31 Geo. 3, c. 32. my power against all conspiracies and attempts whatever that shall be made against his person, crown, or dignity; and I will do my utmost endeavour to disclose and make known to his majesty, his heirs and successors, all treasons and traitorous conspiracies which may be formed against him or them: And I do faithfully promise to maintain, support, and defend to the utmost of my power the succession of the crown; which succession, by an act intituled 'An Act for the further Limitation of the Crown and better Security of the Rights and Liberties of the Subject,' is and stands limited to the Princess Sophia, Electress and Duchess Dowager of Hanover, and the heirs of her body, being protestants, hereby utterly renouncing and abjuring any obedience or allegiance unto any other person claiming or pretending a right to the crown of these realms. And I do swear, that I do reject and detest, as an unchristian and impious position, that it is lawful to murder or destroy any person or persons whatsoever, for or under pretence of their being heretics or infidels; and also that unchristian and impious principle, that faith is not to be kept with heretics or infidels. And I do further declare that it is not an article of my faith, and that I do renounce, reject, and abjure the opinion, that princes excommunicated by the pope in council, or any authority of the see of Rome, or by any authority whatsoever, may be deposed or murdered by their subjects, or any person whatsoever. And I do promise that will not hold, maintain, or abet any such opinion, or any other opinion contrary to what is expressed in this declaration. And I do declare that I do not believe that the Pope of Rome, or any other foreign prince, prelate, state, or potentate, hath or ought to have any temporal or civil jurisdiction, power, superiority, or pre-eminence, directly or indirectly, within this realm. And I do solemnly, in the presence of God, profess, testify, and declare, that I do make this declaration and every part thereof in the plain and ordinary sense of the words of this oath, without any evasion, equivocation, or mental reservation whatever; and without any dispensation already granted by the pope, or any authority of the see of Rome, or any person whatever; and without thinking that I am or can be acquitted before God or man, or absolved of this declaration, or any part thereof, although the pope or any other person or authority whatsoever shall dispense with or annul the same, or declare that it was null or void. So help me God."

Certificate thereof to be given.

Not required to

Which said declaration and oath shall be subscribed by such person. And the proper officer shall make, subscribe, and deliver a certificate of such declaration and oath having been duly made and taken, if demanded, for which he shall have 2s.; which certificate shall be competent evidence, unless falsified.

Sect. 3. And no Roman Catholic, who shall have taken and subscribed the resort to church. said oath, as aforesaid, shall be convicted upon any of the acts following: viz. 1 Eliz. c. 2; 23 Eliz. c. 1; 29 Eliz. c. 6; 35 Eliz. c. 2; 1 Jac. I. c. 4; 3 Jac. I. c. 4; 3 Jac. I. c. 5; and 7 Jac. I. c. 6; or any other statute or law of this realm, or in any ecclesiastical court, for not resorting to church, or having servants who shall not resort to church, or other place of common prayer.

Not prosecutable for being a papist.

Places of meet

ing to be certified to the sessions;

nd the minis

Sect. 4. And whereas, by stats. 23 Eliz. c. 2, 27 Eliz. c. 2, 35 Eliz. c. 2, 1 Jac. I. c. 4, 3 Jac. I. c. 5, 3 Car. I. c. 2, and 25 Car. II. c. 2, papists are made subject to several punishments, penalties, and disabilities, it is enacted, that no person who shall take and subscribe the said oath in manner aforesaid shall be prosecuted or convicted for being a papist, or reputed papist; or for professing or being educated in the popish religion; or for hearing or saying mass; or for being a priest or deacon; or entering or belonging to any ecclesiastical order or community of the church of Rome; or for being present at, or performing or observing, any rite, ceremony, practice, or observance of the popish religion, or maintaining or assisting others therein.

Sect. 5. Provided always, that no place of congregation or assembly for religious worship shall be allowed, until the place of such meeting shall be certified to the sessions of the county or place in which the same shall be held, and be there recorded; and the clerk of the peace shall give a certificate thereof, if demanded, for which he shall have 6d. And no minister or other person ter's name to be shall officiate in any such place of meeting until his name and description as a priest or minister shall have been recorded at the sessions; for which shall be paid 6d., and a certificate thereof shall be granted, if demanded, for which shall be paid 2s. And no priest or minister who shall officiate in any such meeting not so recorded, as aforesaid, shall be deemed to be within the benefit of this act, for any purpose whatsoever.

recorded there.

Places of assem

bly not to be

Jocked.

Sect. 6. Provided that if any such place of assembly shall have the doors locked, barred, or bolted, during the time of meeting, all persons who shall

come to or be at such meeting shall receive no benefit from this act, notwith- 53 Geo. 3, c. 128. standing his having taken such oath, as aforesaid, but shall be liable to the same pains and penalties as if this act had not been made.

misusing priests.

Sect. 10. And if any person shall wilfully and on purpose maliciously and Disturbing concontemptuously come into any congregation or assembly of religious worship gregations, or permitted by this act, and disturb the same, or misuse any priest, minister, preacher, or teacher therein, he shall, on proof by two witnesses, before one justice, find two sureties of the peace to be bound by recognizance in 50l., and in default thereof shall be committed to prison till the next sessions, and on conviction of such offence at the sessions, shall forfeit 201. to the king.

Sect. 18, 19. No person shall be summoned to take the oath required by Not required to the 1 Wil. & Mary, sess. 1, c. 8, or the declaration required by the 25 Car, take certain oaths. IL c. 2. Nor shall the 1 Wil. & Mary, sess. 1, c. 9, for removing papists from London and Westminster extend to Roman Catholics who shall have taken and subscribed the oath, &c., herein appointed.

Sect. 20. No peer who shall have taken and subscribed the said oath, &c., Peers. in manner aforesaid, shall be liable to be prosecuted under 30 Car. II. st. 2, s. 5.

commissions in the army.

By the 53 Geo. III. c. 128, s. 1, all such of his majesty's popish or Roman 53 Geo. 3, c. 128. Catholic subjects as hold, exercise, and enjoy any civil or military office or Regulations as to offices, or place or places of trust or profit, or other office or situation what the taking of soever, granted to them or any of them in Ireland, under the authority of the 33 Geo. III. of the Parliament of Ireland, and who shall have duly taken the caths and declaration required by the said act, shall not, in respect of any such office, place, or situation, be liable, in England, Wales, Berwick-upon-Tweed, or in his majesty's navy, or in the Islands of Jersey or Guernsey, to any of the pains, &c. enacted by the 25 Car. II. c. 2, and shall also be wholly exempt from any pains, &c. whatsoever in the said several places last mentioned, for not making, taking, and subscribing the oaths of allegiance, supremacy, or abjuration, or not making, taking, and subscribing the declaration required to be taken to enable any person to hold and enjoy any office or place of trust or profit, or for not receiving the sacrament of the Lord's supper according to the rights and ceremonies of the church of England; any thing contained in any act of Parliament to the contrary notwithstanding.

Sect. 2. And if any of his said majesty's popish or Roman Catholic subjects, having duly taken the oaths and declaration required by this act, shall take or Lave taken in Ireland a commission in his majesty's army, and shall afterwards take a higher commission or higher commissions in Great Britain, within the intent and meaning of the said act; or if any person having enlisted as a private in any regiment in Ireland, or being a non-commissioned officer in such regiment, shall afterwards take or have taken a commission in the said or any other regiment in Great Britain, and shall have duly taken the oaths and declaration required by the said act, he shall not, in respect of such commission, be liable, in England, Wales, Berwick-upon-Tweed, or in his majesty's navy, or in the islands of Jersey or Guernsey, to any of the pains, &c. in said 25 Car. II. c. 2, and shall also be wholly freed, &c., as in s. 1.

declarations

against transub.

By the 10 Geo. IV. c. 7, it is enacted, “That from and after the commence- 10 Geo. 4, c. 7. ment of this act, all such parts of the said acts as require the said declarations, Acts relating to or either of them, to be made or subscribed by any of his majesty's subjects, as a qualification for sitting and voting in parliament, or for the exercise or enjoy- stantiation rement of any office, franchise, or civil right, be and the same are (save as here- pealed. inafter provided and excepted) hereby repealed."

Sect. 2. "From and after the commencement of this act it shall be lawful Roman Catholics

in Parliament, on

for any person professing the Roman Catholic religion, being a peer, or who may sit and vote shall after the commencement of this act be returned as a member of the House taking the fol of Commons, to sit and vote in either house of Parliament respectively, being in lowing oath. all other respects duly qualified to sit and vote therein, upon taking and subscribing the following oath, instead of the oaths of allegiance, supremacy, and abjuration:

“I, A. B., do sincerely promise and swear, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to his Majesty King George the Fourth, and will defend him to the utmost

10 Geo. 4, c. 7. of my power against all conspiracies and attempts whatever, which shall be made against his person, crown, or dignity; and I will do my utmost endeavour to disclose and make known to his majesty, his heirs and successors, all treasons and traitorous conspiracies which may be formed against him or them: and I do faithfully promise to maintain, support, and defend, to the utmost of my power, the succession of the crown, which succession, by an act, intituled, 'An Act for the further Limitation of the Crown, and better Securing the Rights and Liberties of the Subject,' is and stands limited to the Princess Sophia, Electress of Hanover, and the heirs of her body, being protestants; hereby utterly renouncing and abjuring any obedience or allegiance unto any other person claiming or pretending a right to the crown of this realm: and I do further declare, that it is not an article of my faith, and that I do renounce, reject, and abjure the opinion, that princes excommunicated or deprived by the pope, or any other authority of the see of Rome, may be deposed or murdered by their subjects, or by any person whatsoever: and I do declare, that I do not believe that the Pope of Rome, or any other foreign prince, prelate, person, state, or potentate, hath or ought to have any temporal or civil jurisdiction, power, superiority, or pre-eminence, directly or indirectly, within this realm. I do swear, that I will defend to the utmost of my power the settlement of property within this realm, as established by the laws: and I do hereby disclaim, disavow, and solemnly abjure any intention to subvert the present church establishment, as settled by law within this realm: and I do solemnly swear that I never will exercise any privilege to which I am or may become entitled, to disturb or weaken the protestant religion or protestant government in the United Kingdom: and I do solemnly, in the presence of God, profess, testify, and declare, that I do make this declaration, and every part thereof, in the plain and ordinary sense of the words of this oath, without any evasion, equivocation, or mental reservation whatSo help me God.'

The name of the

sovereign for the time being to be used in the oath,

No Roman Ca

tholic capable of sitting or voting

until he has taken the oath.

Roman Catholics

tions, and be elected, upon taking the oath.

soever.

Sect. 3. "Wherever, in the oath hereby appointed and set forth, the name of his present majesty is expressed or referred to, the name of the sovereign of this kingdom for the time being, by virtue of the act for the further limitation of the crown and better securing the rights and liberties of the subject, shall be substituted from time to time, with proper words of reference thereto."

Sect. 4. "No peer professing the Roman Catholic religion, and no person professing the Roman Catholic religion, who shall be returned a member of the House of Commons after the commencement of this act, shall be capable of sitting or voting in either house of Parliament respectively, unless he shall first take and subscribe the oath hereinbefore appointed and set forth, before the same persons, at the same times and places, and in the same manner as the oaths and the declaration now required by law are respectively directed to be taken, made, and subscribed; and that any such person professing the Roman Catholic religion, who shall sit or vote in either house of Parliament, without having first taken and subscribed, in the manner aforesaid, the oath in this act appointed and set forth, shall be subject to the same penalties, forfeitures, and disabilities, and the offence of so sitting or voting shall be followed and attended by and with the same consequences, as are by law enacted and provided in the case of persons sitting or voting in either House of Parliament respectively, without the taking, making, and subscribing the oaths and the declaration now required by law."

Sect. 5. "It shall be lawful for persons professing the Roman Catholic may vote at elec- religion to vote at elections of members to serve in Parliament for England and for Ireland, and also to vote at the elections of representative peers of Scotland and of Ireland, and to be elected such representative peers, being in all other respects duly qualified, upon taking and subscribing the oath hereinbefore appointed and set forth, instead of the oaths of allegiance, supremacy, and abju ration, and instead of the declaration now by law required, and instead also of such other oath or oaths as are now by law required to be taken by any of his majesty's subjects professing the Roman Catholic religion, and upon taking also such other oath or oaths as may now be lawfully tendered to any persons offering to vote at such elections."

Oath shall be ad

Sect. 6. "The oath hereinbefore appointed and set forth shall be adminisministered in the tered to his majesty's subjects professing the Roman Catholic religion, for the purpose of enabling them to vote in any of the cases aforesaid, in the same manner, at the same time, and by the same officers or other persons as the

Bame manner as former oaths.

caths for which it is hereby substituted are or may be now by law admi- 10 Geo. 4, c. 7. nistered; and that in all cases in which a certificate of the taking, making, or subscribing of any of the oaths or of the declaration now required by law is directed to be given, a like certificate of the taking or subscribing of the oath hereby appointed and set forth shall be given by the same officer or other person, and in the same manner as the certificate now required by law is directed to be given, and shall be of the like force and effect."

elections to take

Sect. 7. "In all cases where the persons now authorized by law to ad- Persons admiminister the oaths of allegiance, supremacy, and abjuration to persons voting at nistering oaths at elections, are themselves required to take an oath previous to their admi- an oath duly to nistering such oaths, they shall, in addition to the oath now by them taken, administer. take an oath for the duly administering the oath hereby appointed and set forth, and for the duly granting certificates of the same.”

Sect. 8. "Whereas in an act of the Parliament of Scotland made in the So much of any eighth and ninth session of the first Parliament of King William the Third, acts as require the formula contained intituled An Act for the preventing the Growth of Popery,' a certain declara- in 8 & 9 Wil. 3, tion or formula is therein contained, which it is expedient should no longer be c. 3, (S.) to be required to be taken and subscribed:" it is enacted, "That such parts of any repealed. tendered or taken, acts as authorize the said declaration or formula to be tendered, or require the same to be taken, sworn, and subscribed, shall be and the same are hereby repealed, except as to such offices, places, and rights as are hereinafter excepted; and that from and after the commencement of this act it shall be lawful for Roman Catholics persons professing the Roman Catholic religion to elect and be elected mem- may elect and be bers to serve in Parliament for Scotland, and to be enrolled as freeholders in for Scotland. any shire or stewartry of Scotland, and to be chosen commissioners or delegates for choosing burgesses to serve in Parliament for any districts or burghs in Scotland, being in all other respects duly qualified, such persons always taking and subscribing the oath hereinbefore appointed and set forth, instead of the oaths of allegiance and abjuration as now required by law, at such time as the said last-mentioned oaths, or either of them, are now required by law to be taken."

elected members

in the House of

Commons.

Sect. 9. "No person in holy orders in the Church of Rome shall be capable No Roman Caof being elected to serve in Parliament as a member of the House of Commons; tholic priest to sit and if any such person shall be elected to serve in Parliament as aforesaid, such election shall be void; and if any person, being elected to serve in Parliament as a member of the House of Commons, shall, after his election, take or receive holy orders in the Church of Rome, the seat of such person shall immediately become void; and if any such person shall, in any of the cases aforesaid, presume to sit or vote as a member of the House of Commons, he shall be subject to the same penalties, forfeitures, and disabilities as are enacted by an act passed in the forty-first year of the reign of King George the Third, intituled, 'An Act to remove Doubts respecting the Eligibility of Persons in Holy Orders to sit in the House of Commons; and proof of the celebration of any religious service by such person, according to the rites of the Church of Rome, shall be deemed and taken to be prima facie evidence of the fact of such person being in holy orders, within the intent and meaning of this act."

and military

"Sect. 10. "It shall be lawful for any of his majesty's subjects professing Roman Catholics the Roman Catholic religion to hold, exercise, and enjoy all civil and military may hold civit offices and places of trust or profit under his majesty, his heirs or successors, offices under his and to exercise any other franchise or civil right, except as hereinafter ex- majesty, with cer cepted, upon taking and subscribing, at the times and in the manner herein- tain exceptions. after mentioned, the oath hereinbefore appointed and set forth, instead of the oaths of allegiance, supremacy, and abjuration, and instead of such other oath or oaths as are or may be now by law required to be taken for the purpose aforesaid by any of his majesty's subjects professing the Roman Catholic religion."

Roman Catholics

Sect. 11. “Provided that nothing herein contained shall be construed to Not to exempt exempt any person professing the Roman Catholic religion from the necessity from taking any of taking any oath or oaths, or making any declaration, not hereinbefore men- other oaths re

quired.

10 Geo. 4, c. 7. tioned, which are or may be by law required to be taken or subscribed by any person on his admission into any such office or place of trust or profit as aforesaid."

Offices withheld

tholics.

Sect. 12. "Provided that nothing herein contained shall extend or be confrom Roman Ca. strued to extend to enable any person or persons professing the Roman Catholic religion to hold or exercise the office of guardians and justices of the United Kingdom, or of regent of the United Kingdom, under whatever name, style, or title such office may be constituted; nor to enable any person, otherwise than as he is now by law enabled, to hold or enjoy the office of lord high chancellor, lord keeper or lord commissioner of the great seal of Great Britain or Ireland; or the office of lord lieutenant, or lord deputy, or other chief governor or governors of Ireland; or his majesty's high commissioner to the general assembly of the Church of Scotland."

Nothing herein

4, c. 72.

Sect. 13. "Provided that nothing herein contained shall be construed to to repeal 7 Geo. affect or alter any of the provisions of an act passed in the seventh year of his present majesty's reign, intituled An Act to consolidate and amend the Laws which regulate the Levy and Application of Church Rates and Parish Cesses, and the Election of Churchwardens, and the Maintenance of Parish Clerks, in Ireland.""

Roman Catholics

of lay corporations.

Sect. 14. "It shall be lawful for any of his majesty's subjects professing the may be members Roman Catholic religion to be a member of any lay body corporate, and to hold any civil office or place of trust or profit therein, and to do any corporate act, or vote in any corporate election or other proceeding, upon taking and subscribing the oath hereby appointed and set forth, instead of the oaths of allegiance, supremacy, and abjuration; and upon taking also such other oath or oaths as may now by law be required to be taken by any persons becoming members of such lay body corporate, or being admitted to hold any office or place of trust or profit within the same."

Such members of corporations not to vote in eccle

ments.

Sect. 15. "Provided that nothing herein contained shall extend to authorize or empower any of his majesty's subjects professing the Roman Catholic siastical appoint. religion, and being a member of any lay body corporate, to give any vote at, or in any manner to join in the election, presentation, or appointment of any person to any ecclesiastical benefice whatsoever, or any office or place belonging to or connected with the United Church of England and Ireland, or the Church of Scotland, being in the gift, patronage, or disposal of such lay corporate body."

Not to extend to

established

church, ecclesiastical courts, universities, col

Sect. 16. "Provided that nothing in this act contained shall be construed to offices, &c. in the enable any persons, otherwise than as they are now by law enabled, to hold, enjoy, or exercise any office, place, or dignity of, in, or belonging to the United Church of England and Ireland, or the Church of Scotland, or any leges, or schools; place or office whatever of, in, or belonging to any of the ecclesiastical courts of judicature of England and Ireland respectively, or any court of appeal from or review of the sentences of such courts, or of, in, or belonging to the Commissary Court of Edinburgh, or of, in, or belonging to any cathedral or collegiate or ecclesiastical establishment or foundation; or any office or place whatever of, in, or belonging to any of the universities of this realm; or any office or place whatever, and by whatever name the same may be called, of, in, or belonging to any of the colleges or halls of the said universities, or the colleges of Eton, Westminster, or Winchester, or any college or school within this realm; or to repeal, abrogate, or in any manner to interfere with any local statute, ordinance, or rule, which is or shall be established by competent authority within any university, college, hall, or school, by which Roman Catholics shall be prevented from being admitted thereto, or from residing or nor to presenta taking degrees therein: provided also, that nothing herein contained shall tions to benefices. extend or be construed to extend to enable any person, otherwise than as he is now by law enabled, to exercise any right of presentation to any ecclesiastical benefice whatsoever; or to repeal, vary, or alter in any manner the laws now in force in respect to the right of presentation to any ecclesiastical benefice."

Proviso for pre

Sect. 17. "Provided, that where any right of presentation to any ecclesentations to bene. siastical benefice shall belong to any office in the gift or appointment of his

fices connected

with offices.