Test Acts

Test Acts, acts meant to secure that none but rightly affected persons and members of the established religion shall hold office, include all such acts as enforce oaths of Abjuration, Allegiance, Supremacy, or, amongst the clergy, Uniformity; as well as the Corporation Act of 1661, requiring members of corporations to receive the sacrament after the manner of the Church of England. But the term is specially used of two English statutes imposing certain oaths on the holders of public offices, and directed against Catholics. The act of 1673 directs that all magistrates shall take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, as well as an oath renouncing the doctrine that it is lawful to take arms against the king, and provides that they must receive the communion according to the rites of the Church of England within a year before their election. A Scottish act was passed in 1681. Another act of 1685 imposed the like conditions on the holders of all public offices, civil and military, and obliged them in addition to abjure all belief in the doctrine of transubstantiation. These acts, which were practically evaded to a large extent by means of an act of indemnity passed every year, and were at various times partially repealed, were not finally repealed till 1829. In Scottish church history of the 17th century 'taking the test' meant taking the oaths, abjuring the Covenant, and recognising the reigning king, oaths enforced on all and sundry, especially on Covenanters, during the 'killing times.' The universities had their own special tests, now abolished save in the case of offices with clerical functions. See OATH.