jection of the pope's deposing power, by the present English and Irish catholics, in the oaths prescribed to them in the present reign, will be mentioned.

XXV. 2.

The Oath of Allegiance framed by James the first.

THE oath is expressed in the following terms: I, A. B. do truly, and sincerely, acknowledge, "profess, testify, and declare, in my conscience, "before God, and the world, that our sovereign "lord king James is lawful, and rightful, king of "this realm, and all other his majesty's dominions, " and countries; and that the pope, neither of him"self, nor by any authority of the church, or see of "Rome, or by any other means, with any other, "hath any power, or authority, to depose the king,

or to dispose of any of his majesty's kingdoms, or "dominions; or to authorize any foreign prince to "invade, or annoy, him, or his countries; or to

discharge any of his subjects of their allegiance "and obedience to his majesty; or to give licence "or leave to any of them to bear arms, raise tumults,

cree, if it be such, of the 4th council of Lateran, has been contended for by Doctor Hay, Doctor Milner, Mr. Lingard, Mr. Potts, and other catholic writers. Bossuet led the way to all that has been said on this subject, by his discussion, in the 4th book of his Defense de la Declaration du Clergé de France-sur le genre des loix, que l'Eglise impose du consentement des Princes, et avec le secours de leur loix, &c. &c. On this famous article of the 4th council of Lateran, Mr. Plowden's Church and State, book ii. ch. 7, may be usefully consulted.

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or to offer any violence, or hurt, to his majesty's royal person, state or government, or to any of "his majesty's subjects, within his majesty's domi"nions."

“Also I do swear, from my heart, that, notwith'standing any declaration, or sentence of excom"munication, or deprivation, made or granted, or "to be made or granted, by the pope or his successors, or by any authority derived, or pretended to "be derived, from him, or his see, against the said king, his heirs, or successors, or any absolution of "the said subjects from their obedience; I will "bear faith, and true allegiance, to his majesty, his "heirs and successors, and him, and them, will de"fend to the uttermost of my power, against all

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conspiracies, and attempts, whatsoever, which shall "be made against his or their persons, their crown " and dignity, by reason or colour, of any such sentence, or declaration, or otherwise; and will do

my best endeavour to disclose, and make known, "unto his majesty, his heirs, and successors, all "treasons, and traiterous conspiracies, which I "shall know, or hear of, to be against him, or any "of them."

"And I do further swear, that I do from my “heart abhor, detest, and abjure, as impious, and "heretical, this damnable doctrine and position, "That princes, which be excommunicated, or deprived by the pope, may be deposed, or murdered, by their subjects, or any other whatsoever."

"And I do believe, and in my conscience am "resolved, that, neither the pope, nor any other

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person whatsoever, hath power to absolve me of "this oath, or any part thereof, which I acknowledge by good, and full, authority, to be lawfully "ministered unto me; and do renounce all pardons, "and dispensations to the contrary."

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"And all these things I do plainly, and sincerely acknowledge, and swear, according to these express words, by me spoken; and according to the plain, and common, sense and understanding of "the same words; without any equivocation, or "mental evasion, or secret reservation, whatsoever: And I do make this recognition, and acknowledgment, heartily, willingly, and truly, upon the true "faith of a christian.'

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"So help me God."

XXV. 3.

The Briefs of Paul the fifth against the Oath of
Allegiance.

1. The first brief was translated by James the first, in the following terms.

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"Well beloved sonnes, salutation, and apostoli"call benediction. The tribulations, and calamities, which ye have continually sustained for the keeping of the catholike faith, have alwayes af"flicted vs with great griefe of mind. But, for as "much as wee vnderstand, that, at this time, all things are more grievous, our affliction hereby is wonderfully increased. For, wee have heared, how you are compelled, by most grievous punish

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"ments set before you, to go to the churches of heretikes, to frequent their assemblies, to be present "at their sermons. Truely, wee doe vndoubtedly beleeue, that they, which, with so great constancie, "and fortitude, have hitherto indured most cruell persecutions, and almost infinite miseries, that they may walke without spot in the law of the "Lord, will never suffer themselves to bee defiled "with the communion of those, that have forsaken "the divine law. Yet notwithstanding, being com

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pelled by the zeale of our pastorall office, and by "our fatherly care, which we doe continually take "for the salvation of your soules, we are inforced to admonish, and desire you; that, by no meanes, you come vnto the churches of the heretikes, or "hear their sermons, or communicate with them " in their rites, lest you incurre the wrath of God. "For, these things may yee not doe, without in

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damaging the worship of God, and your owne "salvation. As likewise, you cannot, without most "euident and grievous wronging of God's honour, "binde yourselues by the oath, which, in like man

ner, we have heard, with very great griefe of our "heart, is administered vnto you, of the tenor “under written, viz.” (I, A. B. &c.)

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"Which things, since they are thus; it must evidently appeare vnto you, by the words themselves, "that such an oath cannot be taken, without hurt

ing of the catholike faithe, and the salvation of your "soules: seeing it conteines many things, which "are flat contrary to fayth, and salvation. Where"fore, we doe admonish you, that you doe vtterly

"abstaine from taking this, and the like oathes: "which thing, we doe the more earnestly require of you, because we have experience of the constancy "of your faith, which is tried, like gold, in the fire "of perpetuall tribulation. We doe well know, "that you will cheerefully vndergoe all kind of "cruel torments whatsoever; yea, and constantly "endure death itselfe, rather than you will, in any thing, offend the maiestie of God. And this our "confidence is confirmed by those things, which are daily reported vnto vs, of the singular virtue, valour, and fortitude, which, in these last times, "doeth no less shine in your martyrs, then it did "in the first beginning of the church. Stand there

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fore, your loynes being girt about with veritie, "and hauing on the brest plate of righteousnesse, taking the shield of faith, bee yee strong in the "Lord, and in the power of his might; and let

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nothing hinder you. Hee, which will crowne

you; and doeth in heauen behold your conflicts, "will finish the good work, which he hath begun 66 in you. You know, how hee hath promised his "disciples, that hee will never leave them orphanes:

for, hee is faithfull, which hath promised. Hold "fast, therefore, his correction, that is;-being "rooted and grounded in charitie, whatsoever yee "doe, whatsoever yee endeavour, doe it with one "accord, in simplicitie of heart, in meekenesse of

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spirit, without murmuring, or doubting. For, by this, doe all men know, that wee are the disciples "of Christ, if we have loue one to another. Which charitie, as it is very greatly to bee desired of all

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