Oath Cards Used in the Town Hall Court Room

Oath Cards Used in the Town Hall Court Room

Memories of Oxford Town Hall

The court room is located above the police station; you can visit it if you go on a tour of the Town Hall. These oath cards were available for the swearing-in of witnesses at a court hearing. The witness swears to tell the truth; perjury is the crime of undermining this oath. Witnesses can choose an affirmation, which is a non-secular oath.

Do you have any memories of the Town Hall's Court Room? Comment below.

Museum of Oxford

Image: 4 oath cards, titled 'misdemeanour', 'oath', 'felony', and 'appeal' respectively

Card 1 full text: MISDEMEANOUR, Oath of Witness, I swear by Almighty God that the evidence which I shall give to the Court and Jury sworn between our Sovereign Lady the Queen and the Defendant, shall be the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Card 2 full text: OATH, As to Character, I swear by Almighty God that I will true answer make to all such questions that shall be demanded of me touching the matter in question.

Card 3 full text: FELONY, Oath of Witness, I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give to the Court and Jury sworn between our Sovereign Lady the Queen and the Prisoner at the Bar, shall be the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Card 4 full text: APPEAL, Oath, I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give to the court touching the matters in question shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth