THE BOOKE OF OATHES BOTH Ancient and Moderne.
The Ancient Oath uſed and taken by the Kings of England at their Coronation.
THat he ſhall keepe and maintain the liberties of the holy Church, of old time granted by the righteous. Chriſtian Kings of England; and that he2 ſhall keepe all the Lands, Honours, and Dignities, righteous and free of the Crowne of England in all manne•holy, without any manner of miniſhments; and the rights of the Crowne hurt, decay, or loſſe, to his power ſhall call againe into the ancient eſtate; And that he ſhall keepe the peace of the holy Church, and of the Clergy, and of the People with good accord; And that he ſhall doe in his judgement equity and right Juſtice, with diſcretion and mercy; And that he ſhall grant to hold the Lawes and Cuſtomes of the Realme, and to his power keepe them, and affirme them, which the Flock and People have choſen; And the evill Lawes and Cuſtomes wholly to put out, and ſtedfaſt and ſtable peace to the people of his Realme keepe, and cauſe to be kept to his power.
The new Oath uſed, and taken by the Kings of England at their Coronation.
THe King ſhall then ſweare,King H. 8. corrected the old Oath with his owne hand to the effect of this: the Originall is in the hands of Sir Robert Corton Knight and Baroner. 1625 that he ſhall keepe and maintaine the lawfull Right, and the Liberties of old time granted by the Righteous Chriſtian Kings of England, to the holy Church of England, not prejudiciall to his Juriſdiction and Dignity Royall, and that he ſhall keepe all the Lands, Honours, and Dignities Righteous, and Freedomes of the Crowne of England in all manner whole, without any manner of miniſhment, and the right of the Crowne hurt, decay, or loſt, to his power ſhall call againe into the ancient eſtate; and that he ſhall endeavour himſelfe to keep unity in his Clergy, and Temporall Subjects; and that he ſhall according4 to his conſcience in all his Judgements miniſter equity, right, and Juſtice, ſhewing where is to be ſhewed mercy; and that he ſhall grant to hold the Lawes, and approved Cuſtomes of the Realme, and lawfull, and not prejudiciall to his Crowne, or imperiall Juriſdiction, to his power keepe them, and affirme them which the Nobles and People have made and choſen with his conſent, and the evill Lawes and Cuſtomes wholly to put out, and ſteadfaſt and ſtable peace to the People of his Realme keep, and cauſe to be kept to his power in thoſe which honour and equity doe require.
The Oath of a Privie Councellor.
YOu ſhall ſweare, To the uttermoſt part of your cunning, wit, will, and power; you5 ſhall be true and faithfull to the Queenes Majeſty our moſt deare and Soveraigne Lady, and to her Highneſſe Heires and Succeſſors, Kings and Queenes of England, according to the limitation of the Statute made in the yeare of the Reigne for the eſtabliſhment of the ſucceſsion of the Crowne Imperiall of this Realme; You ſhall not know nor heare any thing that may in any wayes be prejudiciall to her Majeſty, or to her Heires and Succeſſors in forme aforeſaid, or to the Commonwealths peace, and quiet of this her Majeſties Realme; but you ſhall with all diligence reveale, and diſcloſe the ſame to her Majeſty, or to ſuch perſon or perſons of her Highneſſe Privie Councell as you ſhall think may, and will honeſtly convey and bring it to her Majeſties knowledge; you ſhall ſerve her Majeſty truly and faithfully in6 the roome and place of her Highneſſe Privie Councell; you ſhall keepe cloſe and ſecret all ſuch matters as ſhall be treated, diſputed, debated, and reſolved of in Councell, without diſcloſing the ſame, or any part thereof to any, but only to ſuch only as be of the Privie Councell; and yet if any matter ſo propounded, treated, diſputed, and debated in any ſuch Councell, ſhall touch any particular perſon ſworne of the ſame, upon any ſuch matter as ſhall in any wiſe concerne his fidelity, and truth to the Queenes Majeſty, you ſhall in no wiſe open the ſame to him, but keep it ſecret, as you would doe from any other perſon till the Queenes Majeſties pleaſure be knowne in that behalfe; you ſhall in all things to be moved, treated, diſputed, and debated in any ſuch Councell, faithfully and truly declare your7 minde and opinion, according to your heart and conſcience, in no wiſe forbearing ſo to do for any manner of reſpect of favour, love, need, dread, diſpleaſure, or corruption. Finally, you ſhall be vigilant, diligent, and circumſpect in all your doings and proceedings, touching the Queenes Majeſty and her Affaires; all which points before expreſſed you ſhall faithfully obſerve, fulfill, and keepe, to the uttermoſt of your power, wit, and cunning. So God you helpe, and by the holy Contents of this Booke.
The Oath of the Clerke of the Councell.
YOu ſhall ſweate, To be a true and faithfull Servant unto the Queenes Majeſty, as one of the Clerks of her Highneſſe Privy Councell; You ſhall not know or underſtand of any8 manner of thing to be attempted, done, or ſpoken, againſt her Majeſties Perſon, Honour, Crowne, and Dignity Royall, but you ſhall let and withſtand the ſame, to the uttermoſt of your power, and either do, or cauſe it to be revealed either to her Majeſty her ſelfe, or to her Privy Councell; You ſhall keep ſecret all matters committed and revealed unto you, or that ſhall be treated of ſecretly in Councell; And if any of the ſame Treaties or Counſels ſhall touch any of the Councellors, you ſhall not reveale it unto him, but ſhall keepe the ſame untill ſuch time, as by the conſent of her Majeſty, or of the Councell Publication ſhall be made thereof; You ſhall to your uttermoſt beare Faith and true Allegiance to her Majeſty, her Heires and Succeſſors and ſhall aſsiſt and defend all Juriſdictions, Preeminencies, and9 Authorities, granted to her Majeſty and annexed to her Crown, againſt all Forraigne Princes, Perſons, Prelates, or Potentates, &c. by Act of Parliament or otherwiſe; And generally in all other things you ſhall do as a faithfull and true Servant and Subject ought to do to her Majeſty. So helpe you God, and by, &c.
The Oath of a Judge.
The Kings Iuſtices ſhall be ſworne, That they well and truly ſhall ſerve the King and his People; and that they ſhall not aſſent to things that may turne to his damage or diſ-inheritance: nor that they ſhall take no fee nor Livery of none but of the King, nor that they ſhall take gift or reward of none that hath a do before them, except it be meat or drinke of a ſmall value, as long as the Plea10 is hanging before them, nor after for that cauſe: Nor that they ſhall give counſell to none in a matter that may touch the King, upon paine to be at the Kings will, body and goods; And that they ſhall do right to every perſon, notwithſtanding the Kings Lees, &c. And in like manner the Barons of the Exchequer ſhall be ſworne, and alſo Juſtices of Oyer and Terminer, and of Aſsizes, and Goale Delivery, and Juſtices of Peace, before whom they have their Commiſsions, in a certaine forme, as ſhall ſeeme good to the Chancellor. Anno 2. Edw. 3.
The Oath of the Clerke of the Chancery.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee well and truly ſhall ſerve our Soveraigne Lord the King, and his People, in the Office of the Chancery, whereto ye are11 Titled; nor ye ſhall aſſent, or procure the diſ-herizon or perpetuall hurt of the King, to your power: nor you ſhall do no fraud nor procure none to be done, to the hurt of any of the people, nor in any thing that toucheth the keeping of the Seale; And truly ſhall yee counſell the things that touch the King, when you ſhall be thereto required, and the counſell that you know touching him ſhall yee conceale, and it yee know the Kings diſ-heritance, or his perpetuall hurt, or fraud to be done in things touching the keeping of the ſaid Seale, you ſhall put your lawfull power to redreſſe it; and if ye cannot do it, yee ſhall ſhew it the Chancellor or other that may amend it after your intent. And it ſhall be added for the Clerke of courſe; And ye ſhall not bring, nor ſuffer to be brought, to your knowledge,12 Writs, which ye ſhall make of the Court not ſealed, thereof to make execution; nor ye ſhall record none Atturney, neither by Writ nor without Writs, without ſpeciall Licence, if ye have not Lawfully examined the party, and the Attorney in proper perſon, or at leaſt he that ſhall make the Attorney in proper perſon: nor no Writ which is of Commandment ye ſhall not deliver to the Examinors, nor to the Seale, before the ſame Writ be commanded to you, by a Commander that hath power, if it be not to the Chancellor, or to one of the Maſters, which ſhall command you to make the Writs; and that all the Writs which ye ſhall make, ye ſhall deliver them to the Examiner by your owne hands, or by a fellow that is ſworne to the King, if your ſelfe be out of the Court becauſe of ſickneſſe, or cannot do it for ſome other neceſſary13 ca•ſe; And that ye ſhall deliver to the Examiner no Writs written of any other hand under your name as yours, nor you ſhall put no name upon your Writs. So help you, and his Saints. Anno xviii. Edw. 3.
The Oath of the Kings Servants Yeomen by the Vice-Chamberlain.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall be true to your Soveraigne Lord King Hen. 8. and to his Heires Kings of England; and if yee have knowne any thing in times paſt, or may know in time coming, that might bee prejudiciall to his Royall Perſon, or to this his Realme, yee ſhall with diligence do it to be knowne, either to his Perſon or to ſuch of his Councell as it may ſooneſt come to his knowledge; Yee ſhall from henceforth uſe your ſelfe in the14 Roome, as one of the Squires for his Body; ye ſhall be diligent in giving your attendance for the ſame; Yee ſhall be obedient to the Lord Chamberlain, to the Vice-Chamberlain, to all Gentlemen Uſhers, and to all Yeomen Uſhers, in all things that ſhall appertaine to your Roome; Yee ſhall not depart this the Kings Court without the Kings eſpeciall Licence, the Lord Chamberlaines, or the Vice-Chamberlaines in his abſence; You ſhall not from hence forward beare your ſervice, nor be retained to no manner of perſon, but onely to the Kings Highneſſe; Ye ſhall not from hence forwards retaine no man, otherwiſe than according to the Kings Lawes, except it be onely for the Kings ſervice. Theſe Articles, with all other, ye ſhall truly obſerve and keepe; As help you God, and holy David, and all Saints, and by this Book, &c.
The Oath of a Maſter of Requeſts, as it is outered in the Councell Booke, Anno Eliz.
YOu ſhall ſweare, To be true Councellor to the Queenes Majeſty, as one of her Maſters of Requeſts; You ſhall not know or underſtand of any manner of thing to be attempted, done, or ſpoken againſt her Majeſties Honour, Crowne, and Dignity Royall, but you ſhall let and withſtand the ſame to the uttermoſt of your power, and either do, or cauſe it forthwith to be revealed, either to her Majeſties ſelfe or to the reſt of the Privy Councell; And you ſhall to the uttermoſt beare faith and true Allegiance to the Queenes Majeſty, her Heires, and Lawfull Succeſſors; and ſhall aſsiſt and defend all Juriſdictions, Preeminencies, and Authorities granted to her Majeſty,16 and annexed to the Crown, againſt all Forraigne Princes, Perſons, Prelates, and Potentates, &c. by Act of Parliament, or otherwiſe, and generally in all things yee ſhall do as true Councellors ought to do to her Majeſty. So God you help, &c.
The Tenor of the Oath directed by King Hen. 8. and his Councell, in the fourth yeere of his Reigne, to his Commiſſioners for executing the Kings Commiſſioners and Inſtructions within the Dyoceſſe of Yorke, for Muſtering and putting the Kings Subjects in a readineſſe for the Wars, and to underſtand the ſubſtance of every man throughout England.
YEE ſhall truly and plainly declare and ſhew, as neere17 as ye can, or may poſsibly call to minde or remembrance, putting apart all colour, fraud, or deceit, of what value and ſubſtance ye be, as well in Money Plate, Jewels Utenſels, Stuffe, and Ornaments of Houſhold-ſtuffe, Merchandizes, of all manner, ſorts, and qualities, debts upon ſpecialties, Obligations, Pledges, Promiſes, or any otherwiſe, not onely on this ſide the Seas, but alſo in any outward parts; not forbearing thus expreſly to ſhew and declare, for any lucre, ſingular profit; or advantage, prejudices, hinderances, loſſes, and damages that may enſue unto you by the ſame. So God you helpe, and the holy Evangeliſts.
The Oath of the Bayliffe for the Sewers.
You ſhall ſweare, That you ſhall diligently, truly, and18 circumſpectly peruſe, view, and ſearch, from time to time, all and ſingular ſuch damages, perils, defaults, and reparations, that ſhall not at any time happen or chance to be with in any of the Bankes, Walls, Sewers, Throughs, or Slewces, within the Precinct of the Levell, as farre as the limits of your Office ſhall extend, and the ſame with all diligence, to the uttermoſt of your power, procur•to be preſented unto her Majeſties Commiſsioners of Sewers, and the Jury that are or ſhall be impannelled for ſuch cauſes, that the ſame with all expedition may bee amended and repaired; and to do and execute all and every other thing and things whatſoever that ſhall appertaine unto your ſaid Office, as nigh as God ſhall give you grace. So help you God, &c
The Oath of the Conſtables within the City of London.
YEe ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall keepe the Peace of our ſoveraigne Lord the King well, and lawfully after your power, and yee ſhall Arreſt all them that make Contempt, Ryot, Debate, or Affray by breaking of the ſaid Peace, and leade them to the Houſe or Counter, and if yee be with-ſtood by ſtrength of miſ-doers, ye ſhall reare on them an Entry, and purſue them from Street to Street, and from Ward to Ward till they be Arreſted; and yee ſhall ſearch at all times when yee be the Scavengers, or Beagles, the common noyſomneſſe of your Ward; and the Beadle and Raker yee ſhall help to reare, and gather their Sallary, and Quarterage, if yee be thereunto by them required,20 and if any thing be done within your Ward againſt the Ordinance of this City, ſuch defaults as yee ſhall finde there done yee ſhall then preſent unto the Mayor, and Miniſters of the City, and if yee be letted by any perſon, or perſons, that yee may not duly doe your daily Office, yee ſhall certifie the Mayor and Councell of the City of the name, or names of him or them that ſo let you.
Yee ſhall alſo Sweare, that during the time that yee ſhall ſtand in the Office, and occupy the roome of a Conſtable; yee ſhall once at the leaſt every Moneth certifie and ſhew to one of the Clerkes of the Mayors Court, as well the names as the fir-names of all Free-men which yee ſhall know to be deceaſed within the Moneth, in the Pariſh wherein yee ſhall be inhabited, as alſo the names, and fir-names of all the Children21 of the ſaid Free-men ſo deceaſed, being Orphants of the ſaid City; and thus you ſhall not faile to doe, as God you helpe, &c.
The Oath of the Scavenger.
YEe ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall diligently over•ee that Pavements within your Ward be well and ſufficiently repaired, and not made too high in noyſance of your Neighbours; and that the Wayes, Streetes, and Lanes be cleanſed of Dung, and all manner of Filth for the honeſty of this City; and that all the Chimnies, Furnaces, Reredoes be of Stone, ſufficiently and defenſible made againſt perill of Fire, and if yee finde any of the contrary, yee ſhall ſhew it to the Aldermen of the Word, ſo that the Aldermen may ordaine for the amendment thereof; And thus22 yee ſhall doe, as God yee helpe &c.
The Oath of every Free-man of this City of London.
YEe ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall be good and true to our Soveraigne Lord King James, and to the Heires of our ſaid Soveraigne Lord the King; obeyſant and obedient yee ſhall be to the Mayor and Miniſters of this City, the Franchiſes and Cuſtomes thereof yee ſhall maintaine, and this City keepe harmleſſe in that which in you is; yee ſhall be contributary to all manner of Charges within this City as Summons Watches, Contributions, Taxes, Tillages, Lot and Scot, and to all other Charges bearing your part as a Free man ought to doe; yee ſhall cullour no Forraigne Goods under or in your name, whereby the King or23 this City might, or may loſe their Cuſtomes, or Advantages; yee ſhall know no Farraigner to buy or ſell any Merchandiſe with any other Forraigner within this City or Franchiſe thereof, but yee ſhall warne the Chamberlaine thereof, or ſome Miniſter of the Chamberlaines; yee ſhall impleade or ſue no Free-man out of this City, whiles yee may have Right and Law within the ſame City; yee ſhall take none Apprentice, but if he be free borne (that is to ſay) no Bond-mans Sonne, nor the Sonne of any Alien, and for no leſſe tearmes then for ſeven yeares, without fraud or deceit, and within the firſt yeare yee ſhall cauſe him to be Enrolled or elſe pay ſuch Fine as ſhall be reaſonably impoſed upon you for omitting the ſame; and after his tearme end, within convenient time being re•nited, yee ſhall make him Free24 of this City, if he have well and truly ſerved you; yee ſhall alſo keepe the Kings Peace in your owne perſon; yee ſhall know no gatherings, Conventicles, or Conſpiracies made againſt the Kings Peace, but yee ſhall warne the Mayor thereof, or let it to your power; All theſe Points and Articles yee ſhall well and truly keepe according to the Lawes, and Cuſtomes of this City to your power. So helpe you God, &c.
The Oath of a Sheriffe of a County.
YEe ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall ſerve the King well, and truly in the Office of the Sheriffe of A. and do the Kings profit in all that belongeth to you to doe by way of your Office, as farre forch as you can or may; yee ſhall truly keepe the Kings Rights, and all that25 belongeth to the Crowne; yee ſhall not aſſent to decreaſe, to leſſenings, nor concealement of the Kings Rights, or of his Franchiſes, and whenſoever yee ſhall have knowledge that the Kings Rights, or the Rights of his Crowne be concealed, or with-drawne, be it in Land, Rent, Franchiſe, or Suits, or any other things; yee ſhall doe your true power to make them be reſtored to the King againe, and it yee may not doe it yee ſhall certifie the King, or ſome of his Councell thereof, ſuch as yee hold for certaine will ſay it to the King; yee ſhall not reſpite the Kings Debts for any gifts or favour, where ye may raiſe them without great grievance of the Debto•s; ye ſhall truly and righteouſly treat the People of your Sheriffewicke, and doe right as well to Poore as to Rich in all that belongeth to your Office, yee ſhall doe no26 wrong to any man, for any gift or other beheſt, or promiſe of Goods, for favour, nor hate; yee ſhal diſturbe no mans right; yee ſhall truly acquit at the Exchequer all thoſe of whom yee ſhall any thing receive of the Kings Debts; yee ſhall nothing take whereby the King may loſe, or whereby that Right may be diſturbed, letted, or the Kings Debts delayed; yee ſhall truly returne and truly ſerve all the Kings Writs as far forth as ſhall be within your cunning; yee ſhall none have to be your under Sheriffe, or any of the Sheriffes Clearkes of the laſt yeare paſt; ye ſhall take no Bayliffes into your ſervice, but ſuch as yee will anſwer for; yee ſhall make each of your Bayliffes to make ſuch Oath as yee make your ſelfe in that that belongeth to their occupation; yee ſhall receive no Writ by you or any of yours27 unſealed, or any ſealed, under any•eale of any Juſtice ſave of Juſtice in Eyre, or Juſtice Aſſigned in the ſame Shire where ye be Sheriffe in, or other Juſtice having power, or Authority to make any Writs unto you by the ſaid Law of the Land, or any Juſtice of Newgate; yee ſhall make your Bayliffes of the true and ſufficient men in the Country; alſo, yee ſhall doe all your paine and diligence to deſtroy, and make to ceaſe all manner of Hereſies, and Errors, commonly called Lollers, within your Bayliffewick, from time to time to all your power, and aſsiſt and be helping to all Ordinaries, and Commiſſaries of holy Church, and favour and maintaine them as oft times as yee ſhall be required by the ſaid Ordinaries, and Commiſſaries; yee ſhall be dwelling in your proper perſon within your Bayliffewick28 for the time yee ſhall be in the ſame Office, except yee be otherwiſe licenſed of the King; yee ſhall not let your Sheriffewicke, nor any Bayliffewicke thereof to Farme to any man; yee ſhall truly ſet, and returne reaſonable and due iſſues of them that be within your Bayliffewicke after their eſtate, and their honour; and make your Pannels your ſelfe of ſuch perſons as be moſt, next moſt ſufficient, and not ſuſpect, or procured, as it is ordained by the Statutes, and over this in Eaſtchining and reſtrainder of the Mans ſlaughters, Robberies, and other manifold grievous offences that have been done daily, namely of ſuch as name themſelves Souldiers, and by other Vagarants, the which continually increaſe in number, and multiply ſo that the Kings true Subjects may not be ſafe, yea ride, nor goe to doe29 ſuch things as they have to doe, to their intollerable hurt and hinderance; yee ſhall truly and effectually with all diligence poſsible to you, execute the Statute, and the Statutes of Wincheſter, and of Vagabonds; theſe things all yee ſhall truly keepe, as God you helpe, and his Saints.
The Oath of an Attorney at Law.
YOu ſhall doe no falſhood, nor conſent to any to be done in the Court, and if you know of any to be done you ſhall give knowledge thereof unto my Lord Chiefe Juſtice, or other his Brethren, that it may be reformed; you ſhall delay no man for lucre or malice; You ſhall encreaſe no Fees, but ſhall be contented with the old Fees accuſtomed; you ſhall plead no Forraigne Plea nor ſuffer no30 Forraigne Suits unlawfully to hurt any man, but ſuch as ſhall ſtand with order of the Law, and your conſcience; you ſhall ſeale all ſuch Proceſſe as you ſhall ſue out of the Court with the Seale thereof, and ſo the Kings Majeſty, and my Lord Chiefe Juſtice diſcharged for the ſame; yee ſhall not wittingly nor willingly ſue, nor procure to be ſued any falſe Suit, nor give ayde, nor conſent to the ſame, in paine to be expulſed from the Court for ever; And furthermore, you ſhal uſe your ſelfe in the Office of an Attorny within the Court according to your Learning and diſcretion; ſo helpe you God, &c.
