Early Quakers strove to be truthful in all situations and refused to swear oaths as this implied a double standard of truth. Oaths were used in many legal and commercial contexts and this excluded Quakers from most areas of public life. In 1714, the Privy Council ruled that solemn affirmation, rather than swearing an oath, was acceptable. Robert Barclay is seen presenting this act to Aberdeen town council.
ref: A9