ABJURATION (Lat. abfuratio,' from ab jurare, to forswear). A renunciation of al legiance, tlpon oath.
In Am. Law. Every alien, upon application to become- a citizen of the United States, must declare on oath or affirmation before the court where the application is made, amongst other things, that he doth absolute ly and entirely renounce and abjure all al legiance and fidelity which he owes to any foreign prince, state, etc., and particularly, by name, the prince, state, etc., whereof he was before a citizen or subject. Rhwle, Const. 93; Rev. Stat. U. S. § 2165.
In E ng. Law. The oath by which any per son holding office in England was formerly obliged to bind himself not to acknowledge any right in the Pretender to the throne of England; 1 Bla. Com. 368; 13 and 14 W. III, c. 6, repealed by 30 and 31 Vic. c. 59.
It also denotes an oath abjuring certain doctrines of the church of Rome.
In the ancient EAglish law, it was a renunciation of one's country and taking an oath of perpetual banishment. A man who had committed a felony,
and for safety fled to a sanctuary, might within forty days confess and take the oath of abjuration and perpetual banishment ; he was then transport ed. This was abolished in 1624; Ayliffe, Pareg. 14; Burr. L. Die., Abjuration of the Realm; 4 .Bla. Com. 332.
But the doctrine of abjuration has been referred to, at least, in much later times ; 4 Sharew. Bla. Com. 56, 124, 332 ; 11 East 301; 2 Kent 156, n. ; Termes de la Ley.
In medieval times, every consecrated church was a sanctuary. If a malefactor took refuge therein, he could not be extracted ; he had a choice between abjuring the realm and submitting to trial. If he chose the former he left England, bound by hi oath never to return. His lands were escheated, his chattels were forfeited, and if he came back he was an outlaw ; 2 Poll. & Haiti. 588 ; Revilte, L'Ab juratio regni, Revue historigue. 7 Val. 60, p. 1. See SANCTUARY.