the king's courts at Westminster, or at the quarter sessions, within six calendar months after their appointment, and also within the same time should receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper, according to the usage of the church of England, in some public church immediately after divine service and sermon, and deliver into the court a certificate thereof, signed by the minister and church-warden. It was repealed in 1828, by Stat. 9 Geo. IV. ch. 17, so far as relates to receiving the sacrament according to the rites of the church of England.