The Oath of a Merchaut Adventurer.
FIrſt, yee ſhall ſweare, To be true to our ſoveraigne Lady31 the Queene her Heires and Succeſſors, and if any thing may come to your knowledge intended againſt her Majeſties Perſon, or Dominions, to diſcover the ſame to the Governour of this Fellowſhip, or his Deputy, or ſome other in place convenient.
Secondly, You ſhal ſweare to be obedient and aſsiſtant to the Governour, and his Deputy, and Fellowſhip of Merchant Adventurers; and to keep all Acts and Ordinances by them made, or to be made, without doing or procuring any thing in prejudice thereof, or elſe offending, duly to pay the penalties.
Thirdy yee ſweare, To conceale the ſecrets of the Fellowſhip, and to make knowne unto the Governour, or his Deputy, from time to time, any thing which you ſhal underſtand to be pretended againſt the Fellowſhip,32 or the Priviledges thereof.
Laſtly you ſweare, That in no caſe you ſhal collour or free any mans Goods whomſoever, being either Stranger, or one free of this Fellowſhip.
The Oath of a Merchant Adventurer taken before the Poqueter, for the true Shipping of his Clothes.
YOu ſhall ſweare, That all and every ſuch Clothes, and other Commodities, whereof you, or any of you have made entry, are allready bought, and within the Walls of London, being over and above all former Entries, and are not yet Shipped, and they are alſo belonging to thoſe men in whoſe names they be entered, and their Partners, being free Brothers of this Company of Merchant Adventurers; and that33 they are entred to be Shipped either for Stiade, or Middleborough. So God you helpe.
The Oath which the Honourable George Lord Nevell, Baron of Abergaveny uſed to ſweare his Servants by, at their firſt comming into his Houſhold.
YEe ſhal beare your faith therewith, and true ſervice next unto our Soveraigne Lord King Henry 8. unto my Lord and Ladie of this place, whom yee intend now to ſerve; alſo if yee know any hurt, harme, or hinderance to be done to my ſaid Lord and Ladie to their Bodies, or to their Goods or to his Children by any perſon or perſons, yee ſhal give him knowledge, or ſome of his Councel, as ſoone as God wil give you grace; Alſo yee ſhal34 not conſume, nor waſte none of his Goods, nor ſuffer them to be waſted negligently by any other perſon, if ye be in power to let it, or elſe give knowledge to his Officers that have the Rule and Charge of his Houſe; And alſo at all times yee ſhall be obedient, requiſite, and neceſſary, unto my Lords Officers that have the Rule and Charge of my ſaid Lords Houſhold aforeſaid, yee ſhall well and truly of your behalfe keepe and performe, to the beſt of your power. So helpe you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of Treaſurer Clerk in the Ezchequer.
YOu ſhall ſweare, That you ſhall well and truly ſerve the King your Lord, in your Office and Roome of Clerkſhip, to the Lord Treaſurer of35 England, within this Court of the Kings Receipt and Treaſury; And you ſhall uprightly behave your ſelfe towards all his Subjects and Accomptants, for their ſpeedy expedition, without any unjuſt hinderance or delay, for affection, meed, or dread; And you ſhall make no untrue Entry into any of the Kings Rolls, or other Books of Receipt and exitus, commonly called the Pelles of Receipt and Exitus, whereby the King our Lord, or any his Subjects, may be hurt or damaged. But if you ſhall know of any errour in them eſcaped, ſpeedily to be amended; And you ſhall from time to time make, or cauſe to be made to the Lord Treaſurer of England, true and perfect Declarations of all manner of Sums of Money coming in and going out of the Kings Treaſury, ſo often as the ſame Lord Treaſurer ſhall demand; And36 you ſhall ſafely preſerve and keep the Kings Records, Leagues, and other Writings lying in his Treaſury, not ſuffering any of them to be harmed, loſt, or altered by your default, nor yet to be removed abroad to any place out of the ſaid Treaſury, but onely by Warrant or Licence from the Lord Treaſurer of England; And when any ſuch Licence or Command ſhall be given, yet you ſhall not rudely adventure the carrying thereof by water, if you may have convenient paſſage by Land; And you ſhall to the beſt of your power conſerve all the ancient and laudable Cuſtomes of this Court, without permitting any new errour to ariſe (if you be able to reſiſt it,) and where you are not able, you ſhall ſpeedily diſcloſe it to the Lord Treaſurer of England for reformation. Finally, you ſhall in all things concerning this your Office, be37 obedient, faithfull, and true, to the Lord Treaſurer for the time being and ſhall not bewray the ſecrets of this Court; nor yet any waſte make of the Kings goods, for any cauſe So help you God, and all Saints, and by the Contents of that Booke.
The Oath of the Writer of the Tallyes, and Counter Tallyes.
YOu ſhall ſweare, That you ſhall truly and faithfully write all the Tallyes and Counter-Tallyes, otherwiſe called the Joyles of the ſaid Tallyes, of all manner of payments in the Court of Receipt to be made, and to give good attendance to the ſame, helping to diſpatch all manner of Accomptants, according to the antient cuſtomes of this Court;38 and to make Declarations for the declaring of all manner of Receipts and Payments, there received and paid from time to time, to the Lord Treaſurer of England, or to the under Treaſurer for the time being; and eſpecially to regard and ſo from time to time, unto the Entries ſafe keeping, taking out, ſhewing delivery, and laying up all manner of Leagues, and other Writings of any other parties, which remain within the King our Soveraigne Lord his Treaſury; to whom you ſhall bee true, ſecret, and faithfull during the time of your being in the ſaid Office. So help you God, and all Saints.
The new Oath of the Writer of the Pell, made in the ſixth yeare of King Edward the ſixth.
YOu ſhall ſwearee, That you ſhall truly and faithfully keepe the Kings Majeſties Book within this his Court, called the Pell, for the ſpeedy expedition of his Accomptants, for their ſurety; And you ſhall delay none of the Kings Accomptants, for favour, meed, affection, or dread; and ſee all wayes that no untrue entry be made in the ſaid Pell; And if you know of any errour done within the ſaid Court, you ſhall ſhew it to the Lord Treaſurer, or to the under Treaſurer, without any delay thereof to be made; And the ſecrets of this Court you ſhall nor bewray So help you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of the Ʋſher of the Exchequer.
YEe ſhall ſweare, That ye ſhall well and truly ſerve the Treaſurer and Chamberlaines of the Exchequer in your roome of Uſherſhip to the Lord Treaſurer of England, within this Court of the Kings Receipts, and shall diligently lock and keep the doors of the Kings Treaſury in due time for ſafety of his good; And the ſame doores ye shall be ready to open againe at all times, when the ſame Lord Treaſury and Chamberlaines, or other their Clerks, and Deputies, shall have occaſion to enter, and there shall give your attendance till their departure And ye shall demand no unjuſt allowance for any neceſſaries or other kinde of thing by you bought for ſervice of the41 King within this Court: And ye ſhall, to your power, helpe and further all ſuch the Kings Accomptants as ſhall have to do in this Court. So help you God, and Holidome, and by the Contents of that Book.
The Oath miniſtred unto the Souldiers ſerving under the Earle of Leiceſter in the Low Countries.
WEE do ſweare and promiſe, To do all loyall, true, and faithfull ſervice unto the Queene of England, her moſt Excellent Majeſty, and unto the Provinces and Cities united in theſe Countries, and their Aſſociates, under the charge and obedience of the Right Excellent the Earle of Leiceſter Governour generall of the ſaid Provinces and Cities, and their Aſſociates, and of her Majeſties42 Armie and Forces within the ſame: and all lawfull and due obedience unto the ſaid Governour, and to any other Superiour that ſhall have charge under him for Government in this Armie. And further we do promiſe to endeavour our ſelves to keep and fulfill all ſuch lawfull Ordinances as his Excellency hath, or ſhall ſet forth and eſtabliſh for the better ordering of this Army, as much as concerns us, ſo long as we ſhall ſerve under him. So help us God, by Jeſus Chriſt.
The Oath of the Governour of Barwick.
YOU ſhall ſweare, To bee faithfull and true to our Soveraigne Ladie Elizabeth, by the grace of God Queene of England, France, and Ireland, Defendor of the Faith, &c. and to43 keepe and defend, to the uſe of her Majeſty, her Heires and Succeſſors, this Towne of Barwick, and the Marcheſſe of the ſame, to the uttermoſt of your power, and according to your Office; you ſhall not be abſent at any time from your Office, without her Majeſties ſpeciall Licenſe, containing in the ſame the names of ſuch to whom your charge ſhall be committed in your abſence, except it be upon reaſonable cauſes, to go into the Wardencie of the Eaſt Marches, for the ſervice thereof, or to ſome osher part of Nortbuneberland, upon any your needfull cauſes; at which time nevertheleſſe you ſhall depute the Marſhall, or in his abſence, the next principall Officer, to take your charge of this Towne: You shall cauſe all the Officers of this Towne to doe their duties, or elſe ſee them puniſhed without favour or delay; you ſhall44 uſe the advice of all thoſe which be Councellors of this Towne for any matter concerning the Government thereof, except the matter ſhall touch any of themſelves in which the ſame parties ſhall be excluded for the time; you ſhall ſee that this Towne, and the Garriſon be provided of a convenient force of Victuall of all ſorts from time to time; And that the Mayor and his Brethren ſhall doe their duties for the Common-weale of the ſame Towne according to their Juriſdiction. You ſhall adminiſter Juſtice truly, and indifferently to all manner of perſons having any Cauſe depending before you; You ſhall not admit, nor ſuffer to be admitted any manner of perſon to be of this Garriſon that ſhall be born out of the Realme of England or Ireland nor above the number of fortie that ſhall be borne45 within the Realme of Ireland; You ſhall at ſundry times viſite the Gates and Poſternes of this Towne, the Locks and Shuttings thereof, the Towne Walls, Bulworkes, Ditches, Ordinance, Artillery, and Munition, and the Houſes of the Stoage of the ſame, and cauſe to be redreſſed to the beſt of your power any thing therein amiſſe; Finally, you ſhall quarterly puruſe the Statutes and Ordinances heretofore made, and now remaining in force for the Government of this Towne, and them cauſe to be duly kept and obſerved.
The Oath of the Marſhall of Barwicke.
YOu ſhall ſweare, That you ſhall be faithfull and true to our ſoveraigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth, by the grace of God,46 Queene of England, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. You ſhall be obedient to the Governour of this Towne, for the good governance and defence of the ſame, and ſhall give good counſell and asſiſtance unto him, and all other Officers of the Towne to the uttermoſt of your power; You ſhall ſet the Watch of the Towne, and viſit it from time to time, as to your Office belongeth; You ſhall not impriſon, or preſent any perſon without reaſonable cauſe and thereof you ſhall certifie the Governour of their names, and their cauſes. You shall ſuffer no perſon borne out of the Queenes Majeſties Allegiance without the Governours ſpeciall Licence, (and that not without good cauſe) to lodge in this Towne above two nights, or to continue above twenty foure houres at any one47 time, nor shall ſuffer any ſtranger to be lodged, but in convenient place to keepe the ſame perſon from the knowledge of the ſecrets of this Towne. Finally you ſhall keepe and cauſe to be kept, all manner of Statutes, Lawes and Ordinances, heretofore made, and now remaining in force, for the good governance of this Towne, to the uttermoſt of your power.
The Oath of the Treaſurer of Barwick.
YOu ſhall ſweare, That you ſhall be faithfull and true to our Soveraigne Ladie Elizabeth by the grace of God, Queen of England, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. You ſhall be obedient to the Governour of this Towne for the good governance and defence of the ſame, and ſhall48 give counſell and aſsiſtance to him, and all other Officers of the Towne to the uttermoſt of your power; you ſhall make no payment to Officer or Souldiers untill Muſter be had, viewed, and taken by the Governour and Marſhall of the Towne, and the Compt Roller, and of the Checque hereof. Finally, Ye ſhall obſerve and keep, or cauſe to be obſerved and kept, all manner of Statutes, Lawes, and Ordinances, heretofore made, and now remaining in force; for the government of this Towne.
The Oath of the Porter of Barwick.
YOu ſhall ſweare, That you ſhall be faithfull and true to our overaigne Lady Glizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England, France, and Ireland, Defendor49 of the faith, &c. You ſhall be obedient and attendant to the Governour for the time being in all things appertaining to the good governance and defence of the ſame Towne, and to him and to the Queene Councell and Officers of the ſame Towne; You ſhall give faith full and diligent counſell, and th•m ayd and aſsiſt to the uttermoſt of your power; You ſhall ſafely ſurely and diligently keepe the keyes of the Gates of this Towne of Barwick, while they ſhall be in your hands, and shall ſee the ſame Gates guarded and shut up at the times accuſtomed, and as the Governour of this Towne shall command, for the ſurety of this Towne; And at all times, as ſo one as the Gates shall be shut, you shall bring the ſaid. Keyes to the Governour of the Towne, and in his abſence, to his Deputy; you shall whenſoever any tidings or50 intelligences ſhall come to you by Land, or by Water, that is meet to be knowne to the Governour of the Towne, or to the Councell in his abſence forthwith let them know the ſame; You ſhall reare no new Cuſtomes or Taxes, to the vexation of any comers or goers, &c.
The Oath of the Maſter of the Ordinance for the Towne of Barwicke.
YOu ſhall ſweare, That you ſhall be true and faithfull to our ſoveraigne Ladie Elizabeth by the Grace of God, Queene of England, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. You ſhall be obedient to the Governour of this Towne, for the good governance and defence of the ſame; And ſhall give good councell and aſsiſtance to him, and all other Officers of51 the Towne to the uttermnſt of your power; You shall ſe•that the Ordinance, Artillery, and Munition be ſafely and well kept from all danger of the Enemies, of Fire, or other miſadventures to the beſt of your power, and that the Ordnance and Artillery placed for the defence of this Towne be alwaies kept in good repaire, and he in readineſſe for the uſe where the ſame is or shall be planted; You shall iſſue no part thereof at any time but for the ſervice of this Towne, nor shall expend any portion of your Office but by Warrant; Finally, You shall obſerve and keep, or cauſe to be obſerved and kept all manntt Statutes, Lawes, and Ordinances of this Towne heretofore made, and now remaining in force for the good governance of the ſame Towne.
The Oath of the Clerke of the Checque in Barwicke.
YOu ſhall ſweare, That you ſhall be true and faithfull to our Soveraigne Ladie Elizabeth by the Grace of God Queene of England, Frane, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. You ſhall ſweare to keep•truly the Bookes of Muſters of all the perſons in the Towne, and you ſhall keepe true Record, and Report of the time of all manner of perſons departing from the Towne, being either Licenced for more the•two dayes, or being Calha•er〈◊〉or dilcharged of Service, and of all ſuch as ſhall depart without Licence and ſhall duly informe the Governour of the defaults that you ſhall finde and the ſame you ſhall Cheeque in your Booke, and the ſame Booke you ſhall duly keepe, and53 at the pay ſee the Party thereof Taxed and default•e, and ſurther puniſhed as the cauſe ſhall require.
The Oath of Captaines of Bands in the Towne of Barwicke.
You ſhall ſweare, To be true and good to our Soveraigne Lady the Queene, and to the Governour of the Towne, and ſhall keepe your whole number being in your charge without diminiſhing, or admitting of the ſame untill you have certified the Governour of the Towne thereof, and that the Clerke of the Checque by the Governours appointment have enrolled the ſame in his Booke, and if any of your Band ſhall eſcape away, or dye, you ſhall forthwith notifie the ſame to the Governour of the Towne, and the ſaid Clerke of the54 Checque; You ſhall not refuſe to come to common Muſters at any time, upon the call of the Governour of the Towne, either being alone, or elſe having with him the Treaſurer and Clerke of the Checque; neither ſhall you bring to Muſter any perſon but ſuch as have ſerved in your Band, during the time for which he ſhall have pay; neither ſhall you to your knowledge ſuffer any one to be in your Band that receiveth any mans pay of our Treaſurer in any other roome or place within this Towne, except it be for the Tax worke in our Fortifications, whereof you ſhall make privie the Treaſurer, and Clarke of the Checque; You ſhall ſee, and cauſe every your Souldiers to be frequently Trained and taught the uſe of their Weapons, and other Feates of Warre convenient for them; and at the leaſt you ſhall55 cauſe the ſame to be done every fourteene daies in Summer once, and every twenty daies in Winter; You ſhall not permit any of your Band to take any more Victuals, or other Wares within that Towne then his Wages will diſcharge; You ſhall with your Band Watch and Ward for the defence of this Towne as you ſhall be appointed by the Marſhall and Governour thereof; You ſhall not depart out of the Towne and Marches further then the Orders of the Towne doe permit without leave of the Governour of the Towne, or in his abſence by his Deputie, under their Writings and Seale, mentioning the time of your leave to be abſent, and before your departure (if it ſhall be longer then for three daies) you ſhall preſent your ſelfe to the Treaſurer, or his Deputy, giving notice unto them for the56 time licenced you for abſence, and at your returne you ſhall alſo give notice to the ſaid Treaſurer and Clerke of the Checque; You ſhall alſo be obedient to the Governour, and to the other Counſellors of this Towne, and ſhall obey all Statutes and Ordinances of the ſame.
The Oath of every private Sauldier in Barwicke.
YOu ſhell ſweare, To be good and true to our Sovereigne Lady the Queene, and to the Governour of this Towne for Her Ma•eſties ſervice, and truly (doe as much as in you shall lye, to) keepe this Towne alwaies true Engliſh, and in good obedience to the Governour, Marshall, and other Officers thereof; and you shall be governed by your Captaine within any Debate or Rebellion,57 and if you shall know any thing hut, full to the ſtate of this Towne, or to any part thereof, you shall forthwith diſcloſe the ſame either to your Captaine, or to the Governour, or to one of the Courncell of the Towne; You ſhall keepe ſuch Armour and Weap•n as you are by your Captaine limited to have without wilfull ſpoile, or ſelling thereof except it be to provide better; You shall keepe all other. Ordinances of this Towne that ma•any waies pertaine to you to keepe.
The Oath of the Lord Preſident of the Councell in the Marehe•of Wales.
YOu ſhall ſweare, To the uttermoſt of your power, will and•unning, that you shall be true and faithfull to the Queenes Highneſſe, our Soveraign•Lady, and to her Heires58 and Succeſſors, and that you doe utterly teſtifie and declare in your conſcience, that the Queenes Highneſſe is the only ſupreame Governour of this Realme, and of all other Her Highneſſe Dominions and Countries, as well in all Spirituall and Eccleſiaſticall things or Cauſes as Temporall; and that no Forraigne Prince, Perſon, Prelate, State, or Potentate hath, or ought to have any Juriſdiction, Power Superiority, Preeminence, or Authoritie Eccleſiaſticall, or Spirituall within this Realme; And that you doe utterly renounce and forſake all Forraigne Juriſdictions, Powers, Superiorities, and Authorities; and doe promiſe that from hence forth you shall beare faith, and true Allegiance to the Queenes Highneſſe, her Heires, and Succeſſors, and to your power shall aſsiſt, and defend all Juriſ••ctions,59 Priviledges, Preeminencies, and Authorities granted or belonging to the Queenes Highneſſe, her Heires and Succeſſors, or united and annexed to the Imperiall Crowne of this Realme.
2. You ſhall not know nor hear any thing that may in any wiſe be prejudiciall to her Highneſſe or her Common-wealth, peace and quiet of her Highneſſe Realme, but you ſhall with all diligence reveale and diſcover the ſame to her Highneſſe, or to ſuch other perſon or perſons of her Graces Privy Councell as you ſhall think meet, and will ſooneſt convey and bring it to her Highneſſe.
3. You ſhall ſerve her Highneſſe truly and faithfully in the roome and place of one of her Graces Councell.
4. You ſhall in all things to be moved, treated, and debated, in any Councell, faithfully and truly declare your minde and60 opinion, according to your heart and conſcience, no wiſe forbearing ſo to do, for any manner reſpect of favour, meed, diſpleaſure, or corruption.
5. You ſhall faithfully and uprightly, to the beſt of your power, cauſe Juſtice to be duly and indifferently Miniſtred to the Queenes Majeſties Subjects, that ſhall have cauſe to ſue for the ſame, according to equity and to the Order of the Law.
F••ally, You ſhall be vigilant and circumſpect in all your doings and proceedings touching the Queenes Ma•eſty, and her Highneſſe Affaires.
All which points and Articles before expreſſed, with all other Articles, Signed with the Queens Majeſties Hand, and delivered to me the Lord Preſident of her Highneſſe Councell eſtabliſhed in theſe parts; you ſhall faithfully keepe and fulfill, to the uttermoſt of your power, wit,61 will and cunning. So God you help, and the contents of this Booke.
The Oath of the Clerke of the Parliament.
YOu ſhall be true, faithfull, and truth you ſhall beare to our Soveraigne Lord the King, and to his Heires and Succeſſors; You ſhall nothing know that ſhall be prejudiciall to his Highneſſe, his Crowne, State, and Dignity Royall, but that you ſhall reſiſt, to your power, and with all ſpeed ye ſhall advertiſe his Grace thereof, at the leaſt ſome of his Councell, in ſuch wiſe as the ſame may come to his knowledge; Ye ſhall alſo well and truly ſerve his. Highneſſe in the Office of Clerke of his Parliament, making true entry and Records of the things done and paſt in the ſame; Ye ſhall keep ſecret all ſuch matters62 as ſhal be treated in his ſaid Parliament, and not diſcloſe the ſame before it ſhall be publiſhed, but to ſuch as they ought to be diſcloſed unto: And generally ye ſhall well and truly do and execute all things belonging unto you to be done, appertaining to the Office of Clerke of the Parliament; as God you help, &c.
The Oath of Allegiance.
I A. B. Do truly and ſincerely acknowledge, profeſſe, teſtifie, and declare, in my conſcience before God and the world, That our Soveraigne Lord King James is lawfull King of this Realme, and of all other his Majeſties Dominions and Countries; and that the Pope, neither of himſelfe, nor by any Authority of the Church or Sea of Rome, or by any other meanes with any other, hath any Power or Authority63 to depoſe the King, or to diſpoſe of any of his Majeſties Kingdomes or Dominions, or to authorize any Forraigne 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 Licenſe or leave to any of them to beare Armes, raiſe Tumults, or to offer any violence or hurt to his Majeſties Royall Perſon State, or Government, or to any of His Majeſties Subjects within His Majeſties Dominions. Alſo I do•weare from my heart, that notwithſtanding any Declaration or ſentence of Excommunication or Deprivation made or granted or to be made or granted, by the Pope of his Succeſſors, or by any Authoritie derived or prie•ended to be derived from him or his Sea, againſt the ſaid King his Heires or Succeſſors, or any abſolution64 of the ſaid Subjects from their Obedience. I will beare faith and true! Allegiance to his Majeſty his Heires and Succeſſors, and him and them will defend to the uttermoſt of my power, againſt all conſpiracies and contempts whatſoever, which ſhall be made againſt his or their Perſons their Crowne and Dignitie, by reaſon or colour of any ſuch Sentence or Declaration or otherwiſe; and will do my beſt indearour to diſgloſe and make knowne unto his Majeſty his Heires and Succeſſors, all Treaſons and treacher o••Conſpiracies, which I ſhall know or heare of〈◊〉to be againſt him or them, And I do further ſweare. That I do from my heart abhorre deteſt and al•jure, as impious and here••call, his damno••Doctrine, and Poſition, this Princes wa••be deprived or Excommunicated of the Pope, may be depoſed or murthered65 by their Subjects, or any other whatſoever; And I doe beleeve, and in conſcience am reſolved, that neither the Pope, nor any 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 adminiſtred unto me; and doe renounce all Pardons, and Diſpenſations to the contrary, and all thoſe things I doe plainly and ſincerely acknowledge, and ſweare according to theſe expreſſe words by me ſpoken, and according to the plaine and common ſence and underſtanding of the ſame words, without any equivocation, or mentall evaſion, or ſecret reſervation whatſoever; And I doe make this Recognition and acknowledgement heartily, willingly, and truly, upon the true faith of a Chriſtian. So helpe me God &c.
The Oath of Supremacy.
J A. B. Doe utterly teſtifie and declare in my conſcience, that the Kings Highneſſe is the only Supreame Governour of this Realme, and all other his Highneſſe Dominions & countries, as well in all Spirituall and Eccleſiaſticall things or cauſes as Temporall; And that no Forraigne Prince, Perſon, Prelate, State, or Potentate hath, or ought to have any Juriſdiction, Power, Superiority, Preeminence, or Authoritie Eccleſiaſticall, or Spirituall within this Realme; And therefore I doe utterly renoune and forſake all Forraigne Juriſdictions, Powers, Superiorities, and Authorities, and doe promiſe that from henceforth I shall beare Faith and true Allegiance to the Kings Highneſſe, his Heires, and lawfull67 Succeſſors, and to my power shall aſsiſt, and defend all Juriſdictions, Priviledges, P•eeminencies, and Authorities granted, or belonging to the Kings Highneſſe, his Heires, and Succeſſors, or united and annexed to the Imperiall Crowne of the Realme.
The Oath of Franck Pledge within the City of London.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall be good and true to our Soveraigne Lord, the King of England, and to his Heires Kings, and the Kings Peace yee ſhall keepe, and ſee that it be kept; And to all the Miniſters of the City yee ſhall be obedient, and at all times yee ſhall be ready to helpe the Officers of the City in doing of their Offices, for reſting of Miſ-doers in keeping of the Kings Peace, and for to follow them from68 Street to Street, and Ward to Ward unto the time they be Arreſted, and brought to one of the Counters; and if yee know any Congregation, or Conventicles of any miſ doers within the Ward, yee ſhall doe the Aldermen to weete thereof; and all other points within the Wardmoote yee ſhall well and truly keepe So helpe yee God and by this Booke.
The Oath of the Scavengers of the Ward.
YEe ſhall ſweare. That yee ſhall well and diligently over-ſee that the Pavements in every Ward be well and rightfully repaired, and not hauſted to the noyance of the Neighbours, and that the Waies, Streetes, and Lanes be kept cleane from Dung and other Filth for the honeſty of this City and that all the Chimnies,69 Redoſſes, and Furnaces be made or Stone for defence of Fire; and if yee know any ſuch yee ſhall ſhew it to the Alderman, that he may make due redreſſe thereof; and this yee ſhall not ſeave. So helpe you God, &c.
The Oath for Brokers in London.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall neither buy nor•ell, nor other for you, any manner of Merchandize by fraud or colluſion to your owne proper uſe within the Franchiſes of this City nor without; And that yee neither make, nor doe to be made any manner Bargaine betweene Forraigner and Forraigner or Forraigner and Stranger within the Franchiſes of this City, nor without, upon paine of forfeiture of one hundred pound to the Chamber of London, and loſing of70 your Office for ever; Alſo that yee buy no manner of Merchandize of any perſon within the Franchiſes of this City, nor without to no perſons uſe; that yee bring the Seller and the Buyer together, making a rightfull Bargaine betweene them if you be required; and, that yee ſhall neither ſuffer, nor counſell any other perſon to uſe Brokeage within the ſaid City, or the Franchiſes of the ſame, but if he be admitted and ſworne, and hath found ſufficient Surety to doe well and truly, and keepe and obſerve all theſe Articles and Ordinances; and if yee know any perſon ſo doing, yee ſhall open it to the Mayor, and Aldermen, and elſe yee ſhall be deprived of your Office for ever.
Alſo yee ſhall be in no Liverie with any Perſon nor Hoſt, any manner of Stranger, or Alien, upon paine of loſing of your Office for ever; Alſo yee ſhall doe all your Bargaines that yee ſhall make betweene any manner of perſons to be written in a Booke, and that yee ſhall have the ſame Booke ready before the Mayor, and Aldermen for the time being, at all times when he by them ſhall be required to teſtifie the Bargaines aforeſaid; Alſo that yee ſhall not be dwelling harboured, nor lodged with any Merchant Stranger within the Citie of London, or Liberty thereof.
Alſo yee ſhall make no manner Bargaine of Uſurie, nor exchange of Uſurie, nor any other falſe Cheviſance nor untrue Bargaine, nor Contract, nor meddle, nor conſent to the ſame in any wiſe, no ſuch Bargaine, favour, nor counſell, or hide, but them diſcloſe to the Mayor and Aldermen of the ſame Citie for the time being, and this you ſhall not leave. So God you helpe.
The Oath of the Sheriffe of Londons Serjeant.
YEE ſhall ſweare. That yee ſhall well and truly ſerve the Sheriffe of London in your Office of Serjeantſhip, and the Franchiſes of London; Yee ſhall ſweare and maintaine to your power, and all manner perſons that yee ſhall Arreſt by Plaint, Writ, or by Fray, or by any other lawfull cauſe yee ſhall bring them unto the Counter if yee be of power; Alſo yee ſhall warne no perſon to agreewith the Creditors of their Debts but that a Plaint of ſuch Debts be lawfully made; Alſo yee ſhall w•rne no perſon on whom a Plaint or a Writ is on in the Counter, and yee ſhall well and truly enter ſuch Plaints as yee ſhall have of your Clients or any other perſon; Alſo all manner of Mercements73 and Fines that yee ſhall receive, yee ſhall well and truly bring them to the Counter, and there to deliver them to the Sheriffe, or to his Deputie; Alſo yee ſhall not tarrie, or delay none occaſion, nor make none untrue Proceſſe; That yee ſhall by vertue of your Office, fraud, or hate, or promiſe for your ſingular availe; Alſo yee ſhall be no Lone day maker, nor maintainer of none occaſion; Alſo in all manner of Plaints that yee ſhall returne good and honeſt perſons, and true, and not ſuſpitious, nor procured by you, nor by your aſſent; Alſo you ſhall counſell nothing whereby the Sheriffes, or any of their Courts or Officers may be hurt in their availes; Alſo the common of the Citie peaceably and gently yee ſhall intreat, and alſo to all other perſons that have his Patents of exemptions of any Office,74 or other Charges within the Citie of the Kings grant ye•ſhall doe, ſummon them like as yee doe other Free-men of Inqueſts; Alſo, yee ſhall take no Yeoman into your Governance whileſt he be Officer with the ſaid Sheriffe, unto the time that yee ſhew the ſaid Yeoman unto the ſaid Sheriffe, and by him ſo to be accepted; And alſo yee ſhall not doe away the ſaid Yeoman in that being without a lawfull cauſe, certifying, and knowing to the Sheriffe; And if that Yeoman be from you ſo voided, yee ſhall take away the Liverie of the Sheriffe, except, and in all other things your Office you ſhall well and truly keepe and beare you. So helpe you God, and by this Booke.
The Oath of a Conſtable in London.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall keepe the peace of our Soveraigne Lord the King well, and lawfully after your power; Alſo yee ſhall Arreſt all them that made any Riot Debate or Affray in breaking of the ſaid Peace and yee ſhall bring them to one of the Sheriffes Houſes, or to the Counters of the ſaid Sheriffes, and if yee be withſtood by ſtrength of any ſuch miſ-doers, yee ſhall ever reare up Hue and Cry, and yee shall follow them from Street to Street, and from Ward to Ward till yee may Arreſt them.
Alſo yee shall ſearch at all times when yee shall be required by Scavengers, or Beadle, for the common noyance of the Ward.
Alſo if there be any thing76 done within the Warde contrary to the Ordinance to the City.
Alſo ſuch faults as ye finde yee ſhall preſent them to the Mayor and to the Miniſters of the City; and if ye be withſtood with perſon or perſons, that ye may not do your Office ye ſhall preſent them to the Mayor, and to the CommonCouncell of the Citie, with the names of them that ſo trouble you. And this ye ſhall not leave. So help you God, and holidome, and by this Booke.
The Oath of a Beadle of the Wards in London.
YEe ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall well and honeſtly keep the Ward that ye be Beadle in; And ye ſhall ſuffer no manner Ribbawdes, nor none of evill living, nor hunters of Ale, nor women holding Brothels, nor77 none other Noyons other women ſlandered of evill name, and of evill life, dwelling within the Ward, but you ſhall certifie the names of them unto the Alderman, to that intent that he ſhall have them out within fifteen daies; and if the Alderman do it not, ye ſhall anon after the fifteen daies ended, do the Mayor to weete; and if any man make any fray, or draw any weapon againſt the Kings Peace, ye ſhall do the Sheriffe to weete, that they may make leavy by the Serjeants of ſuch miſ-doers alſo; Yee ſhall returne good and lawfull men in the Huſtinges afore the Sheriffes, and the Kings Crowner to the Queſt, and not men ſuſpitious, and maintainers of perſons of evill name; And the Returne that ye make, yee ſhall ſhew them three or foure daies before the Huſting, that ye may ſee the Returne,78 whether it be ſufficient or no; Alſo ye ſhall ſee, that no Poulter, nor no other Victualler, make no ſale of Poultery, Corn, or Meale, or any other Victuall, in no privie place, againſt the Ordinance of the Mayer, but ye ſhall warne the Mayor and the Sheriffes thereof; Yee ſhall be none Officer in Court expedient during your Beadleſhip; Alſo ye ſhall brew none Ale, nor none for you, to be no Regrater; ye ſhall keepe no Bake-houſe; Alſo ye ſhall be no Regrater of Victuall, nor none hunter of Ale, nor partner with none of them: And other things to your Office belonging ye ſhall well and lawfully keepe. So helpe you God, and Holidome, and by this Booke.
The Oath of the Wardmoote Inqueſt within London.
YEe ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall be true to our Soveraigne Lord the King that now is, and to his Heires and Succeſſors Kings of England; and readily ye ſhall come when yee be ſummoned, to the Common Councell of this City; but if ye be reaſonably excuſed; and good and true Councell ye ſhall give in all things touching the Common-wealth of this City, after your wit and cunning; And that for favour of any perſon ye ſhall maintaine no ſingular profit againſt the common profit of this City; And after that ye be come to the Common Councell, you ſhall not from thence depart untill the Common Councell be ended, without reaſonable cauſe, or elſe by the Lord Mayors Licenſe:80 And alſo any ſecret things that be ſpoken or ſaid in the Common-Councell, without to be ſecret, in no wiſe ye ſhall diſcloſe; As God you helpe, and his Saints.
The Oath of the Chancellor of the Court of Augmentation.
YEe ſhall ſweare, That yee well and truly ſhall ſerve the King in the Office of the Chancellorſhip of the Court of the Augmen cations and Revenues of the Kings Crown; And ſhall miniſter equall Juſtice to rich and poore, to the beſt of your cunning and power; And that ye ſhall diligently procure all things which may honeſtly and juſtly be to the Kings advantage and profit, and to the Augmentation of the Rights and Prerogatives of his Crown, and truly uſe the Kings Seale,81 appointed to the Office; And alſo endeavour your ſelfe to ſee the King truly anſwered of ſuch Rents, Revenues, Iſſues, and Profits, which ſhall or may ariſe or grow in your Office, and from time to time deliver with ſpeed, ſuch as ſhall have to do for you; And that you ſhall not take nor receive of any perſon any gift or reward in any Cauſe or matter depending before you, wherein the Kings Highneſſe ſhall be partie, whereby any prejudice, hinderance loſſe, or diſ-herizon ſhall grow or be to the Kings Highneſſe So help you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of the generall Surveyor of the Court of Augmentation.
YEe ſhall ſweare, That ye well and truly ſhall ſerve the King in the Office of the generall Surveyor of the Court of82 the Augmentations and Revenues of the Kings Crown; And ſhall miniſter equall Juſtice to rich and poore, to the beſt of your power; And that ye ſhall diligently procure all things which may honeſtly and juſtly be to the Kings advantage and profit, and to the Augmentation of the Rights and Prerogatives of his Crowne; And alſo endeavour your ſelfe to the uttermoſt of your power, to ſee the King truly anſwered of all ſuch Rents and Revenues Iſſues or Profits, which ſhall or may ariſe or grow in your Office; and from time to time deliver with ſpeed, ſuch as ſhall have to do before you; And that you ſhall not take or receive of any perſon any gift or reward in any cauſe or matter depending before you, wherein the Kings Highneſſe ſhall be partie, whereby any prejudice, hinderance, loſſe, or diſ-herizon, ſhall83 grow, or be to the Kings Highneſſe. So helpe you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of the Treaſurer of the Court of Augmentations.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee shall well and truly ſerve the King our Soveraigne Lord, and his People in the Office of Treaſurer of the Court of the Augmentations according to the Orders hereafter enſuing; and yee shall reaſonably and honeſtly procure the Kings profit, and doe right to all manner of people poore and rich, in thoſe things which touch your Office, and the Kings Treaſure; yee shall truly keep and diſpend, and true Declaration & Accompt make from time to time without any concealement, according to the Ordinance made for the eſtablishment84 of this Court: and further shall doe every thing that of right appertaineth to your Office. So helpe you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of the Maſter of the Woods of the Court of Augmentation.
Yee ſhall ſweare, That yee shall well and truly ſerve the King our Soveraigne Lord, in the Office of the Maſter of the Woods of this Court of Augmentations, in all things touching your Office, according to the Authority given unto you by theſe Letters Patents, for the Kings moſt advantage; And yee shall doe all and every thing and things which you ought to doe by reaſon of your Office according to the forme and effect of theſe Letter Patents So helpe you God, and all Sainis.
The Oath of the Attorney, and Sollicitor of the Court of Augmentations.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee shall well and truly ſerve the King, as his At orney or Solicitor in all Courts, for and concerning any matter or cauſe that ſhall cuncerne or touch the Poſſeſsions and Hereditaments limited to the Survey and governance of this Court of the Augmentation, and procure the Kings profit thereof; and that ye ſhall truly counſell the Kings Chancellor, and generall Surveyor of this Court, all things concerning the ſame, to the beſt of your cunning, wit, and power, and with all ſpeed and diligence from time to time at the calling of the ſaid Chancellor and generall Surveyor or any of them, be diligently attendant to aſsiſt the ſaid Chancellor86 and Surveyor, or any of them, with good adviſe and counſell, in the hearing and determination of ſuch matters and cauſes as ſhall depend before the ſaid Chancellor and generall Survey or of this Court; And that ye ſhall not take any gift or reward in any matter or cauſe depending in the ſame Court or elſewhere, wherein the King ſhall be partie, whereby the Kings Majeſtie ſhall be hindered, hurted, or diſ-herited; And further do all and every thing that ſhall appertaine to your Office. So helpe you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of the Surveyor of the VVoods of the Court of Augmentation.
YE ſhall ſweare, That ye shall ſerve truly the King in your Office of Surveyor of the Woods within the Survey of87 this Court of the Augmentation; and to your cunning and power ſhall truly do and execute all and every thing and things which ye ought to do, by reaſon of your Office, according to the formes and effect of the Ordinance and Eſtabliſhment of this Conrt, So help you God, and a•l Saints.
The Oath of the Clerke of the Augmentations.
YEe ſhall ſoeare, That ye ſhall well and truly•erve the King in your Office of Clerke of this Court of the Augmentation, and truly do and execute all and every thing and things which ye ought to do by reaſon of your Office, according to the forme and effect of the Ordinance made upon the erection of this Court. So help you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of the Auditors of the Court of the Augmentation.
YEe ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall well and truy ſerve the King in your Office of Auditorſhip; and true Allegiance make to every perſon which ſhall bee Accomptant before you; Ye ſhall not take nor receive of poore or rich any Gift or Reward in any Matter or Cauſe depending, or to be diſcuſſed in Court, but ſuch that ſhall be your ordinary Fees; and ye ſhall do all and every thing and things which ye ought to do by reaſon of your Office, according to the forme and effect of the Ordinance made and eſtabliſhed upon the erecting of this Court of the Augmentation So help you God and all Saints.
The Oath of the Receiver of the Gourt of Augmentation.
YE ſhall ſweare, That ye ſhall truly ſerve the King in your Office, and nothing conceale, but true Accompt make of all ſuch revenues, Rents, Sume of Money, and other profies wherewith ye shall be lawfully charged, by reaſon of your Office; Ye shall make no Petition nor aske any allowance, but ſuch as shall be good, juſt, true, and reaſonable; And ye•hall doe all and every thing and things which ye ought to do by reaſon of your Office, according to the forme and effect of the Ordinance made and eſtabliſhed upon the erection of this Court of Augmentation So help you God and all Saints.
The Oath of Surveyor of Lands of the Court of Augmentation.
YE ſhall truly ſerve the King in your Office of Survey or of Lands within the Survey of this Court of the Augmentation, and to your cunning, wit, and power, shall truly do and execute all and every thing and things which ye ought to do by reaſon of your Office, according to the forme and effect of the Ordinance, and eſtabliſhment of this Court. So helpe you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of the Meſſenger of the Court of the Augmentation.
YE ſhall ſweare, That ye shall well and truly ſerve the King in your Office of Meſſenger of this Court of the Augmentation, as well in ſpeedie ſerving all and ſingular Proceſſe to you to bee delivered, without fraud, covine, guile, or deceit, as alſo making true and ſpeedie certificate to this Court of the ſame; And that you well and truly do and execute all and every other thing and things which ye ought to do, by reaſon of your Office. So helpe you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of Henry the third French King, for obſerving of the Statutes of the Order of the Garter.
WEE Henry by the grace of God King of Franoe and Polbgne do ſweare, vow, and proteſt ſolemnly upon our Honour, and in the word of a King, That we shall obſerve, keepe, and maintaine, the Statutes and Orders of the right Noble Order of St. Geoege, called the Garter, ſo far forth as they ſhall not be found contrary to our Religion Catholique, Greatneſſe, and Majeſtie Royall, nor to the Stat•tes and Ordinances of our two Orders of the bleſſed Holie Ghoſt, and of Saint Mich•el. In witneſſe whereof wee have Signed this preſent with our owne Hand, and cauſed the ſame to be ſealed with93 our Privie Seale at Paris the laſt day of February, Anno 1585.
The Oath of a Knight of the Garter, at his firſt admiſſion, as it was uſed in the time of King, P. and Queene Mary.
YOu being choſen to be one of the Honourable Companions of the moſt Honourable Order of the Garter, shall promiſe, and by thoſe holy Evange ifts by you manifeſtly touched ſweare, truly and faithfully to obſerve and keepe all the Statutes of the ſaid Order, and every Article in the ſame contained, for ſo much as to you pertaines and belongs. And further, That you shall help to defend and maintanine, ſo much as in you lieth, the Rights and Liberties of the Colledge of our bleſſed Ladie, and Saint94 George the Martyr, wherein the Honourable Order of the Ga•ter ſhall be founded.
The Oath miniſtred to them of the Kings Chamber by the Lord Chamberlaine, in the time of King H. 8.
Ia. B. ſweare by the holy Evangeliſt, That I faith and truth ſhall beare unto our Soveraigne Lord Henry 8 King of England, and of France, and Lord of Ireland, and unto the Quene our Soveraigne Ladie his wife, and to their iſſue; and in and upon the Office of C. D. I ſhall duly and truly await and attend, unto which at this time I am admitted and received; I ſhall not know any Treaſon or thing prejudiciall compaſſed, attempted, or imagined, againſt our Soveraigne Lord, or Soveraigne Ladie or their Iſſue, or any of95 them, but I ſhall incontinent upon the ſaid knowledge diſcover it unto our Lord Chamberlaine, or unto his Deputie, if he have any, or in their abſence to one of their Uſhers in the ſaid Chamber; I ſhall not diſcover any ſecrets or things that may happen to come to mine eares, that ſhall touch the Kings Councell, or the honour of his Chamber; And I ſhall be obedient unto my ſaid Lord Chamberlaine, and unto his ſaid Deputie, if he have any, and unto the ſaid Uſhers and their Commandments diligently & faithfully obſerve and keepe to my power; I ſhall eſchiew all manner of Riots, making of Bandies, Quarrels or Debate either within the ſaid Chamber, or without, but I ſhall forbid and let all ſuch inconveniences as far forth as I may; And alſo let the ſaid Officers, or one of them, have knowledge thereof;96 Alſo I ſhall not depart out of the Kings Court, without Licenſe appointed and had of my ſaid Lord Chamberlaine, or of his Deputie, if he have any: Which Premiſſes, and every of them, with all other Commandments to be given on the behalfe of our ſaid Soveraigne Lord, by my ſaid Lord Chamberlaine or his ſaid Deputie if he have any, or any of the ſaid Uſhers, I ſhall faithfully obſerve obey, and keep to the uttermoſt of my power. So help me God, and his Saints.
The Oath miniſtred to the Clerke of the Councell to Prince Henry Sonne to King James.
YOu ſhall ſweare, That well and truly you ſhall ſerve the High and Mighty Prince•enry Prince of Wales, Duke of107 Cornwall, and Earle of Cheſter, in the Office and Clerks of his Councell and matters committed to you, or treated of by his Councell, to be kept ſecret, you ſhall faithfully keep; And you ſhall not know nor underſtand, nor ſuffer any thing tending to the hurt or diſ•heriting of his Highneſſe, be decreaſed by any meanes, ſo far forth as ye may lett it; and if ye may not let it, ye ſhall make it clearely and expreſly known to his Highneſſe; And that ye ſhall do, and procure and purchaſe his Highneſſe profit in all that ye reaſonably may As God you help. Peruſed and examined by Mr. Stevens the Princes Attorney.
The Oath to be miniſtred to any of King James his Servants in ordinary or extraordinary.
YOu ſhall ſweare, Faithfully and truly to ſerve our Soveraigne Lord the King, James of Great Bri•taine, France, and Ireland, his Heires and Succeſſore; You ſhall ſerve him in the roome and place of N. N. in ordinary; You ſhall know nothing that ſhall be prejudiciall to his Perſon, his State, his Crowne or Dignitie, but you ſhall with all diligence make it knowne to the Lord Chamberlaine, Vice-Chamberlaine, or ſome other of his Majeſties meſt Honourable Privie Councell; You ſhall be obedient to the Lord Chamberlaine, Vice-Chamberlaine, and Gentlemen-Uſhers, in all matters109 tending to his Majeſties ſervice. So helpe you God, and Jeſus Chriſt.
The Oath ordained to be miniflred to Princeſſe Maries Councell, when her houſhold was eſtabliſhed in the 17. yeare of King H. 8.
YOu ſhall be true and faithfull unto the King our Soveraigne Lord King Henry 8 and unto his Heires and Succeſſors Kings of England; And ye shall be faithfull and true unto my Ladie Princeſſe Grace; And ye ſhall, according to your wit, diſcretion, knowledge, and experience, give unto her true and faithfull counſell in all things, as ſhall be demanded of you by way of good advice and counſell; Ye ſhall alſo keepe ſecret and conſerve her ſaid counſell, without diſcloſing of the ſame110 to any perſon, except he be of the ſame Councell; And if the matter touch any of the ſaid Councell, ye ſhall not diſcloſe the ſame unto him; Ye ſhall not alſo promote nor further any matter in her ſaid Councell for any Meed, Reward, Favour, Affection, or Diſpleaſure; And in caſe you ſhall perceive any thing to be done or attempted contrary to her Honour, Eſtate, Degree, or Suretie, ye ſhall to the uttermoſt of your power, withſtand and let the ſame. And generally, You ſhal do all manner of things that unto a good, true, and faithfull Councellor ſhall appertaine. So help you God, and the holy Contents of this Book.
The Oath miniſtred to the Treaſurers of Warre, for the Receipt and Iſſues of the three Subſidies, and three Fifteens, granted by Act of Parliament in the 21. yeare of King James.
YOu ſhall ſweare, That you being appointed one of the Treaſurers for the receiving of the three Subſidies, and three Fifteenes and Tenths, granted by the Temporaltie, Shall not iſſue any part of thoſe Monies which ſhall be paid unto your hands or unto the hands of any other by your appointment or conſent, without the ſpeciall Warrants of thoſe Perſons which are by his Majeſty appointed to be of his Councell for the Warres, and in this Act nominated, or of five of them at the leaſt, whereof two of112 them to be ſuch as are of His Majeſties Privie Councell, under their Hands.
The Oath miniſtred to the Councell of Warre, for the true imploying of the three Subſidies, and three Fifteens, granted by Act of Parliament in the 21. yeare of King James.
YOu ſhall ſweare, That you being one of the Councell of Warre choſen by His Majeſty, and nominated in this Act, shal make no Warrant for any Monies to be iſſued, which are given by this preſent Act, but for ſome of thoſe ends which are expreſſed in this Act; And that all ſuch Warrants as ſhall be made by you, shal mention in them that thoſe Momies are to bee imployed according to the true meaning of this Act;113 and to the beſt of your meanes you shal imploy the ſame accordingly.
The Oath miniſtred to Garter King of Armes at his Creation.
FIrſt, ye ſhall ſweare, To honour and obey the Kings Highneſſe, as firſt and Soveraigne of this moſt noble Order and after him other Knights of the ſame Order, namely in ſuch things as shal belong to your Office, which shall bee found reaſonable. And becauſe you be taken as here to be made privie of Counſel, you shall ſweare, Alwaies to he a man of ſilence, true and faith full in all things here to be done, and shall in no wiſe diſcloſe any part thereof.
Ye ſhall ſweare alſo, That ye shal be faithfull and diligent to fulfill, performe, and execute114 all things that shal be committed to your charge and credit; and diligently to enqure of all the Noble Acts of all and every the ſaid Noble Knights of the ſaid Order, and shal certifie the Regiſter thereof, that he may put the ſame in perpetuall Memorie.
Moreover when any Knight of the ſaid Order shal die, ye shall ſtrait, upon knowledge thereof, firſt make the Soveraigne privie thereof, and after him the other Knights of the ſaid Order, to be made privie thereunto
And finally, ye ſhall ſweare, That ye shal truſy and faithfully uſe and exereiſe this ſame Office. So God you help, and theſe bleſſed Evangeliſts.
The Oath of a King of Arms at the time of his Coronation.
YE ſhall ſweare by the Oath ye received when ye were made Herauld, and by the faith ye owe to our Soveraigne Lord the King, whoſe Armes you be•re, That you shall truly keepe ſuch, things as bee comprized, in thoſe Articles following:
Firſt, when the King shall command you to do any Meſſage either to Enwerour or King, Prince, or any other Eſtate of what condition or degree ſoever he be of, either within the Realme or without, you shall do it as honourable and truly as your wit reaſon, and diſcretion shall ſerve you, and as greatly to the advantage of your ſaid Soveraigne and his Realme, and true report bring againe to your foreſaid Soveraigne, of116 your Meſſage that ye ſhall do, as neere to the charge to you committed, in word and in ſubſtance as your ſaid reaſon ſhall attaine, alwaies keeping your ſelfe ſecret for any manner of motion, except it be to ſuch perſons as you are commanded to utter your Charge unto.
Secondly, you ſhall do your true endeavour every day to be more cunning than other in the Office of Armes, ſo that yee may be the better furniſhed to teach others under you, and execute with more wiſdom and eloquence, ſuch charges as your Soveraigne or any Noble man of this Realme ſhall〈…〉or give unto you by vertue of the Office which his Highneſſe will erect unto you at any time, not diſcovering in no wiſe ſuch as ye are commanded to keepe cloſe, unleſſe it be prejudiciall unto the King his Soveraigne Lord, and to this Realme.
117Thirdly, you ſhall do your beſt endeavour to enquire of all the Noblemen and Gentlemen within your Province or Marches, which ſhould beare Coats in the Field, in the Service of our Soveraigne Lord or Commiſsioners and them with their Iſſues truly to Regiſter, together with their Armes as they may truly beare, with their difference due in Armes to be given, and whether they hold any ſervice of Knights Fee, whereby they ſhould do the King Service for the defence of his Realme.
Fourthly, yee ſhall not be ſtrange to teach Heraulds and Purſevants of ſuch doubts as they ſhall move unto you howbeit you ſhall ask the Purſevants whether he have moved it, and deſired any of the Heraulds to inſtruct him therein; and if he ſay nay; ye ſhall limit him to one of them, or elſe eaſe him118 your ſelfe; and if you cannot, then you ſhall ſhew it to the Conſtable or Marſhall: Alſo you ſhall keep from moneth to moneth in your Marches your Chapters to the increaſe of cunning in the Office of Armes, and the doubts which cannot there be reſolved and anſwered, you ſhall move to the Conſtable and Marſhall.
Fiftly, ye ſhall obſerve and keep, to your cunning and power, all ſuch Oathes as ye make when ye were created Herauld, to the honour and worſhip of Nobles, and great increaſe of learning and good living, and namely in eſchiewing of ſlanders, and diſ-honeſt places and perſons reproached; and to be alwaies readier to excuſe than to blame any Noble Perſon unleſſe yee be charged to ſpeake truth by the Kings Highneſſe, Conſtable, or Marſhall. or any Peere Judiciall; Alſo you ſhall119 promiſe to Regiſter all Acts of Honour in manner and forme as they are done, as farre forth as your power and cunning can extend As God ſhall you help, and by the holy Contents of this Booke.
The Oath of a Herauld at Armes, at the time of his Creation.
FIrſt, ye ſhall ſweere, to be true to the moſt High and Mighty Prince our Soveraigne Lord the King that here is; And if ye have knowledge or any imagination of Treaſon, in Language or word, that moves to the derogative or hurt of his Eſtate or Highneſſe, who God defend, you ſhall in that caſe, as honeſtly and as ſoone as ſhall be poſſible diſcover and ſhew to his Highneſſe, or to his Noble and diſcreet Councell, and it in no wiſe conceale.
120Secondly, ye ſhall promiſe and ſweare, That yee ſhall be converſant and ſerviceable to all Gentlemen, to do their commandments, to the worſhip of Knighthood; and to excuſe their Worſhip by your good Counſell that God hath ſent you, ever readie to offer your ſelfe unto them.
Thirdly, ye ſhall ſweare and promiſe, To be ſecret, and to keep the ſecret of Knights, Eſquires, Ladies, and Gentlewomen, as a Confeſſor of Armes, and not to diſcover them in no wiſe, except it be Treaſon, as aforeſaid.
Fourthly, yee ſhall promiſe and ſweare. That if it fortune you in any Land or Countrie to go or ride, and finde any Gentleman of Name and Arms that hath loſt his good in Worſhip of Knighthood in the Kings Service, or in any other place of Worſhip, and is fallen into121 Povertie, ye ſhall aid, ſupport, and ſuccour him, in that you may, if that he ask of you goods to his ſuſtenance, ye ſhall give him part of that which God hath ſent you, to your power, and as ye may beare.
Fiftly, yee ſhall ſweare and promiſe, If ye be in any place where ye heare of any debate or evill Language betweene partie and partie, that is not worſhipfull, profitable, nor victuous, that ye report it not forth, but to their worſhip, and to the beſt.
Sixthly, if ye be in any place where you heare debate or language diſ-honeſt between Gentleman and Gentleman, whereunto you are called as a Witneſſe, or required by Princes, Judges, or any other, unleſſe the Law do ſo compell you, ye ſhall not open without Licence of both Parties; and having licenſe, yee shall for any love,122 dread, or favour of any partie, report the truth.
Seventhly, ye ſhall promiſe and ſweare, To be true and ſecret to all Gentlewoman, Widdowes, or Maids; and in caſe be that any man would do them wrong, or inforce them, or diſherit them of livelihoods, and they having not goods to purſue their Rights, if they require you of ſupportation, you ſhall helpe them with your goods, wiſdome, and counſell, and shew their griefes to the Prince and Judges.
Eightly, ye shall ſweare and pronounce, That ye shall forſake all places diſhoneſt of haſfardie, and daily going to common Tavernes and places of debate, and all manner of vice, and take you to vertues to your power. Theſe Articles, and all other Articles aboveſaid, you shall truly keep So God you helpe, and by the Croſſe of this123 Sword, that belongeth to Knighthood.
The Oath of a Purſevant of Armes, at his Creation.
FIrſt, ye ſhall ſweare, That ye ſhall be true to the moſt High, Mightie, and moſt excellent Princeſſe, the Queens moſt excellent Highneſſe that now is; and if ye have any knowledge, or heare any imagination of Treaſon, of Language or word, that ſhould ſound to the derogation or hurt of her Eſtate and Highneſſe, which God forbid, ye ſhall in that caſe as haſtily and as ſoone as is to you poſſible, diſcover and ſhew it unto her Highneſſe, or to the Honourable and diſcreet Councell.
Secondly, ye ſhall alſo diſpoſe you to be lowly, humbly, and ſerviceable to all thoſe States Univerſall, that be Chriſtians, not lying in wait to blame, ne124 hurt none of the ſaid Eſtates in any thing that may touch their Honours
Thirdly, ye may diſpoſe to be ſecret and ſober in your Port, and not to abuſe in Language, readie to commend, and loath to blame, and diligent in your ſervice, eſchiewing vice, and taking you to virtue, and true in your reports; And ſo to exerciſe whiles you be in the Office of Purſevant, that your merits may cauſe your more preferment in the Office of Arms in time to come, All ſuch Articles and things as belong to a Purſevant of Armes to keepe, you ſhall well and truly keepe and obſerve. So God you help, and Holidome and by the Contents of this Booke.
The Oath of the Knights of the Round Table, in the time of King Arthur.
NOt to put off your Armour from your Bodie, but for requiſite reſt in the night.
The ſearch for marvellous adventures, whereby to winne renowne.
To defend the poore and ſimple people in their right.
Not to refuſe aid unto them that ſhall ask it in any juſt quarrell.
Not to hurt, offend, or play any lewd part the one with the other.
To fight for the protection, defence and welfare of his friends.
Not to purchaſe any goods or particular profit, but Honour and the Title of honeſtie.
Not to breake faith promiſed or ſworne, for any cauſe or occaſion whatſoever.
126To put forth and ſpend his life for the honour of God and his Countrie, and to chuſe rather to die honeſtly than to live ſhamefully.
The Oath which the new King of Pelonia made to the Turke, in Anno 1573.
Promiſe and ſweare by the〈◊〉•nighty God mercifull, and•••ng the maker of Heaven and Earth, and of all things that are therein, by theſe holy Evangeliſts, by holy Baptiſme, and by Chriſtian faith, That all thoſe that I know ſhall be manifeſted to high and mighty Solomon, Emperour of the Turks, whoſe Empire God certefie, I will be friend to his friends and enemie to his enemies: I will be a redeemer of his Captives out of the hands of his Enemies, there ſh••be no fraud or deceipt on my part. If I ſhall neglect127 thus to doe, I will be an Apoſtata, a forſaker of the holy Commandments, of the Goſpell of the Chriſtians; I will ſay that the Goſpell is falſe and untrue; I will croſſe both Alter and Prieſt; I will ſlay Swine upon the Fount, I will deny the holy Trinity, and will worſhip them; I will commit whoredome upon the Altar; and will receive the courſe of the Saints even as God ſhall behold me from Heaven.
The Oath of Homage done and performed by an Arch-Biſhop.
IF your Homage by reaſon of my Tenure in the Mannour of A. in the County of B. become Leidgman of life and limbe, and of earthly worſhip and faith and troth, I ſhall beare unto you, to live and die againſt all manner of men; as God me28 help, and all Saints. I ſhall be faithfull and true, and faith and truth ſhall beare to you my Soveraigne Lord King H. and to your Heires Kings of England, of life and limbe, and earthly worſhip, for to live and die againſt all people; and diligently I ſhall intend unto your needs and buſſneſſe, after my wit and power; and your Counſell I ſhall keepe and leine, and truly I ſhall knowledge; And the ſervice due of the Temporalties of my Arch Biſhoprick B. C. the which I claime to hold of you, and the which ye gave and yeeld to me; And to you and your Commandments in that to me appertaineth and belongeth, I ſhall be obeyſant. As God me help, and all Saints.
The Oath Appointed by Queene Elizabeth, in June 1579. to be miniſtred by the Lord Preſident of Wales unto the Councell eſtabliſhed in thoſe parts, &c.
YOu ſhall ſweare, That to the uttermoſt of your power, wit, and cunning, you ſhall true and faithfully to the Queenes Highneſſe our Soveraigne Ladie, and to her Heires and Succeſſors; And that you do utterly teſtifie and declare in your conſcience, that the Queenes Highneſſe is the onely Supreme Governour of this Realme of England, and of all other her Highneſſe Dominions and Countries, as well in all Spirituall or Eccleſiaſticall things or cauſes, as Temporall; And that no Prince, Perſon, Prelate, State, or Potentate, hath, or ought to130 have any Juriſdiction, Power, Supremacy, Preem nence, or Authority: And do promiſe, That from henceforth you ſhal beare faith and true Allegiance to the Queenes Highneſſe her lawfull Heires and Succeſſors, and to your power ſhall aſsiſt and defend all Juriſdictions, Priviledges, Preeminencies and Authorities, granted or belonging to the Queenes Highneſſe, her Heires and Succeſſors, or united and annexed to the Imperiall Crowne of this Kingdome and Realme.
You ſhall not know nor have any thing that may any way be prejudiciall to her Highneſſe, or to her Common-wealth, peace and quiet of this her Highneſſe Realme, but you ſhall with all diligence reveale and diſcloſe the ſame to her Highneſſe, or to ſuch other perſon or perſons of her Graces Privie Councell as you ſhall thinke meet, and will131 ſooneſt convey it, and bring it to her Highneſſe knowledge.
You ſhall ſerve her Majeſtie truly and faithfully in the room and place of her Highneſſe Councell; You ſhall in all things to be moved, treated, and debated in any Councell, faithfully and truly declare your minde and opinion, according to your heart and conſcience; in no wiſe forbearing ſo to do, for any manner reſpect of favour, meed, dread, diſpleaſure, or corruption.
You ſhall faithfully and uprightly, to the beſt of your power cauſe Juſtice to be duly and indifferently miniſtred to the Queenes Majeſties Subjects, that ſhall have cauſe to ſue for the ſame, according to the equitie and the Order of the Law.
Finally, You ſhall be vigilant, diligent, and circumſpect in all your doings and proceedings, touching the Queenes132 Majeſty and all her Affaires.
All which points and Articles before expreſſed, with all other Articles ſigned with the Queenes Majeſties owne hand, and delivered to me the Lord Preſident of her Highneſſe Councell eſtabliſhed in thoſe parts, you ſhall faithfully obſerve, keep, and fulfill, to the uttermoſt of your power, wit, will, and cunning. So help you God, and the Contents of this Book.
The Oath that a G•ntleman Ʋſher doth give to any that is ſworne the Kings Servant in the time of H. 8.
FIrſt, you ſhall ſweare upon the holy Evangeliſts, That you faith and truth ſhall beare unto our moſt gracious and moſt dread Soveraigne Lord and unto his Iſſue Kings of England.
Ye ſhall be here ſworn in and unto the roome of a Gentleman133 Uſher, or &c. whereunto at this preſent time by the Kings Highneſſe Commandment you are admitted and received, you ſhall from henceforth truly and diligently attend and wait.
Ye ſhall not know or conceale any thing prejudiciall compaſſed, attempted, or imagined, againſt our ſaid moſt gracious and moſt dread Soveraigne Lord the King or his Iſſue, or any of them; but you ſhall incontinently upon the ſaid knowledge diſcover the ſame unto my Lord great Chamberlaine, or elſe to Maſter Vice-Chamberlaine, and in their abſence, to one of the Uſhers of the Kings Chamber.
Ye ſhall not diſcover any ſecrets or other things that may touch the Kings moſt Honourable Councell, or to the Honour of his Chamber.
Ye ſhall be obedient unto the Lord Great Chamberlaine Mr. 134Vice-Chamberlaine, and unto the Uſhers of the ſaid Chamber, and to their Commandments fully, and keep to the uttermoſt of your power.
Ye ſhall eſchew all manner of Ryots, Rowtes, unlawfull Aſſemblies, and making of Bands, Quarrels, Debates, Strifes, Controverſies, either within the Kings Chamber, or without; and ye ſhall forbid and let the ſame, to the uttermoſt of your power; And yee ſhall let the ſaid Officers or one of them have knowledge thereof without any further delay.
Ye ſhall not weare neither Liverie, Cognizance, nor Badge of no mans, be retained of no man, but onely to the Kings Majeſtie; nor ye ſhall not retaine contrary to the Statute
Ye ſhall not depart out of the Kings Court, without Licenſe had and obtained of my Lord Great Chamberlaine, or elſe of135 Maſter Vice-Chamberlaine, or his Deputy in his abſence.
All the which Premiſſes, and every of them with all and ſingular other Commandements whatſoever they are, or ſhall happen to bee given you in charge, on the behalfe of our moſt Gracious and moſt Excellent Majeſtie by my Lord Great Chamberlaine, Maſter Vice-Chamberlaine, or any of the ſaid Uſhers; Ye ſhall on your behalfe obſerve, performe, fulfill and keepe, to the uttermoſt of your power. So helpe you God, and all his Saints, and by the Holy Contents of this Booke.
The Oath Miniſtred to the Kings Servants, as well Knights and Eſquires for the Body as others, in the time of Henry 8.
YE ſhall be from henceforth during your life naturall, faithfull and true, and faith ſhal beare, and faithfully and truly ye ſhall ſerve the King our Soveraigne Lord H. 8. by the grace of God King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland, and in earth Supreame Head of the Church of England, and to his Heires of his Bodie begotten, againſt all men that may live or die, of what Eſtate. Degree, or Condition ſoever they be
Yee ſhall