from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
TO FORSWEAR, crim. law, torts. To swear to a falsehood.
2. This word has not the same meaning as perjury. It does not, ex vi
termini, signify a false swearing before an officer or court having
authority to administer an path, on an issue. A man may be forsworn by
making a false oath before an incompetent tribunal, as well as before a
lawful court. Hence, to say that a man is forsworn, will or will not be
slander, as the circumstances show that the oath was or was not taken before
a lawful authority. Cro. Car. 378; Lut. 1292; 1 Rolle, Ab. 39, pl. 7 Bac.
Ab. Slander, B 3; Cro. Eliz. 609 13 Johns. R. 80 Id. 48 12 Mass. 496 1
Johns. R. 505 2 Johns. R. 10; 1 Hayw. R, 116.