§ Their lordships having gone into a committee on this bill,
The Marquis of Lansdownesaid, that one of its objects was to take the affirmation of Quakers in all cases, criminal as well as civil. He knew many respectable members of that body, and he assured 1358 their lordships that this was not a measure of their seeking. On the contrary, they felt that it might cause them great inconvenience; yet feeling it to be a measure of justice to the community at large, they were ready to acquiesce in its provisions. He intended to propose that the provisions of the bill should extend to Moravians also.
§ A clause to this effect was then agreed to; as was also a clause for excluding the testimony of persons attainted of perjury.