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 nothing do or at tempt that in any manner of wiſe may be hurtfull or prejudiciall to our ſaid Soveraigne Lord, or to his Heires; And if137 it ſhall happen at any time hereafter, any thing to come to your knowledge, that in any manner of waies be hurtfull or prejudiciall to our ſaid Soveraigne Lord, or to his Heires, or that may touch the ſurety or honour of their perſons, yee ſhall not onely let it to the beſt of your power, but alſo in all haſt poſsible ſhall ſhew it to our Soveraigne Lord, or to ſome of his Councell attending upon his Perſon, ſo that the ſame may come to the knowledge of his Grace.
Alſo ye ſhall not be, nor ſtand confederate, nor Banded, nor Band your ſelfe, or yet be retained in any cauſe or matter, to, or with, or towards any manner of perſon, of what eſtate, condition, or degree ſoever he be of privily or openly; neither by Promiſe, Signe, Indenture, Fee, nor by any other manner of wiſe whatſoever138 it be, otherwiſe then the Law will ſuffer or permit you.
You ſhall alſo diligently ſerve the Kings Grace in the roome of N. N. and not depart from the Court where his Grace for the time ſhall be, unleſſe yee be licenced ſo to doe by his Grace, or by his Lord Chamberlaine, or in his abſence by his Vice Chamberlaine, and to be obedient in that they ſhall command you to doe within the Kings Houſe, or elſewhere, touching the Kings ſervice in that appertaineth to the roome of N. N. well and truly keepe, and obſerve on your behalfe. So helpe you God, and all his Saints and by this Booke.
The Oath miniſtred in Parliament to the Duke of Bedford, and other Lords Spirituall and Temporall, for the according of all Controverſies between the Duke of Gloceſter, and the Biſhop of Wincheſter Chancellor of England, in the fourth yeare of H. 6.
THat my Lord of Bedford, and my ſaid Lords Spirituall and Temporall, and each of them ſhall as farre forth as her cunning and diſcretion ſufficiently, truly, juſtly, and indifferently counſell, and adviſe the King, and alſo proceed and acquit himſelfe in all the ſaid matters and quarrels withouten, that they or any of them ſhall privily, or appert make, or ſhew himſelfe, or be party, or parcell therein nought, being,140 or eſchewing ſo to doe for affection, love, meed, doubt, or dread) of any perſon or perſons, and that they ſhall in all waies keepe ſecret all that ſhall be conveyed by way of counſell in the matters and quarrels aboveſaid in the foreſaid Parliament, withouten that they, or any of them ſhall by word, writing, or in any wiſe open it, or diſcover it to any of the ſaid parties, or to any other perſon that is not of the ſaid Councell; but if he have eſpeciall commandement thereto of the King, or of my ſaid Lord of Bedford, and that each of them ſhall with all his might and power by him, and by his ſtrength, and aſsiſt by way of Councell, or elſe unto the King to my ſaid Lord of Bedford, and to the remnant of my ſaid Lords, to put the ſaid parties to reaſon, and naught ſuffer, that any of the ſaid parties141 by them, or theirs, proceed or attempt by way of feet againſt the Kings Peace; nor helpe, aſsiſt, or comfort any of them hereto, but let him with all her might and power, and wi•hſtand him, and aſsiſt unto the King, and my ſaid Lord of Bedford in keeping of the Kings Peace, and redreſſing of all ſuch manner of proceedings by way of feet and force.
The Oath of a Biſhop.
J A, B, Doctor in Divinity, late Biſhop of D. and now elected Biſhop of L. do verily teſtifie and declare in my conſcience, that your Majeſty is the only ſupreame Governour of this Realme of England, and of all other your Majeſties Domions and Countries, as well in all Spirituall and Eccleſiaſticall Cauſes, as Temporall, and that no Forreigne Prince, Perſon,142 Prelate, State, or Potentate hath, or ought to have any Juriſdictory power, ſuperiority, preeminence, or authority Eccleſiaſticall or Temporall within this Realme; and therefore I doe utterly renounce and forſake all forraigne Juriſdictions, Powers, ſuperiorities, and authorities, and doe promiſe that from henceforth I ſhall and will beare true faith and allegiance to your Majeſty, your lawfull Heires, and Succeſſors, and to my power ſhall aſsiſt, and defend all Juriſdictions, Priviledges, Preeminents, and Authorities granted and belonging to your Highneſſe, your Heires, and lawfull Succeſſors, or united or annexed to the Imperiall Crowne of this your Majeſties Realmes; and further I acknowledge and confeſſe to have the ſaid Biſhop of L. and the Poſſeſsions there of your Highneſſe; and after the143 ſame I doe my homage preſently unto your Majeſty, to whom and to your lawfull Heires and Succeſſors, I ſhall be faithfull and true. So help me God, and the contents of this book.
The Oath of a Privie Counſellor, framed now in the time of King James.
YOu ſhall ſweare, To be a true and faithfull Servant unto the Kings Majeſtie, and one of his Privie Councell; you ſhall not know, or underſtand of any manner thing to be attempted, done or ſpoken againſt his Majeſties Perſon, Honour, Crowne, or dignity Royall, but you ſhall let and withſtand the ſame to the uttermoſt of your power, and either cauſe it to be revealed unto his Majeſtie himſelfe, or to ſuch of his Privie Councell as ſhall advertiſe his Highneſſe of the ſame;144 you ſhall in all things to be moved, treated, and debated in Councell, faithfully and truly declare your minde and opinion according to your heart and conſcience, and ſhall keepe 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 Councells 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 his Majeſtie, or of the Councell, publication ſhall be made thereof; You ſhall to your utmoſt beare faith and allegiance unto the Kings Majeſtie, his Heires, and lawfull Succeſſors, and ſhall aſsiſt, and defend all Juriſdictions, Preeminences, and Authorities granted to his Majeſtie, and annexed to his Crowne againſt all forreigne Princes, Perſons, Prelates,145 or Potentates, &c by Act of Parliament or otherwiſe; and generally in all things you ſhall doe as a faithfull and true Servant and Subject ought to doe to his Majeſty. So helpe you God, and by the holy contents of this book.
The Oath of the Lord Privie Seale.
YEE ſhall as farre forth as your cunning and diſcretion ſufficeth, truly, juſtly, and evenly execute, and exerciſe the Office of Keeper of the Kings Privie Seale to you by his Highneſſe committed, not leaving or eſchewing ſo to doe for affection love, meede doubt, or dread of any perſon or perſons, and yee ſhall take ſpeciall regard that the ſaid Privie Seale in all places where you ſhall direct unto, may be in ſuch ſubſtantiall wiſe uſed and ſafely,146 that no other perſon without the Kings ſpec•all commandment, or your aſſent or knowledge, ſhall more ſeale, or imprint any thing with the ſame; and generally yee ſhall obſerve, fulfill, and doe all and every thing which to the Office of the Keeper of the Kings Privie Seale duely belongeth and appertaineth. So helpe you God, and by the contents of this book.
The Oath of a Secretary of State.
YOu ſhall ſweare, To be a true and faithfull Servant unto the Kings Majeſtie, as one of the Secretaries of his Majeſties Highneſſe Privie Councell; you ſhall not know or underſtand of any matter or thing to be attempted, done, or ſpoken againſt his Majeſties Perſon, Honour, Crown or Dignity Royall,147 but you ſhall let and withſtand the ſame to the uttermoſt of your power, and either doe or cauſe it to be revealed, either to his Majeſty himſelfe, or to his Privie Councell; You ſhall keepe ſecret all matters revealed and committed unto you, or that ſhall be ſecretly treated of in Councell, and if any of the ſaid Treaties or Councells ſhall touch any of the ſaid Councellors; you ſhall not reveale the ſame unto him, but ſhall keepe the ſame untill ſuch time as by the conſent of his Majeſty, or of the Councell publication ſhal be made thereof; you ſhall to your uttermoſt beare faith and allegiance unto the Kings Majeſty, his Heires, and lawfull Succeſſors and ſhall aſsiſt, and defend all Juriſdictions. Preeminencies, and Authorities granted to his Majeſty, and annexed to his Crown, againſt all forreigne Princes,148 Perſons, Prelates, Potentates, &c. by Act of Parhament or otherwiſe; And generally in all things you ſhall doe as a faithfull and true Servant, and Subject (ought to doe) to his Majeſty. So help you God, and by the holy contents of this booke.
This clauſe above noted thus, C. C. is the ſame which is ſet downe more largely in the Oath of Supremacie, in the firſt Act of Parliament, in the firſt yeare of Queen Elizabeth, which Oath muſt be taken at the ſame time with this, and therefore is not needfull to be here recited.
The Oath of the Lord Keeper of the Great Seale of England.
YE ſhall ſweare, That well and truly you ſhall ſerve149 our Soveraigne Lord the King, and his people in the Office of the Lord Keeper of the Great Seale of England, and ye ſhall doe right to all manner of People, poore and rich, after the Lawes & Uſages of this Realm, and truly yee ſhall councell the King and his Councell, you ſhall leave and keepe, and you ſhall not know, nor ſuffer the hurt or diſ-heriting of the King, or that the rights of the Crowne be decreaſed by any meane, as farre forth as you may let it, and if you may not let it, you ſhall make it cleerly and expreſly to be knowne unto the King, with your true advice and counſell, a•d that you ſhall doe, and purchaſe the Kings profit in all that you reaſonably may, as God you help and by the contents of this book.
The Oath of the Clerke of the Signet.
YOu ſhall be true to our Soveraigne Lord the King, and his Heires and Succeſſors, Kings and Queenes of England; and alſo you ſhall keepe ſecret his Councell in all things you ſhall be privie unto concerning the Office of the Signet, without uttering or diſcloſing the ſame to any perſon; and if you ſhall heare, or know any thing either in word or deed which ſhal be in any wi•e to the derogation or hurt of his Majeſties Perſon and Royall Eſtate, you ſhall it let to your power as in you lieth; and as honeſtly as is poſſible ſhall diſcover, and ſhew the ſame to his Highneſſe, or to ſome of his diſcreet Councell. So help you God, and by the holy contents of this book.
The Oath of the Deputy of the Towne of Calice, ordered by Parliament in Anno XXVII. Hen. 8.
YEe ſhall ſweare, That yee shall be faithfull and true unto our Soveraigne Lord King Henry 8. by the grace of God King of England, and of France, defender of the Faith, Lord of Ireland, and in Earth ſupreame head of the Church of England; And if yee shall know any thing that shall be prejudiciall or hurtfull unto his Highneſſe, or his Heires, or to his Towne of•a•i•e, or Marches of the ſame; yee shall reſiſt the ſame to the uttermoſt of your power, and in caſe ye cannot, ye shall without delay declare the ſame unto his Highneſſe, or to ſuch of his Councell as ye thinke will shew it unto him: and yee shall ſafely keep to the uſe of our ſaid152 Soveraigne Lord, and of his Heires, and defend to the uttermoſt of your power this his Towne of Calice, and Marches of the ſame, as much as to you by reaſon of your Office belongeth; And in all things to be done that toucheth the ſafeguard, defence, and good Governance of the ſaid Towne, and Marches; Yee shall give as it shall need from time to time your true, faithfull, and diligent Counſell to the other the Kings Officers of the ſame Towne and Marches, and yee shall at no time be abſent from your ſaid Office without the Kings ſpeciall licenſe obtained in that behalfe; Yee shall well and truly overſee the Marshall, and all other Officers his, and their Miniſters and Servants, and their Charge, and every one of them in his degree intreat in his Office as appertaineth, not ſuffering any of them153 to doe in his ſaid Office, or by colour thereof, any exceſſe, extortion, bribery, or exaction; and if any of them be found, or approved in that caſe culpable, that without favour or delay ye proceed to the punishment of them, and every of them to the example of other; Ye ſhall doe your devoyer at your power to the keeping of the Peace among all eſtates, and other perſons of what degree or condition ſoever they be within the ſaid Towne dwelling, or thereunto from time to time repairing, not ſuffering any Congregations, Aſſemblies, Commotions, or Conventicles to be made within the ſaid Towne, againſt the ſaid Peace, or againſt the good, reſtfull, and Politique Governance of the ſaid Towne; And if any perſon of what degree or condition ſoever he or they be within the ſaid Towne, that154 provoketh privily, or appartly any ſuch Congregation, Aſſembly, Commotion, Sedition or Conventicle as be found faulty thereof, either elſe that taketh upon him any unlawfull maintenance, to the perturbance or violation of the ſaid Peace, or againſt right to oppreſſe by might any perſon; Yee ſhall reſiſt and let, with the advice and ayd of the reſidue of the Kings Councell of the ſaid Towne, and doe ſuch puniſhment thereunto as with reaſon may ſerve, without any exception of perſon, not ſparing ſo to doe for favour, love, dread, or meede of any perſon; And that as much as in you ſhall lye, to your power you ſhall foreſee that the ſaid Towne be ſufficiently Victualled from time to time, as unto the ſame neceſſarily ſhall appertaine or belong; And yee ſhall overſee the Rule and Governance of the155 Mayor, and Aldermen of the ſaid Towne touching all manner of Victuall and other things•ppertaining to their charge for the Common Weale, profit, and pollicy of the ſaid Towne, and if any default yee ſinde therein yee ſhall miniſter and ſhew it unto them, charging them to amend and redreſſe it, and if they be therein negligent or froward, yee ſhall then by the ſaid advice purvey ſuch remedy by your wiſedome and diſcretion as can be though moſt expedient with reaſon; And if you, and the ſaid Counſell cannot provide remedy in that behalfe, that then ye ſhall diſcloſe the ſome to the Kings Highneſſe or to ſuch of the Kings Councell as yee thinke verily will informe the Kings Highneſſe thereof with ſpeed; And yee ſhall adminiſter truly, rightfully, and indifferently, Juſtice to all manner perſon154〈1 page duplicate〉155〈1 page duplicate〉156and perſons that ſhall have any cauſe moved or depending before you in the ſaid Towne and Marches, without having any manner of reſpect to any perſon for love, meede, cread, or favour: And yee ſhall in time conveniable, after your ſaid diſcretion, viſit, and overſee the Locks and ſhutting of the Gates and Poſternes of the ſaid Towne, and alſo the governance of the Watch, Tower walls, and Ditches of the ſame, and generally all other things neceſſary for the ſurety, ſafeguard, and defence thereof; And yee ſhall not appoint, nor admit any perſon or perſons into any roome within the retinue of the ſaid Towne belonging to your Admiſsion: but if the ſame perſon or perſons be borne within the Realme of England, Wales, Ireland, the ſaid Towne of Calice, and the Marches of the ſame; and that the157 ſaid perſon or perſons be not Artificers, except he or they be a Bowyer, or Armorour, Fletcher, Croſſe-bow-maker, or Smith, and the ſame perſon ſo by you named not to be admitted to any ſuch roome, nor to enjoy nor exerciſe the ſame roome to the time he be viewed, examined, and enabled thereunto, as well by the Treaſurer and Comptroller, as by the reſidue of the Kings Councell there then being preſent; And you ſhall admit, nor ſuffer any Alien borne out of the Kings obeyſance, to take and inhabit any dwelling houſe within the Towne of Galice and Marches of the ſame as much as to you appertaineth, except the ſaid perſon be licenced by the Kings Letters Patents ſo to doe under his Great Seales any Grant, or Grants heretofore made to the contrary notwithſtanding; And yee ſhall ſee158 ſurely to be kept, and ſafely and ſtraightly cauſe to be obſerved as much as in you lieth all manner of Statutes, Lawes, and Ordinances made, or to be made by the King our Soveraign Lord Henry 8 or by his Councell authoriſed for the ſame, for the ſafeguard, tuition, defence, and good orders of his Towne of Calice, and the Marches of the ſame doing due execution upon the tranſgreſſors of any of the ſaid Statutes, Lawes, and Ordinances, having no regard to the perſons ſo tranſgreſsing for affection, meede, dread, or any other cauſe whatſoever; As God you helpe, and the holy Evangeliſts.
The Oath of the Lieutenant of Guyſnes, ordered by Parliament Anno 27. H. 8.
YEe ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall be faithfull and true to our Soveraigne Lord King Hen. 8. by the Grace of God King of England, and of France, Defender of the Faith Lord of Ireland, and in Earth ſupreame head of the Church of England, and to his Heires, and if you ſhall know any thing that ſhall be prejudiciall or hurtfull unto his Highneſſe, or his Heires, or his Towne of Caliee, or Marches of the ſame, yee ſhall refiſt the ſame to the uttermoſt of your power, and in caſe ye cannot, yee ſhall without delay declare the ſame unto his Highneſſe, or to ſuch of his Councell as yee thinke will ſhew it unto him; And ye ſhal ſafely keepe to the uſe, and behoofe of our ſaid Soveraigne160 Lord, and of his Heires, and defend to the uttermoſt of your power the Caſtle, Towne, and County of Guyſnes, by his Highneſſe appointed and aſſigned to your ſafe keeping, and in all things to be done that toucheth the defence, and good Governance of the Towne of Calic•, and Marches of the ſame; yee ſhall give from time to time your true, faithfull, and diligent counſell and aſsiſtance to the Kings Deputy for the time being, and other of the Councell and Officers of the ſame Towne and Marches, and yee ſhall be perſonally remaining, and be reſident upon your room and Office there, and atno time to be abſent from the ſame without the Kings ſpecial licence obtained; And you ſhall well and truly overſee that all the ſaid Officers and Miniſters of the ſaid Caſtle and Towne, and County of Guyjnes, that ſhall161 ſerve the Kings Highneſſe there under you ſhall diligently doe, cauſe, and ſuffer to be done all and every thing and things that unto them ſhall appertaine and belong concerning the ſure and ſafe keeping of the ſaid Caſtle, Towne, and County, and if any of them be found, and approved to be remiſſe or negligent in doing his, or their duty, that then yee without any favour or delay, proceed to the correction and punition of him or them ſo offending; and that yee doe your duty to your power to the keeping of the Peace among all and every perſon and perſons, of what degree or condition he or they be dwelling within the ſaid Caſtle, Towne and County of Guyſnes, or thereunto from time to time repairing, not ſuffering any unlawfull Congregations, Conventions or Conventicles to be made within the ſaid Caſtle,162 Towne, or County of Guyſm•againſt good, reſtfull, and Politique Governance of the ſame, and duly to correct all and every perſon or perſons ſo offending; and that as much as in you ſhall lye, yee ſhall foreſee that the ſaid Caſtle be furniſhed with Victuals, as with all other things appertaining to the ſafe cuſtody of the ſame that to you belongeth of the duty of your ſaid Office; And that you truly, rightfully, and indifferently adminiſter Juſtice unto all and every perſon and perſons that hereafter ſhall have any cauſe or matter moved, or depending before you in the ſaid Caſtle, Towne, and County of Guyſnes, without having any manner of reſpect to any perſon or perſons, for love, dread, meede, malice, or affection; And that you from time to time as much as in you is foreſee, that the Kings Highneſſe163 be not deceived, or defrauded in any of his Poſſeſsions, Rents, Revenues, and Profits which to his Highneſſe ſhould appertaine within the ſaid Caſtle, Towne, and County; And yee ſhall no appoint, ne admit any perſon or perſons within the retinue of the ſaid Caſtle; but if the ſaid perſon or perſons be borne within the Realme of England, Wales, Ireland, the ſaid Towne of Calice, or Marches of the ſame; and that the ſaid perſon be ſworne to be true Leigeman unto the King our Soveraigne Lord, and unto his Heires; And finally, yee ſhall obſerve and keepe, or cauſe to be obſerved and kept as much as in you ſhall be during the time that you ſhall be Captain there, all manner of ſtatutes, Lawes, and Ordinances made, or to be made by our ſaid Soveraigne Lord his Heires, or Succeſſors or by his or their Councell164 authoriſ•d for the ſame, for the ſafeguard, tuition, defence, and good orders of the Caſtle, Towne, and County of Guyſnes, doing due execution upon the Tranſgreſſors offending any of the ſame Statutes, Lawes, and Ordinances, having no regard to the perſon ſo offending, for love, favour, meed, dread, or other cauſe whatſoever. So help you God, Holydame, and all Saints, and by this book.
The Oath of the High Marſhall of Calice, ordained by Parliament in Anno 27. Hen. 8.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall be faithfull and true to our Soveraigne Lord King H. 8. by the Grace of God King of England and France, Defender of the Faith, Lord of Ireland, and in Earth ſupreame165 head of the Church of England, and to his Heires; And if yee ſhall know any thing that ſhall be prejudiciall or hurtfull unto his Highneſſe, or his Heires, or unto his Towne of Calice, or Marches of the ſame, yee ſhall reſiſt the ſame to the uttermoſt of your power; And in caſe ye cannot, yee ſhall without delay declare the ſame unto his Highneſſe, or unto ſuch of his Councell as yee think will ſhew it unto him; Yee ſhall be diligent obedient and attendant to the Deputy of the ſaid Towne and Marches for the time being, in thoſe things that to the ſervice of the Kings ſure, good politique Government, and defence of the ſaid Towne and Marches appertaineth, and in all things to be done that toucheth the defence, ſafeguard, and good Government of the ſaid Towne of Calice, and Marches of the ſame, ſhall give as it166 ſhall need from time to time your true, faithfull, and dilicounſell to the Deputy for the time being, and to the Kings Councell, and Officers of the ſame Towne and Marches, and them aid, and aſsiſt to the uttermoſt of your power; and yee ſhall ſet, or doe to be ſet the Kings Watch, and that viſit from time to time as unto your Office appertaineth, as it is ordained to be uſed, ſearched; And ye can any better order or devize, yee ſhall ſhew it unto the Deputy, and Kings Councell of the ſaid Town and Marches, to the intent it may be ſet in the ſureſt, and ſtrickteſt way for the ſafeguard of the ſaid Towne and Marches; and that yee preſent not, or doe to be preſented nor impriſoned, nor cauſe to be impriſoned, any manner of perſon, Watch man, or other without reaſonable or juſt cauſe, and if any be impriſoned167 may be delivered without Fees, or Coſts paying. And that yee ſhall duly and truly Arreſt, and doe to be Arreſted, all, and every perſon and perſons, according to the Lawes uſed and accuſtomed within the ſaid Towne, and alſo all and every other perſon or perſons that yee ſhall know to be fugitive, taking the Fees thereunto limited and accuſtomed without exceſſe; and alſo that you take Surety, or doe to be taken of each Priſoner, as well of the Plaintiffe as of the Defendant, to purſue, and anſwer as the Law will ordaine, ſo that every perſon that commeth into the Kings Court may have full right; and if any perſon by chance medſy, drawing Weapon, or ſmiting, that yee lead, or cauſe to be led to Priſon, there to remaine according to the Lawes Cuſtomes, and Ordinances of the Towne; And168 that yee Preſent every fault Preſentable, and that ought by you to be Preſented by vertue of your Office, and if yee ſee any default, or that yee be required of any perſon to take any diſtreſſe for doing or cleanſing of the ſaid Towne that yee doe it duly, and truly, and cauſe it to be done by the Officers under you, ſo that no man have cauſe to complaine thereof; And yee ſhall make good and true Records of all manner of things that ought to be Recorded t•king no other Fees for the ſame then of right and re•ſon have been uſed of old time; And yee ſhall not hold with no Party againſt the other, nor none ſuſtaine; but yee ſhall be true Reverentary, and Reporter of all that which belongeth unto your Office of Marſhall, and if yee heare, or weet of any Mennaces or debate betweene any parties that yee take, or169 cauſe to be taken of both ſaid Parties Sureties, to the intent that the Peace may be kept and holden for the ſaid Towne and Marches, and yee ſhall ſee ſurely to be kept, and ſtraitly cauſe to be obſerved as much as in you lyeth, all manner of Statutes, Lawes, Ordinances made, or to be made by our Soveraign Lord King Hen. 8. or his Heires, or by his Councell authoriſed for the ſame, for the ſafeguard, tuition, defence, and good order of this Towne of Calice and of the Marches of the ſame, doing due execution upon the Tranſgreſſors of any of the ſame Statutes, Lawes, and Ordinances, having no regard to the perſon ſo Tranſgreſsing for affection, meede, dread, or any other cauſe whatſoever.
The Oath of the Lieutenant of the Caſtle of Calice, ordained by Parliament in Anno 27. H. 8.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall be faithfull and true to our Soveraigne Lord King Hen 8. by the Grace of God, King of England, and of France, Defender of the Faith, Lord of Ireland and in Earth ſupreame head of the Church of England, and to his Heires, and if ye ſhall know any thing that ſhall be prejudiciall or hurtfull unto his Highneſſe, or his Heires, or unto his Towne of Calice, or Marches of the fame; Yee ſhall reſide the ſame to the uttermoſt of your power, and in caſe yee cannot, yee ſhall without delay declare the ſame unto his Highneſſe or unto ſuch of his Councell as yee thinke will ſhew it unto him; Yee ſhall give as it171 ſhall need from time to time your true, faithfull, and diligent counſell to the Kings Deputy of his Towne, and Marches of Calice for the time being, and to the Kings Councell, and Officers of the ſame Towne and Marches, and them ſhall aid and aſsiſt to the uttermoſt of your power, in all things to be done concerning ſafeguard, defence, and good governance of the ſaid Towne and Marches; Yee ſhall ſafely keepe true Engliſh to the uſe and behoofe of our Soveraigne Lord, and of his Heires to the uttermoſt of your power, his Caſtle and Fortreſſe of Calice, by his Highneſſe appointed and aſsigned to your ſafe keeping; Yee ſhall perſonally remaine, and be reſident upon your ſaid roome, and Office there, and at no time to be abſent from the ſame without the Kings ſpeciall licence for the ſame872 obtained; And you ſhall well and truly overſee that all Officers, Souldiers and Miniſters of the ſaid Caſtle and Fortreſſe, that ſhall ſerve the Kings Highneſſe there under you ſhall diligently doe, cauſe, and ſuffer to be done, all and every thing and things that unto them ſhall appertaine and belong, concerning the ſure and ſafe keeping of the ſaid Caſtle and Fortreſſe; and if any of them be found and proved to be remiſſe or negligen in doing his, or their duty, or duties, that then yee without favour or delay proceed to the correction and punition of him or them ſo offending; And that you doe your duty to your power to the keeping of the Peace among all and every perſon or perſons; of what condition he or they be dwelling within the ſaid Caſtle or Fortreſſe or thereunto from time to time repairing, not173 ſuffering any unlawfull Congregations, Conventions, or Conven•icles to be made within the ſaid Caſtle or Fortreſſe, againſt good, reſtfull, and Politique Government of the ſame, and duly to correct all and every perſon and perſons offending; And that as much as in you ſhall lye, you ſhall ſee that the Caſtle and Fortreſſe be furniſhed as well with Victuals, and with all other things appertaining to the ſafe cuſtody of the ſame that to you belongeth by duty of your Office, and that you truly, rightfully, and indifferently adminiſter Juſtice to all and every perſon and perſons, that hereafter ſhall have any Cauſe or matter moved, or depending before you in the ſaid Caſtle or Fortreſſe, without having any manner of reſpect to any perſon or perſons, for dread, meed, malice, or affection; And yee ſhall not174 appoint, ne•admit any perſon or perſons within the retinue of the ſaid Caſtle or Fortreſſe, but if the ſaid perſon or perſons be borne within the Realme of England, Wales, and Ireland, or being Engliſh borne within the ſaid Towne of Calice, or Marches of the ſame; and that the ſaid perſon to be true Leigeman unto the King our Soveraigne Lord, and to his Heires. And finally, yee ſhall obſerve and keepe, or cauſe to be obſerved and kept as much as in you ſhall be during the time yee ſhall be Lieutenant there, all manner Statutes, Lawes, and Ordinances made, and to be made by our ſaid Soveraigne Lord, his Heires, or his Succeſſors, or by their Councell authorized for the ſame, for the ſafeguard, tuition, defence, and good Orders of the ſaid Caſtle and Fortreſſe, doing due execution upon the Tranſgreſſors175 ſo offending any of the ſaid Statutes, Lawes, and Ordinances, having no regard to any perſon ſo offending for affection, meed, dread, or any other cauſe whatſoever. So God, &c.
The Oath of the Treaſurer of Calice, as it was ordained by Parliament in the 27. yeare of Hen. 8.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall be faithfull and true to our Loveraigne Lord H. 8. by the Grace of God, King of England, and of France, Defender of the Faith, Lord of Ireland, and in Earth ſupreame head of the Church of England, and to his Heires, and if yee ſhall know any thing that ſhall be prejudiciall and hurtfull unto his Highneſſe, or his Heires, or unto his Towne of Calice, or Marches of the ſame; Yee ſhall reſiſt the ſame to the uttermoſt176 of your power and in caſe yee cannot, yee ſhall without delay declare the ſame unto his Highneſſe, or unto ſuch of his Councell as yee thinke will ſhew it unto him; Yee ſhall be diligent, obedient, and attendant to the Deputy of the•aid Towne, and Marches for the time being in thoſe things that to the ſervice of the King, ſure and Politique Governance, and defence of the ſaid Towne and Marches appertaineth, and in all things to be done that toucheth the ſafeguard and defence, and good governance of the ſaid Towne of Calice, and Marches of the ſame; Yee ſhall give as it ſhal be need from time to time your true, faithfull, and diligent counſell to the Deputy for the time being and to the Councell and Officers of the ſame Towne and Marches, and them aide, and aſsiſt to the uttermoſt of your power, and that177 to your knowledge, wit, and power, for as much as in you is during the time you ſhall be in your Office, you ſhall endeavour your f•lfe to ſee his Highneſſe anſwered, and truly ſatisfied of all Rents, Revenues, iſſues, Profits, and Commodities, as well caſuall as certaine, whatſoever they be or ſhall be which his Highneſſe of right ought for to have, or hereafter ſhall have, or be, or ſhall be to him belonging by any manner of meane within the ſaid Town, County, and Marches; and that he be in no wiſe defrauded, or deceived thereof by your negligence or default; and that yee make no payment of none Wages to none Officer nor other Souldier, unto ſuch time as due Muſter be had, viewed, and taken, and the ſame comptrolled by the Comptrollers Booke for the time being; And yee ſhall from time to time,178 during the time yee ſhall be in your Office, ſee all Artificers which be, or ſhall be in Wages under your Governance and Rule, diligently, duly, and truly exerciſe and occupy their Occupations, and Myſteries in the Kings Workes, and that you ſhall not appoint, or admit any perſon or perſons into the Office or roome of a Speare, or other Souldier within your retinue, but if the ſaid perſon or perſons be borne within the Realme of England, Wales, Ireland, the ſaid Towne of Calice, or Marches of the ſame; and that the ſaid perſon be ſworne to be true Leige-man unto the King our Soveraigne Lord, and his Heires, and be an able perſon to ſerve the King, for the defence of the ſaid Towne and Marches; And ſinally you ſhal obſerve and keep, or cauſe to be obſerved and kept as much as in you ſhall be during the time179 that you ſhall be in your Office, all manner Statutes, Laws, and Ordinances made, or to be made by our ſaid Soveraigne Lord, his Heires and Succeſſors, or by his or their Councell authorized for the ſame, for the ſafeguard tuition, defence, and good Orders of the ſaid Towne and Marches. So help you God, &c.
The Oath of the Lievtenant of Ruisbanke, as it was ordained by Parliament in Anno 27. of Hen. 8.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall be faithfull and true to our Soveraigne Lord King Henry the eight, by the Grace of God, King of England. and of France, Defender of the Faith, Lord of Ireland, and in Earth ſupreame head of the Church of England, and to his Heires; and if yee ſhall know any thing180 that ſhall be prejudiciall or hurtfull unto his Highneſſe, or his Heires, or unto his Towne of Calice, or Marches of the ſame, yee ſhall reſiſt the ſame to the uttermoſt of your power, and in caſe yee cannot, yee ſhall without delay declare the ſame unto his Highneſſe, or unto ſuch of his Councell as ye think will ſhew it unto him; Ye ſhall give from time to time as it ſhall need your true, faithfull, and diligent Counſell to the Kings Deputy of his Towne and Marches, and them ſhall aide and aſsiſt to the uttermoſt of your power in in things to be done concerning the ſafeguard, defence, and good Governance of the ſaid Towne and Marches; ye ſhall ſafely keep true Engliſh to the uſe and behoofe of our ſaid Soveraigne Lord, and of his Heires, and defend to the uttermoſt of your power his Caſtle and Fortreſſe181 of Ruisbanke, by his Highneſſe appointed and aſsigned to your ſaid keeping; Yee ſhall be perſonally remaining and refident upon your ſaid Office and Roome there, and at no time to be abſent from the ſame without the Kings ſpeciall licenſe for the ſame obtained; And you ſhall well and truly overſee that all Officers, Souldiers, and Miniſters of the ſaid Caſtle and Fortreſſe, that ſhall ſerve the Kings Highneſſe there under you ſhall diligently doe, cauſe, and ſuffer to be done, all and every thing and things that unto them ſhall appertaine and belong, concerning the ſure and ſafe keeping of the ſaid Caſtle and Fortreſſe, and if any of them be found, and proved to be remiſſe, or negligent in doing his or their duty; That then ye without favour, or delay, proceed to the correction and punition of him, or182 them ſo offending, and that you doe your duty to your power to the keeping of the Peace among all and every perſon and perſons, of what degree or condition ye or they be dwelling within the ſaid Caſtle or Fortreſſe, or thereunto from time to time repairing, not ſuffering any unlawfull Congregations, Conventions, or Conventicles to be made within the ſaid Caſtle or Fortreſſe againſt good, reſtfull, and Politique Governance of the ſame, and duly to correct all and every perſon and perſons offending; and that as much as in you ſhall lye you ſhall ſee that the ſaid Caſtle and Fortreſſe be furniſhed as well with Victuall as with all other things appertaining to the ſafe cuſtody of the ſame that to you belongeth by duty of your ſaid Office; and that you truly, rightfully, and indifferently adminiſter Juſtice183 to all, and every perſon and perſons that hereafter ſhall have any cauſe or matter, moved or depending before you in the ſaid Caſtle or Fortreſſe, without having any manner of reſpect to any perſon or perſons for love, dread, meed, malice, or affection; And ye ſhall not admit ne appoint any perſon or perſons within the ſaid Caſtle and Fortreſſe, but if the ſaid perſon or perſons be borne within the ſaid Realme of England, Wales, Ireland, or being Engliſh borne within the ſaid Town of Calice, or Marches of the ſame; and that the ſaid perſon be ſworne to be true Leige-man unto the King our Soveraigne Lord and unto his Heires; And finally, you ſhall obſerve and keep, or cauſe to be obſerved and kept as much as in you ſhall be during the time you ſhall be Lievtenant there, all manner of Statutes, Laws, and Ordinances184 made, and to be made by your ſaid Soveraigne Lord, his Heires, or his Succeſſors or by his or their Councell authoriſed for the ſame, for the ſafeguard, tuition, defence, and good orders of the ſaid Caſtle and Fortreſſe, doing due execution upon the tranſgreſſors offending any of the ſaid Statutes, Lawes, and Ordinances, having no regard to the perſon ſo offending for love, favour, meed, dread, or other cauſe what ſoever. So help you God, &c.
The Oath of the Lievtenant of Hannues, as it was ordained by Parliament, in Anno 27. Hen. 8.
THe ſaid Lievtenant ſhall take the like Oath as is ordained for the Lievtenant of Ruisbanke.
The Oath of the Comptrollor of Calice, as it was ordained by Parliament in Anno 27. Hen. 8.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That ye ſhall be faithfull and true to our Soveraigne Lord King Hen. 8. by the Grace of God, King of England, and of France, Defender of the Faith, Lord of Ireland, and in Earth ſupreame head of the Church of England, and to his Heites, and if you ſhall know any thing that ſhall be prejudiciall or hurtfull unto his Highneſſe, or his Heires, or unto his Towne of Calice, or Marches of the ſame, yee ſhall reſiſt the ſame to the uttermoſt of your power; and in caſe ye cannot, ye ſhall without delay declare the ſame unto his Highneſſe, or unto ſuch of his Councell as yee thinke will ſhew it unto him; ye ſhall be diligent,186 obedient, and as Tendant to the Deputy of the ſaid Towne and Marches for the time being, in thoſe things that to the ſervice of the Kings. Suer, good Politique Governance, and defence of the ſaid Towne and Marches appertaineth; And that you ſhall not be abſent from your ſaid Office without the Kings ſpeciall Licenſe obtained in that behalfe, and in all things to be done that toucheth the ſafeguard, defence, and good governance of the ſaid Towne of Cilice and Marches of the ſame ſhall give as it ſhall need from time to time your true, faithfull, and diligent counſell for the time being and to the Kings Councell and Officers of the ſame Towne and Marches, and them ayd and aſsiſt to the uttermoſt of your power; And you ſhall ſo much as in you is that due Muſters ſhall be taken at all the whole187 retinue, at two ſeverall times in the yeare before the paying of their Wages, and oftner if need ſhall be thought by the Deputy and the Kings Councell of the ſaid Towne to be needfull; and in as much as in you is, and ſhall be from time to time, ye ſhall ſee that the Deputy, Souldiers and all other Officers and Miniſters whatſoever, be reſident, attendant, and furniſhed as to them in every degree appertaineth; and ſuch as yee ſhall finde defective, or faulty from time to time; ye ſhall reforme, and doe therein as to your Office belongeth; ye ſhall alſo diligently and particularly overſee the Proviſions made, and to be made of all and every thing and things neceſſary and expedient for the Kings Works, Buildings, and Reparat one within the ſaid Towne and Marches, and diligently ſee that all Artificers, and Workmen,188 that from time to time ſhall be retained in the Kings Wages, ſhall doe their duties in all ſuch things for the which they are ſo retained; And that you from time to time, as much as in you is, foreſee that the Kings Highneſſe be not deceived, nor defrauded of any of his Poſſeſsions, Rents, Revenues, Woods, Waters, Cuſtoms, Forfeitures, and other Profits, as well certaine as caſuall, whatſoever they be which to his Highneſſe ſhall of right appertaine. And that ye ſhall not appoint, nor admit any perſon or perſons into the roome of a Souldier within your retinue, but if the ſaid perſon or perſons be borne within the ſaid Realm of England, Wales, and Ireland, and the ſaid Towne of Calice, and Marches of the ſame, and the ſaid perſon to be ſworne to be true Leige-man unto, the King our Soveraigne Lord, and189 to his Heires; and to be an able perſon to ſerve the King for defence of the•aid Towne and Marches. And finally, ye ſhall obſerve and keep, or cauſe to be obſerved and kept, as much as in you ſhall be, during the time that you ſhall be in your Office, all manner of Statutes, Lawes, and Ordinances made and to be made, ut ſupra.
The Oath of the Maſter Porter, as it was ordained by Parliament, in Anno 27. H. 8.
YEe ſhall ſweare, That ye ſhall be faithfull and true to our Soveraigne Lord King Henry 8. by the grace of God King of England, and of France, Defender of the Faith, Lord of Ireland, and in each Supreme Head of the Church of England, and to his Heires; and if ye ſhall know any thing that ſhall be pre•udiciall190 or hurtfull unto his Highneſſe or his Heires, or unto his Towne of Callic•, or Marches of the ſame; ye ſhall reſiſt the ſame to the uttermoſt of your power; And in caſe ye cannot, ye ſhall without delay declare the ſame unto his Highneſſe, or unto ſuch of his Councell, as ye think will ſhew it unto him; Ye ſhall be diligent obedient, and attendant to the Deputie of the ſaid Towne and Marches, for the time being, in thoſe things that to the ſervice of the King Suer, good politique Governance and defence of the ſaid Towne and Marches appertaineth, and in all things to be done as toucheth the ſafeguard, defence and good governance of the ſaid Towne of Calice, and Marches of the ſame, ſhall give, as it ſhall need, from time to time, your true, faithfull, and diligent counſell to the Deputy, for the time being; And to the191 Kings Councell and Officers of the ſame To•ne and Marches, and them aid and aſsiſt to the uttermoſt of your power; Ye ſhall ſafely keep duly and truly, the Keyes of the Gates of this Towne of Calice at all times, as to your Office appertaineth; and if that you may heare or eſp•coming by Water or by Land any•idings, you ſhall do it to be known to the Kings Deputy of the ſaid Town and Mar••es with diligence; And yee ſhall not raiſe nor ſuffer to be done or raiſed any new cuſtoms which might turne to prejudice or hinderance of any perſon. And finally, ye ſhall ſee ſurely to be kept, and ſtraightly cauſe to be obſerved, as much as in you lieth, all manner of Statutes, Lawes, and Ordinances made or to be made by our ſaid Soveraigne Lord or his Heires and Succeſſors, or by his Councell authorized for the ſame,192 for the ſafeguard, tuition, defence, and good Orders of this Towne of Calice, and Marches of the ſame doing due Execution upon the Tranſgreſſors of any of the ſaid Statutes, Lawes, and Ordinances, having no regard to the perſon ſo tranſgreſſing, for affection, meed, dread, or any other cauſe whatſoever, So God &c.
The Oath of the Lieutenant of Newenham Bridge, as it was ordained by Parliament, in Anno 27. H. 8.
THe ſaid Lieutenant ſhall take like Oath as is Ordained before for the Lieutenant of Ruitbanke.
The Oath of the under Marſhall of Calice, as it was ordained by Parliament, in Anno 27. Hen. 8.
YE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall be faithfull and true to our Soveraigne Lord King Henry 8. by the grace of God King of England, and of France, Defend or of the Faith, Lord of Ireland, and in Earth Supreme head of the Church of England, and to his Heires; and if you ſhall know any thing that ſhall be prejudiciall or hurtfull to his Highneſſe or his Heires, or unto his Towne of Calice, or Marches of the ſame, ye ſhall reſiſt the ſame to the uttermoſt of your power; and in caſe ye cannot ye ſhall without delay declare the ſame to his Highneſſe, or to ſuch of his Councell as ye think will ſhew it unto him; Yee ſhall bee obedient to the194 Kings Deputy for the time being, in all things to be done, that toucheth the ſafeguard, defence, and good governance of the ſaid Towne of Calice, and Marches of the ſame; ye ſhall give, as it ſhall need, from time to time, your true, faithfull, and diligent counſell to the Kings Deputy for the time being, and to the Kings Councell, and Officers of the ſame Towne and Marches, and them aid and aſsiſt to the uttermoſt of your power; Ye ſhall truly fet, and do to be ſet the ſtand-Watch nightly on the Wals of the ſaid Towne at the Caſtle hill, and ſhall ſuffer no perſon or perſons to keepe and furniſh the ſaid ſtand-watch but ſuch perſon or perſons as ſhall be by you appointed and ſworne according to the Oath for the ſame deviſed; and alſo take ſureties for his or their Abearing in the Watch; And that ye neither preſent, nor do to be195 preſented, ne impriſoned, nor cauſe to bee impriſoned, any manner of perſon or Watchman, nee other whatſoever, without reaſonable and true cauſe; And if you finde any perſons in Chance medly, drawing any weapon, or ſmiting, that ye do leade, or cauſe to be lead, him or them to priſon without any let; And that ye preſent, or do to be preſented, every fault that belongeth to your Office to bee preſented duly and truly; and that ye take not, or cauſe to be taken any other fees of any perſon or perſons then of right and of reaſon have bin uſed, and of old time accuſtomed, belonging to your Office; And alſo you ſhal not hold with no party againſt other nor none ſuſtaine; but•ee ſhall be true Referender of all that that belongeth to your Office of under Marſhall and ye ſhall nightly be in the Market-place to196 take the Report of the Typpedſtaves of the furniſh•ng of the Watches in the Eaſt and Weſt Houſes on the Wals, and ſhall certifie the ſame Report unto the Kings Deputy immediately. And all other things do that appertaine to your ſaid Office of under-Marſhall, during the time you ſhall continue in your ſaid Office. So helpe you God, &c.
The Oath of them that be or ſhall be made of the Kings Councell of the Towne and Marches of Calice, as it was ordained by Parliament in Anno 27. Hen. 8.
YEe ſhall ſweare, That ye ſhall be good, true, and faithfull unto our Soveraigne Lord King Henry the 8. by the Grace of God, King of England, and of France, Defender of the Faith, Lord of Ireland, and in197 Earth ſupreame head of the Church of England, and to his Heires and ye ſhalbe ready with good attendance to come to the place of Councel holden for the King, where it ſhall be aſsigned and appointed by the Deputy of his Towne, and Marches of Calice for the time being, and not abſent you there-from without reaſonable cauſe of excuſation, and that in all matters, cauſes, and queſtions that by the ſaid Councell be, or ſhall be opened moved, ſtirred, or asked, you ſhall ſay and utter your good advice, and opinion, clearly after your diſcretion and underſtanding, ſhewing, and giving in concluſion your true and faithfull counſell, not letting for favour, affection, love, affinity, hatred, wrath had, or borne to any party, or for corruptions of any goods, or other things whatſoever it be; And that all manner Languages,198 Reaſons, Concluſions had, moved, or uttered in the ſaid Councell ye ſhall effectually keep them ſecretly, and not diſcover them in no wiſe in other forme or manner then by the ſame Councell ſhall be ordained, deviſed, and accorded; and whereas you can deviſe, thinke, or purpoſe any thing, forme, or rule that might be evident to turne to the honour, weale, and commodity of the King our Soveraigne Lord or to the good governance of this Towne and Marches, ye ſhall at all times ſhew, and move it to the Councell to the intent that it may be ordained and executed. Theſe things aboveſaid, & every of them with all their circumſtances and dependances ye ſhall duly exerciſe, uſe keep and doe from time to time during your abiding in the ſaid Councell, with all the ſpirits of your good minde. So help you God,199 and the Holy dame, and by this book.
The Oath given to a Knight of the Bath at the time of his creation.
GReat Worſhip be this noble Order unto you, and Almighty God give you Grace well to keep it; you ſhall be ſtrong in the Faith of Holy Church, you ſhall releeve as right requireth, Widows Maids, and Orphants; you ſhall love and dread God above all things, you ſhall love the King your Soveraigne Lord, and him and his right defend to your power; you ſhall ſuffer no Extortion as farre forth as you may nor ſit in any place where wrongfull Judgement ſhall be given to your knowledge; and as great honour be this noble Order unto you, as it was to any of your Kinne or Progenitors, before you or any others.
The Oath of the Captaines and Souldiers ſerving the Eſtates of Zeland.
VVEE ſweare and promiſe, To be faithfull to the Queenes Majeſty of England, our Soveraigne, and to the generall united Provinces of the Low Countries, eſpecially to the Eſtates of this Province of Zeland, to the end to keepe his Towne of Fluſhing, with the Forts belonging to the ſame for the aſſurance of her Majeſty, the profit of the ſaid Eſtates, and the maintenance of the true Chriſtian Religion, as it is at this preſent exerciſed as well in England as in the Towne and Country of Zeland, and to yeeld all due obedience to our Governour chiefe, and Captaines. So God us help.
The Oach and Homage made by James the King of Scots, unto King Henry 6. in the ſecond yeare of his Reigne over England.
I Iames Steward King of Scots, ſhall be true and faithfull unto you Lord Henry, by the grace of God King of England and France, the noble and Superiour Lord of the King of Scotland, which I hold and claim to hold of you; and I ſhall beare you my faith and fidelity of life and limbe, and worldly honour, againſt all men; and faithfully I ſhall knowledge, and ſhall do to you ſervice due to the Kingdome of Scotland. So God help me, and theſe holy Evangeliſts.
The Oath of a Tenant that doth Atturne to the Lord of a Mannour.
YOu ſhall become true and lawfull Tenant, and true faith beare to the Lord of this Mannour, for ſuch Lands as you hold of the ſame Lordſhip, and do ſuch Cuſtomes and Services, as of right ye ought to do, ſaving the faith that you beare to any other Lands So help you God, and by the Contents of this Booke.
The Oath uſed in a Court Baron, to ſwedre any to the Queenes Highneſſe.
YOu ſhall be true Liegeman, and true faith beare to our Soveraigne Lady Elizabeth Queen of England, France, and Ireland, and to her Heires and Succeſſors; You ſhall be no Thiefe,203 nor Thiefs Feir, but if you know of any, you ſhall do the Queenes Majeſties Juſtices to weet of them, as ſoone as you can and you ſhall live by ſuch good and true occupation as God lent you, uprightly and truly, ſo farre as God will give you grace. So helpe you God, and by the Contents of this Booke.
The Oath that is to he given to any Jury, before Evidence given in againſt a priſoner at the Barre.
YOu ſhall true Deliverance make betweene our Soveraigne Lord the King, and the Priſoner at the Barre as you ſhal have in charge, according to your Evidence as neere as God ſhall give you grace. So helpe you God, and by the Contents of this Booke.
The Oath given to a Bayliſſe or Serjeant, that attendeth on any Jury or Inqueſt at an Aſſize.
YOu ſhall well and truly keep this Inqueſt from meat and drinke, fire and candle; you ſhall not ſuffer any man to ſpeake with them, neither ſhall you your ſelfe ſpeak with them, more than to aske them, If they be agreed, untill ſuch time as they be agreed. So helpe you God, and by the Contents of this Booke.
The Oath for Evidence upon the Arraignement of the Priſoner at the Barre.
THe Evidence that you ſhall give to this Inqueſt againſt the Priſoner at the Barre, ſhall be the truth, and the whole truth, and nothing but the truth205 as neere as God ſhall give you grace So help you God, and by the Contents of this Booke.
The Oath to be given by any jury, by whom a Niſi prius is to be tried.
YOu ſhall truly try this Suit of Niſi prius betweene party and party, according to the Evidence as ſhall be given you in Court, as neere as God ſhall give you grace. So help you God and by the Contents of this Booke.
The Oath to be given to ſuch as are to give Evidence betweene a party and party, at an Niſi prius.
THe Evidence that you ſhall give to this Inqueſt concerning the matter in variance, ſhall be the truth and the whole truth, and nothing but the206 truth, ſo neere as God ſhall give you grace. So helpe you God, and by the Contents of this Booke.
The ſame Oath that your foreman hath ſworne, you of your part ſhall well and truly keepe. So help you God, and by the Contents of this Booke.
The Oath of the great Inqueſt.
YE ſhall truly enquire, and due preſentment make of all ſuch things as you are charged withall on the Queenes behalfe, the Queenes Councell, your owne, and your fellowes, you ſhall well and truly keepe; And in al other things the truth preſent. So help you God, and by the Contents of this Booke.
The Oath of thoſe that give Evidence upon Bils of indictment.
THe Evidence that you ſhall give to the Inqueſt, upon this Bill ſhall be the truth, and the whole truth, and nothing but the truth; And you ſhall not let ſo to do for malice, hatred, or evill will, nor for meed, dread, favour, or affection. So helpe you God, and the holy Contents of this Booke.
The Oath of ſuch as are to be bayled upon ſuſpition for Felony or Murder.
J A. B. ſhall from henceforth during all my life, be true Liegeman, and true faith beare unto our Soveraigne Ladie Elizabeth, and to her Heires and Succeſſors Kings and Queenes of this Realme; and ſhall commit208 no Murder, Treaſon, or Miſpriſion of Treaſon, nor conſent or agree to any ſuch Offence, nor ſhall know any perill or damage to his Grace, or to the Realme, or other Dominions aforeſaid, but ſhall reveale and diſcloſe it with all ſpeed unto ſuch as have the Lawes in Government; nor ſhall commit any Felony or Murder, or be acceſſary to any ſuch Offence or Offences; but ſhall live a good and an obedient Subject during my life. So helpe me God, and the Contents of this Booke.
The Oath of the Approver baniſhed.
HOc Audis due Coronator quod Ego, A A. ſum Latronius equi vel Alterius Rei, vel Homicidia, unius per homines vel Plurimorum & fel. Dom. Regis H. & quia multa Mula, & Latricinia, Perpetram in hac Terra209 abjura Regnum H. Regis Anglia, & deheo me feſtinare verſus portum de &c. quem dediſſe mihi, & quod non debeo devertere ab altu via, et ſi faciam volo quod ſivi captus ſicut latro & fel. Dom. Regis, ut quod apud &c. queram diligentur Tranſitum meum, & non expectabo ibi, viſi fluxum, et refluxum maris unum ſi tranſitus haberi poterit, & viſi Tanto Spatio abire potero, iho quolibet die in mare uſquead genua tentane tranſire, & viſi hoc potero infra, 40. dios continues, mittum me iterum in eceleſium ſicut latero & fel. Dom. Regis, ſic me Deus adjuvet, ſecundum judicium.
The Oath which Philip Duke of Burgoyne tooke, acknowledging, and promiſing to obey King H. 5. as the right Inheritor of the Kingdom of France, After Charles the firſt Kings Death.
I Philip, Duke of Eurgoyne, For me and my Heires, ſweare,210 and make Oath upon theſe holy Evangeliſts, to Henry of England, and Heire Apparant and Regent of France, by the Soveraigne Lord King Charles, that meekly and faithfully ſhall obey the ſame King Henry, in all things that appertaine to the King of France, as to the Commonweale of the ſame Realme; & immediately after the death of the ſaid King Charles, our Soveraigne Lord, we ſhall be true and faithfull Leiges to the ſaid King Henry, his Heires, and Succeſſors; and furthermore, we ſhall not be of Councell, nor give our conſent to no things that may be to the prejudice of the ſame King H. his Heires, and Succeſſors, wherein they may ſuffer any derogation or detriment of their bodies, of their Members, Poſſeſsions, or Honours; And if we know of any conſpiracie againſt him, his Heires, or Succeſſors in all the haſt to us211 poſsible, either by our Letters, or elſe by our. Truſtie Meſſengers, to declare, That they may the better provide to eſchew the perills thereof.
When the Dukes Oath was thus finiſhed, as many as were preſent there, both of the Kings Councell, and alſo of the Parliaments, Biſhops, Lords, Knights, and Commons, made the ſame Oath to the King. and 23 and 24. dayes of the ſame moneth of May 14. the Chancellor of France, and many other Lords, Biſhops, Prelats, and Noblemen of the Realme gave the like Oath to King H,
The Oath of the Chancellor of England.
YEE ſhall ſwear•, That well,All the Oathes marked with this mark, were Copied out of an old Roll in Parchment, remaining in the Office of the Petty Bagg in January, 1625. and truly, yee ſhall ſerve our Soveraigne Lord the King, and his People, in the Office of212 Chancellor, & ye ſhall do Right to all manner of People, Poore and Rich, after the Lawes and uſuages of this Realme, and truly yee ſhall counſell the King, and his counſaile yee ſhall-laine and keepe and ye ſhall not know nor ſuffer the hurt nor diſ-heriting of the King, nor that the Rights of the Crowne, be diſtreſſed, by any meane•, as farre forth as you may let; And if yee may not let it, yee ſhall make it clearely and expreſly knowne to the King, with your true advice and counfaile; And that yee ſhall doe, and purchaſe the kings profit, in all that yee may, as God helpe you and the holy Evangeliſts.
The Oath of the Treaſurer of the Exchequer
YEE ſhall ſweare, That well, and truly, yee ſhall ſerve the King our Soveraigne Lord, and213 his People in the Office of Treaſurer, And ye ſhall doe Right to all manner of People, Poore and Rich, of ſuch things as toucheth your Office; And the Kings Treaſure truly, yee ſhall keepe and diſpend; And truly yee ſhall counſaile the King, and his counſaile ye ſhall layne, and keepe; and that yee ſhall neither know nor ſuffer the Kings hurt, nor his diſ-heriting nor that the Rights of his Crowne be diſtreſled by any meanes, as farre forth as yee may let; And if yee may not let it, yee ſhall make knowledge thereof clearely and expreſly, to the King, with your true advice, and counſaile: And yee ſhall doe, and purchaſe the Kings profit in all that yee may reaſonably doe, as God you helpe, and the holy Evangeliſts.
The Oath of the Barones of the Exchequer.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That well and truly yee ſhall ſerve the the King, in the Office of Baron of his Exchequer; And that truly yee ſhall charge, and diſcharge all people that have Accompt before you; and that yee ſhall do Right to all manner of People, as well to Poore as to Rich And that for Highneſſe, nor for Riches, nor for hatred, nor for the eſtate of no manner of perſon, nor for any good deed, gift,•e promiſe of any perſon, the which is made to you or may be made to you nor by crafts. nor by Engines, the Kings Right, nor none other perſons yee ſhall diſturbe, let, nor reſpite againſt the Lawes of the Land, nor the Kings Debts, yee ſhall put in reſpite where that they may goodly be leavied;215 And that the Kings Needes yee ſhall ſpeede before all other, And that neither for gift, wages, nor good deed, yee ſhall laine, diſturbe, nor let the profit, and the advantage of the King, in advantage of any other perſon, nor of your ſelfe; And that no things yee ſhall take of any perſon, for to doe wrong, or Right to delay of, for to deliver, or delay the people, the which that have to doe before you; But as haſtily as yee may them goodly to deliver without hurt to the King; And having no reward to any profit that might thereof to you be made, then yee ſhall make to be delivered; And that whereas yee may know any wrong or prejudice to be done to the King, yee ſhall put, and doe all your power and diligence, that to redreſſe and if ye may not doe it, yee ſhall tell it, to the King, or to them of his Councell, the216 which may make relation to the King, if ye may not come to him; And the Kings Councell yee ſhall keepe, and layne in all things: As God you helpe, and all his Saints.
The Oath of a Iudge, endorſo claus de Anno 20. Edw. 3. Part. prima.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That well and truly yee ſhall ſerve our Soveraigne Lord, the King and his People in the Office of Juſtice; And tfiat yee ſhall counſell, our Soveraigne Lord the King in his needes; And that yee ſhall not give any connſaile, or aſſent to any thing the which might turne to hurt or diſ-heriting of the King by any way or colour and that ye ſhall not know any hurt or diſ-herting of the King; but that ye ſhall make it to him known by you or by ſome other perſon. And that217 yee ſhall doe equall Law and Execution of Right, to all the Kings Subjects Rich and Poore, without having regard to any perſon; And that ye ſhall not take by you, or by any other privily, ne appart any gift, or reward of Gold or of Silver, nor of any other thing, the which might turne you to profit, But if it be meat or drinke; and that of little value, of any man, that ſhall have any Plea or Proceſſe hanging before you, as long as before your ſelfe two Pleas and Proceſſes ſhall be hanging nor after for that cauſe; And that ye ſhall take no fees, as long as ye be Juſtice, nor Roab of any perſon, great or ſmall in any caſe. But of the King himſelfe; And that yee ſhall not give any counſaile or advice to any perſon great or ſmall in any caſe, where the King is party; And in caſe that any perſons in what eſtate that218 they be of, come before you in Seſsions with force and Armes, or otherwiſe, againſt the Peace, or againſt the forme of the Statute hereof made, for to diſturbe the Execution of the Common Law, or for to Mennaſſe the people, that may not doe the Law; That yee ſhall doe, Arreſt their Bodies, and put them in priſon; and in caſe they be ſuch as yee may not Arreſt, that ye ſhall certifie the King of their names, and of their miſdoing haſtily, to that end that ye may thereof Ordaine remedy; And that ye ſhall not maintaine by your ſelfe, nor by none other privily nor openly, any Plea, or Quarrell, hanging in the Kings Cours, or elſe where in the Country; And that ye ſhall not delay any perſon of Common Right, for the Letters of the King, or of any other perſon, nor for any other cauſe; And in caſe that any219 Letters come to you contrary to the Law, that ye ſhall nothing doe for ſuch Letters, but ye thereof ſhall certifie the King; And yee ſhall proceede to doe the Law, the ſame Letters notwithſtanding; and that ye ſhall do and procure the profit of the King and his Crowne, in all things where ye them reaſonable may doe; And in caſe that ye be found in default hereafter, in any of the points aforeſaid, ye ſhall be at the Kings will, of Bodies, Lands, and of honour, to doe thereof that that ſhall pleaſe the King.
The Oath of a Iuſtice for Workes, Weights, and Meaſure.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That in your Office of Juſtice, of Labors, and of Weights, and Meaſures, yee ſhall doe equall Right to the Poore as to the220 Rich, after our cunning, wit and power, and after the forme of Statutes thereof made, and the Iſſues, Fines, and Amerciaments, the which ſhall be made and to be made before you yee ſhall doe truly enter without any conſealement or embeazling, and truly ſend into the Exchequer; And that yee ſhall not leave for gift, nor for other cauſe, but that well and truly ye ſhall doe, your office of Juſtice in that behalfe; And alſo ye ſhall ſweare, that in your office of Juſtice of Peace, and Labours, and of all other Articles contained in the Kings Commiſsion to you directed; Yee ſhall doe equall Right to the Poore, and to the Rich, after your cunning and power, and after the Lawes, and Cuſtomes of the Realme, and the Statutes thereof made, and the Iſſues, Fines, and Amerciaments, the which ſhall be made, or happen221 to be made, and all forfeitures the which ſhall fall afore you, yee ſhall make truly to be entred, without any concealment, imbezling; and truly them to ſend into the Exchequer; And ye ſhall not let for gift, nor for other cauſe, But that well and truly, yee ſhall doe your Office of Juſtice on your behalfe; And that ye take nothing for your Office of Juſtice of Peace to do, but of the King, and Fees accuſtomed; And that yee ſhall not make, or deliver any Warrants to the Parties, but yee ſhall them deliver to the Bayliffes of the County or to other of the Kings Officers or Miniſters of the ſame to doe Execution. As God you helpe, and his Saints.
The Oath of a Sheriffe.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That well and truly ye ſhall ſerve, the222 King in the Office of the Sheriff of Bedford and Berks, and do the Kings profit in all things that belongeth to you to do by way of your Office, as far forth as yee can or may; yee ſhall truly keepe the Kings Rights, and all that belongeth to the Crowne; yee ſhall not aſſent to Decrees, or paſsing, or to concealement of the Kings Rights, or of his Franchiſes; And wherever yee ſhall have knowledge that the Kings Rights, or the Rights of the Crowne been concealed or withdrawne, be it in Lands, Rents, Franchizes, or Suits, or any other things, ye ſhall do pour true power to make them be reſtored to the King againe; And if ye may not do it, yee ſhall certifie the King or ſome of his Councell thereof, ſuch as ye hold for certaine will ſay it to the King; ye ſhall not reſpite the Kings Debts for any gift or favour, where ye may223 raiſe them without great grievance of the Debtors; Ye ſhall truly and righteouſly treat the People of your Sheriffewick, and do right as well to poore as rich in all that longeth to your Office; ye ſhall do no wrong to any man, for any gift or good beheſt, or promiſe of good, nor favour, nor hate; ye ſhall diſturbe no mans right; ye ſhall truly acquit at the Exchequer all thoſe of whom ye ſhall any thing receive of the Kings Debts; yee ſhall nothing take whereby the King may leeſe, or whereby that Right may be diſturbed, letted, or the Kings Debts delayed; Ye ſhall truly returne, and truly ſerve all the Kings Writs, as far forth as it ſhall be in your cunning; Yee ſhall none have to be your under-Sheriffe, or any your Sheriffs Clerks, of the l•ſt yeare paſſed; Yee ſhall take no Bayliffe into your Service, but ſuch224 as ye 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 W•it by you or any of yours unſealed, or any ſealed, under the Seale of any Juſtice ſave of Juſtice of Eyre, or Juſtice aſsigned in the ſame Shire where yee be Sheriffe in, or other Juſtices having power and Authority to make any Writ unto you by the Law of the Land, or of Juſtice Neudigate; You ſhall make your Bayliffes of the true and ſufficient men in the Country: Alſo ye ſhall do all your paine and diligence to deſtroy and make to ceaſe all manner of Hereſie and Errors, commonly called Lollardries, within your Baylywick, from time to time, to all your power; and aſsiſt and be helping to all the Ordinaries and Commiſsaries of Holy225 Church, and favour and maintaine them as oft times as yee ſhall be required by the ſaid Ordinaries and Commiſſaries; ye ſhall be dwelling in your proper perſon within your Bayliwick, for the time ye ſhall be in the ſame Office; ye ſhall not let your Sheriffewick, or any Bayliwick thereof, to farme to any man; Ye ſhall truly ſet and returne reaſonable and due Iſſues of them that be within your Bayliffewick, after their Eſtares and Honour, and make your Pannels your ſelfe; And over this, in eſchewing and reſtraint of the Manſlaughters, Robberes, and other manifold grievous Offences that been done daily, namely, by ſuch as name themſelves Souldiers, and be other Vagarants, the which continually increaſe in number, and multiply, ſo that the Kings true Subjects may neither ride nor go to do ſuch things as they229 have to do, to their intollerable hurt and hindering; yee ſhall truly and effectually with all diligence poſsible to you, execute the Statutes, the whith ye ſhall have knowledge of Theſe things all ye ſhall truly keepe, as God you helpe, you and his Saints.
The Oath of the Sheriffe of Oxon and Berks, Cambridge and Huntington.
YE ſhall ſweare, That well and truly ye ſhall ſerve the King in the Office of Sheriffe of Oxon and Berks, and the Kings profit &c, ut ſupra uſqueibi. So God helpe you and his Saints, Et•unc ſic: And alſo yee ſhall ſweare, That the Maſters and the Schollers of the Univerſity of Oxon, and their ſervants, from injuries and violences yee ſhall keepe and defend by all your ſtrength and power;227 and the Peace in the ſaid Univerſity, as much as in you is, yee ſhall doe keepe; And that ye ſhall give your counſell, and helpe to the Chancellor, and Schollers of the ſame Univerſity, for to puniſh the diſturbers and Breakers of the Peace there, after the priviledges and Statutes of the ſaid Univerſity at all times when it ſhall be needfull; And alſo yee ſhall put your help with all your ſtrength to defend the priviledges, liberties, and cuſtomes of the ſaid Univerſity; And that yee ſhall receive all ſuch Oathes of your Under-Sheriffes, and other your ſaid Miniſters of your ſaid County of Oxon, aſſoone and anon as ye ſhall be at the Caſtle, or at the Town of Oxon, in preſence of any that ſhall be thereto deputed by the ſaid Univerſitie; to the which things, the King will that your ſaid Miniſters, be by you Arted and compelled,228 As God you helpe and all his Saints: Conſimile ſacrum fac. Vio. Cant. & Hunt.
The Oath of a Eſcheator.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall ſerve the King well and truly in the Office of Eſcheator, in the Counties of Bed. and Bucks, and doe the Kings profit, in all things that belongeth to you to doe, by way of your Office, after your wit and power, his Rights and all that longeth to the Crowne yee ſhall truly keepe: Yee ſhall not aſſent to decrees, ne to concealement of the Kings Rights, ne of the Franchizes; And whereſoever ye have knowledge of the Kings Rights or his Crowne be it in Lands, Rents, Franchizes, or Suites be in any wiſe concealed or withdrawne, ye ſhall doe your paine and diligence to withſtand it, and to229 make it be reſtored, and repaired; And if ye may not, ye ſhall ſay it unto the King, or ſuch of his Councell, the which yee ſhall know for certaine will ſay it unto the King; Ye ſhall truly, and righteouſly Treat the people of your Bailiffe-wick, and doe Right to every man, as well to Poore as to Rich in that that belongeth to you to doe; Ye ſhall doe no wrong to any man neither for promiſe, love, nor hate, nor no mans Right diſturbe; Yee ſhall nothing doe, whereby the King may loſe, or whereby that Right may be diſturbed le•ted or delayed; Yee ſhall truly and right wiſely returne, and ſerve the Kings Writs; Yee ſhall in your proper perſon make, or doe to be made the exſtents of Lands and other Revenues, after their very value, and duly charge the Queſtes that be returned before you, and receive the verdicts,230 and returne them as often as they beene taken by you, and that within a moneth; Yee ſhall take no Bailiffe into your ſervice, but ſuch as ye will anſwer for; Ye ſhall make your Bayliffe to make ſuch Oath, as it belongeth to you to give him; Yee ſhall truly, and right wiſely yeeld Accompts at the Kings Exchequer, of all the Iſſues of your ſaid Bailiffewick; Yee ſhall take your Enqueſts in open places, and not privie, and that by Indenture, after the effect of the Statute made thereof. As God helpe you, and his Saints.
The Oath of the Comptroller of the Cuſtomes.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That well and truly ye ſhall ſerve the King in the Office of Comptroller of the Kings Cuſtomes and Subfidies, in the place of Cuſtomer, and truly ye ſhall enter all231 the goods, and things cuſtomable the which ſhall come to the ſaid Port, or ſhall paſſe from the ſame; And that ye ſhall no gift take for to doe your Office, nor for any thing that may fall in diſadvantage of the King, nor any Merchantize, nor any other thing cuſtomable yee ſhall not ſuffer to paſſe out of the ſaid Port, without cuſtome due be paid; And yee ſhall doe the Office your ſelfe, and dwell thereupon in your proper perſon, without making any Subſtitute, or Deputy under you; And ye ſhall write the Rolls with your owne hands, and the Kings profit ye ſhall await, and doe, in as much as ye may after your knowledge and power. As God you helpe, and his Saints.
The Oath of a Tronator.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That well and truly yee ſhall ſerve the232 King in the Office of Tronator, in the City of London, and truly ye ſhall weigh and poyſe the Wooll that ſhall come thither, and ye ſhal not ſuffer any Wooll to paſſe but by certaine weight and poyſe, ordained ſo that neither more nor leſſe be put in the weight, and poyſe, but all onely the certainty; And that all the Wooll the which ſhall come, yee ſhall doe to be weighed, and poyſed out, that for gift nor favour of any perſon, ye ſhall not ſuffer any Wooll to paſſe before that be enterly weighed and poyſed, and ye ſhall dwell and abide, upon your Office in your proper perſon, without making of any Subſtitute or Deputy under you, And ye ſhall wait and doe the Kings profit, and Advantage all that ye may. As God you helpe & his Saints.
The Oath of Cuſtome.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall make continuall abiding in the Port of London, and ſhall overſee the charge of Wooll Leather and Woolfell, and all other Merchandizes and things Cuſtomable, and the number of Sacks in the ſaid Port, and in as much as in you is yee ſhall not ſuffer that the King have hurt or loſſe there; and that true Accompt thereof ye ſhall yeeld; and of the Iſſues of the ſaid Cuſtomes, truly yee ſhall anſwer, without Fauxim or Fraud, to be done in any point, As God you helpe and his Saints.
The Oath of a Juſtice to heare and determine.
YE ſhall ſweare, That ye well and truly ſhall ſerve the234 King as Juſtice, to heare and determine the wrongs and grievances done to the King and his People, after the forme of the Commiſsion to you and to other your fellows thereof made; And ſhall keepe and leane the Kings Councell and Right to your power; Ye ſhall do to all People, as well to the poore as to the rich; And that ye ſhall take no gift of any perſon to do wrong nor right to delay, and that for Highneſſe, nor for Riches, nor for hatred, nor for the Eſtate of any perſon, nor for any good deed gift or promiſe, the which is made to you of any perſon, or may be made to you, nor by craft or maligning Right ye ſhall not diſturbe, nor reſpite againſt Reaſon, and againſt the Lawes of the Land; but without regard of any Eſtate or Perſon, truly ye ſhall do right to all People, after the Lawes aforeſaid So God ye help and his Saints.
The Oath of a Juſtice in Eyre.
YE Iuſtice in Eyre ſhall ſweare, That well and truly yee ſhall ſerve the King in the Office of Juſtice, and ſhall do Right to your power, to all People, as well to poore as to rich; and that for Highneſſe, nor for Riches, nor for hatred, nor for the Eſtate of any perſon, nor for good deed, gift, nor promiſe of any perſon that is made to you, or may be made to you, neither by craft, nor by maligny, the right of any perſon ye ſhall not diſturbe nor reſpite, againſt reaſon, nor againſt the Lawes of the Land; but without having of regard of any Eſtate or Perſon, truly ye ſhall do Right to every perſon after the Lawes and Cuſtomes of the Land; and that ye ſhall nothing take of any perſon for to do236 wrong, or right to delay. So God ye helpe, and his Saints.
The Oath of the Clerke of the Statutes.
YE ſhall ſweare, That well and truly ye ſhall ſerve the King in the Office of Clerke of the Statutes, in the Towne of B. and that ye ſhall be dwelling and abiding upon the ſame Office in proper perſon, without making any Subſtitute or Deputy; And truly ye ſhall enter the Recognizances the which ſhall be made afore you, and them that keepe the greater party of the Seale, ordained for ſuch Recognezances to be taken in the ſaid Towne; And that ye ſhall not receive, nor take any Recognezance without the preſence aforeſaid, that for to doe, be deputed and ordained, and that no manner of Recognezances, the which be not taken237 by you, and them, together as it is aforeſaid; And ye ſhall not enter them, nor make them to be entered, and that all manner of Recognezances ſo before yon, and them made, yee ſhall write and enroll with your owne Hand, As God helpe you, and his Saints.
The Oath of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That well and truly ye ſhall ſerve the King, in the Office of Chancellor of the Exchequer, and well and truly ye ſhal do al that pertaineth and belongeth to the ſame Office; and the Kings Buſines and needes yee ſhall ſpeed afore all others; and that no writ of Judgement of any other Place, but of the Exchequer it ſelfe, ye ſhall not enſeale with the Stale of the Exchequer, as long as the Chancery238 ſhall be 20 miles where the Exchequer doth abide.
The Oath of Fealty.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall be faithfull and true, and faith and truth beare unto the King our Soveraigne Lord, and to his Heires Kings of England, and truly yee ſhall doe, and truly knowledge the ſervices due of the Lands, the which ye claime to hold of him, as in the Right of your Wife, and in the which the King to you doth yeeld. As God helpe you, and all his Saints.
The Oath of the Steward of Gaſcoygne.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That well and truly ye ſhall with all your wit, and withall your power, ye ſhall keepe the Office of the Stewardſhip, of the Dutchie239 of Guyan; And ye ſhall doe right to all People, in that that to you appertaineth and belongeth, And the Townes Caſtles, Fortlots, and the Lands, and Tenements, of the King our Soveraigne Lord in that Dutchie ye ſhall keepe to the uſe of him and his Heires; And ye ſhall not deliver them to any perſon, but to him or to his Heires, or to the which ſhall bring you his Letters Patents, and his Honour his Eſtate, his Rights, and his Seignory ye ſhall keepe, and maintaine to all your power; and if any thing of his Rights, in what things ſoever it be, be withdrawne or concealed, ye ſhall put to your true paine and deavour, that to repeale and retaine in due and right eſtate; and if ye may not that doe; ye ſhall doe it to be knowne to the King. So God ye helpe, and his Saints.
The Oath of the Alneger.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That well and truly yee ſhall ſerve the King and his People, in the Office of Subſtitute Lann your of the King; And that for favour nor for hatred, ye ſhall not let; But that yee ſhall meet the Clothes, the which attaine and belong to your Office to meet truly, and them enſeale with the Seale of your Office; and that truly ye ſhall anſwer to the King of the forfeitures of the Clothes, after the forme contained in the Statute there of late made; And that ye ſhall not tarry nor delay the people; in that that appertaineth and belongeth to your Office; And that ye ſhall uſe your ſaid Office without Fraud, Extortion, or Out-age, to be done to the people. As God you helpe, and his Saints.
The Oath of the Maior of the Staple, and Conſtable of the ſame Staple.
YOu ſhall ſweare, That well and truly ye ſhall ſerve the King and his people in the Office of Maior, of the Staple of Weſtminſter, to the which ye be choſen, and truly ye ſhall Treat the Merchants of the ſame Staple, and equall Right ye ſhall doe to all people, as well to ſtrangers as others after the Ordinances thereof made, and the law Merchant. As God you helpe, and his Saints.
Like Oath ſhall make the Conſtable of the ſame Staple, of that that appertaineth to their Office.
The Oath of the Portage of the Chancery.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That well and truly ye ſhall ſerve the King in the Office of Portage of the Chan••ry, and that yee ſhall be continually abiding upon the ſaid Office, and no time ye ſhall abſent you, without eſpeciall leave of the Chancellor, or of the keeper of the Rolls, and that for good and juſt cauſe, and that ye ſhall not carry nor beare, nor ſuffer the Rolls to be carried or borne to any place, but unto the place, to the ſame Ordained and Deputed; and that yee ſhall not ſhew them to any perſon, but by the Commandment of the ſaid keeper of the Rolls, privily or openly and that yee ſhall not aſſent that any fraud or deceit the which may be done to the ſaid Rolls, as by taking of Coppie, or by the ſight,243 to have of the ſaid Rolls privily, nor in none other manner; and of Fraud, or untruth that ye may know to be done in the ſaid Rolls, or any thing that appertaineth to your keeping of the ſaid Rolls, yee ſhall tell to the ſaid keeper of the Rolls, without any concealment to doe ſo. As God ye helpe, and all Saints.
The Oath of a Biſhops renuntiations of a Popes Bull.
I Renounce all the words comprized in the Popes Bull, made unto me of the Biſhopprick of B the which be contrary and prejudiciall to the King our Soveraigne Lord, and to his Crowne; and of that I put my humblement in his grace, praying to have reſtitution of my Temporalties of my Church of B.
The Oath of a Biſhops Fidelity.
ALſo I ſhall be faithfull, and true, and faith and truth ſhall beare to the King our Soveraigne Lord, and to his Heires Kings of England, of Life and Limbe, and of Earthly worſhip, for to Live and Dye againſt all the people; And diligently, I ſhall be entendant unto the Kings Needs and Buſineſſe after my with and power, and the Kings counſaile I ſhall keepe and laine, and truly I ſhall knowledge and doe the ſervices due of the Temporalties of my Biſhopprick of B. The which I claime to hold of my ſaid Soveraigne Lord the King; And the which he giveth and yeeldeth me, and to him & to his Commandments, in that that to me attaineth and belongeth for my Temporalties, I ſhall be obeyſant. 245As God me helpe, and his Saints.
The Oath of the Kings Serjeant at Law.
YE ſhall ſweare, That ye ſhall well and truly ſerve the King and his people, as one of his Serjeants of the Law, and truly councell the King in his matters, when he ſhall be called, and duly and truly Adminiſter the Kings matters, after the courſe of the Law, after your cunning; ye ſhall take no wages, nor Fee of any man, for any matter where the King is partie; againſt the King ye ſhall as duly and haſtily ſpeed ſuch matters, as any man ſhall have to do againſt the King in the Law, as ye may lawfully doe, without delay or tarrying the partie of his lawfull Proceſle, in that that to you belongeth; yee ſhall be attendant to the Kings matters246 when ye ſhall be called thereunto, As God helpe you and his Saints.
The Homage of a Temporall Lord.
J Become your Leigman of Life and Limbe, and of carthly worſhip and faith and troth, I ſhall beare unto you, for to live and dye, againſt all manner of folke, So God me helpe, and his Saints.
The Oath of a Searcher in the Cuſtome Houſe.
YEe ſhall ſweare, That ye ſhall ſerve the King well and truly in the Office of the Searcher-ſhip in the Port of N. and doe the Kings profits in all things that longeth to you, to doe by way of your Office, and well and truly ye ſhall make due ſearch of all the Ships and247 Veſſells, coming in or paſsing out of the ſaid Port, and truly anſwer the King of all that ſhall belong unto him, in your ſaid Office, without Fraud or Maligne, after your wit and power, As God helpe you and his Saints.
The Oath of a Serjeant at Law.
YEe ſhall ſweare, That well and truly ye ſhall ſerve the Kings people, as one of his Serjeants at Law, And ye ſhall truly counſaile them, that ye ſhall be retained with after your cunning and ye ſhall not deferre, tract, nor delay their cauſes willingly forcovetouſnes of money or other thing that may turne you to profit, and ye ſhall give due attendance according. As God you helpe, and his Saints.
The Oath of the Maſter of the Rolls.
YOu ſhall ſweare, That well and lawfully ye ſhall ſerve the King our Soveraigne Lord and his People, in the Office of Clerke or Maſter of the Rolls, to the which ye be called; Yee ſhall not aſſent, ne procure the diſ-inheritance, ne perpetuall damage of the King, to your power; ne fraud ye ſhall do, nor cauſe to be made wrongfully, to any of his People, ne in any thing that toucheth the Seale; and lawfully yee conceale the things that toucheth the King, when ye ſhall be thereto required; And the counſell that ye ſhall give touching him, ye ſhall not diſcloſe; And if ye know any thing of the diſ-inheritance or damage of the King, or fraud to be made upon any thing that toucheth the keeping of the249 Seale, ye ſhall put your lawfull power that to redreſſe and amend; And if that ye cannot, ye ſhall adviſe the Chancellor or other which may that amend to your power. As God you helpe, and his Saints.
The Oath of the ſix Clerks in the Chancery.
YE ſhall ſweare, That well and truly ye ſhall ſerve the King and his People in the Office of one of the ſix Clerkes of Chancery whereunto ye be admitted, and well and juſtly order your ſelfe in the ſame, according to your learning, and truly counſell them that ye ſhall be retained with. And ye ſhall be diligent to further the Kings buſineſſe from time to time, as need ſhall require: And ye ſhall not aſſent to any fraud or deceit to be had or done by you, or any by your conſent, in any of250 the Kings Records, whereunto ye ſhall have reeourſe; but well and truly ye ſhall entreat the ſame; And ye ſhall not abſent your ſelfe willingly, whereby the Kings buſineſſes or any other ſhal be undone or hindered, without ſpeciall Licenſe of the Maſter of the Rolls, or his Deputie for the time being. As God you helpe, and his Saint.
The Oath to maintaine the Succeſſion of the Crowne of England.
YE ſhall ſweare, To beare faith, truth, and obedience all only to the Kings Majeſtie, and to his Heires of his body of his moſt deere and entirely beloved lawfull wife Queene Anne begotten. And farther to the Heires of our ſaid Soveraigne Lord according to the limitation in the Statute made for ſuretie of his Succeſsion in the Crowne of251 this Realm mentioned and contained, and not to any other within this Realme, nor Forraigne Authority or Potentate. And in caſe any Oath be made or hath been made by you to any perſon or perſons, that then you to repute the ſame as vaine, and annihilated; And that your cunning, wits, and uttermoſt of your power, without guile, fraud, or other undue meane; yee ſhall obſerve, keepe, maintaine, and defend the ſaid Act of Succeſsion; and all the whole effects and Contents thereof, and all other Acts and Statutes made in confirmation, or for due execution of the ſame, or of any thing therein contained; And this ye ſhall do againſt all manner of perſons of what Eſtate Dignity, Degree, or Condition ſoever they be; And in no wiſe do or attempt, nor to your power ſuffer to be done or attempted, directly or indirectly,252 any thing or things privily or apartly, to be let, hinderance, damage, or derogation thereof, or of any part of the ſame, by any manner of meanes, or for any manner of pretence. So help you God, all Saints, and the holy Evangeliſts.
The Oath of a Clerke of the Petty Bagg.
YE ſhall ſweare, That well and truly ye ſhall ſerve the King and his People, as one of his Miniſters and Clerks in the Office of the Petty-bag, whereunto ye be admitted; and well and truly order your ſelfe in the ſame, according to your learning, And ye ſhall be diligent to further the Kings buſineſſe from time to time, as need ſhall require; And ye ſhall not aſſent to any fraud or deceipt to be had or done by you, or any by your conſent, in any of the253 Kings Records, whereunto ye ſhall have recourſe; but well and truly ye shall entreat the ſame. As God you helpe, and his Saints.
The Oath of the Examiner in the Court of Chancery.
YE ſhall ſweare, Well and truly, after your cunning and learning, to excuſe and occupie the Office of one of the Examiners in the Kings Court of Chancerie, whereunto you are admitted; And dulie, juſtlie, and equallie, yee shall examine their Cauſes that shall be committed unto you, without any favour or corruption of any perſon or perſons to be had, otherwiſe than shall of right appertain concerning the ſame; And ye shall be attendant as wel to further the Kings buſineſſe as the ſame Cauſes from time to time, as need shall require; And254 ye ſhall not publiſh, ne ſhew the ſame Depoſitions to any perſon afore publication in the Court, without the Warrant of the ſame Court. As God you helpe, and his Saints.
The Oath which the Duke of Bedford and the Lords Spiritual and Temporal tooke in Parliament in Anno 4. H. 6. Nov. 10. for their ſincere arbitrating of the variances betweene the Duke of Gloceſter and the Biſhop of Wincheſter Lord Chancellor of England,
THat my ſaid Lord of Bedford and my ſaid Lords Spirituall and Temporall, and each of them, ſhall, as far forth as his cunning and diſcretions ſufficent, truly juſtly, and indifferently, counſell and adviſe the King, and alſo proceed and acquit255 himſelf in all the ſaid matters and Quarrels, withouten that they or any of them ſhall privilie, or apart, make or ſhew himſelfe, or be partie or parcell therein, nought be leaving or ſchewing ſo to do, for affection, love, meed, or dread of any perſon or perſons; And that ye ſhall in all wiſe keepe ſecret all that ſhall be communed by way of Councell in the Matters and Quarrels aboveſaid in the foreſaid Parliament, withouten that they or any of them ſhall by word, writing, or in any wiſe open it, or diſcover it to any of the ſaid parties, or to any other perſon that is nought of the ſaid Councell, but if he have eſpeciall Commandment thereto of the King, or of my ſaid Lord of Bedford; And that each of them ſhall with al might and power, by him and by his ſtrength, aid and aſsiſt by way of Counſell, and tell unto the256 King, or to my Lord of Bedford, and to the remnant of my ſaid Lords, to put the ſaid parties to reaſon; and naught ſuffer that any of the ſaid parties, by them or theirs, proceed or attempt by way of Feet, againſt the Kings Peace; nor helpe, aſsiſt, or comfort any of them thereto; but let them with all her might and power, and withſtand them, and aſsiſt unto the King and my ſaid Lord of Bedford, in keeping of the Kings Peace, and redreſsing of all ſuch matter of proceeding by way of Feet and Force.
The Oath Which the Duke of York, and Buckingham the two Arch-Biſhops, 11. Biſhops 6. Earles, two Viſcounts, 18. Abbots, 2. Priours, 17. Barons, tooke in Parliament, unto H. 6. in Anno 33. Nov. 25. for their Alleagiance unto the ſaid King.
I Promiſe unto your Highneſſe, by the Faith and truth that I owe to God and you, that I ſhall true and faithfully keepe the Leigeman that I owe unto you moſt Soveraigne Lord, and to put me in my devoire to doe all that may be to the welfare, honour and ſafeguard of your moſt noble Perſon and Royall Eſtate, Preeminence and Prerogative, and I ſhall at no time, will, or conſent to that, that might in any wiſe ſound to the hurt,258 or prejudice of your ſaid moſt noble perſon, Dignity, Crown, or Eſtate; And over that I ſhall with all my power reſiſt and withſtand all them, that will in any wiſe preſume to attempt the contrarie. So God me helpe, and his Saints.
The Oath which the Duke of York tooke for his. Alleagiance to King Hen. the 6. At the High Alter in St. Pauls Church London, in preſence of the ſaid King, which is entered in the Parliament Roll. Anno 38. H. 6. Nov. 9.
I Richard Duke of Yorke, confeſſe and know, That I am, and ought to be humble Subject and Leigeman, unto you my Soveraigne Lord the King, H. 6. And ought therefore to beare you faith and truth, as to my Soveraigne and Leige Lord;259 and ſo ſhall doe all the daies unto my lives end; and ſhall not at any time will, nor at any thing be attempted or done againſt your moſt Royall Perſon; But whenſoever, I ſhall have knowledge of any ſuch things imagined; or purpoſed, I ſhall with all the ſpeed and diligence poſsible to me, to make that your Highneſſe ſhall have knowledge thereof, and ever do all that ſhall be poſsible to come to the withſtanding thereof, to the uttermoſt of my life; I ſhall not in no wiſe any thing take upon me, againſt your Royall obeyſance, that is due thereto, nor ſuffer any other man to doe, as farre forth as it ſhall lye in my power to let it; And alſo I ſhall come at your Commandment, whenſoever I ſhall be called by the ſame, in all humble and obedient wiſe; But if I be letted by ſickneſſe, or impotency of my perſon, or by260 ſuch other cauſes as ſhall be thought reaſonable to you my Soveraigne Lord; I ſhall never hereafter take upon me to gather any Routs, or make any Aſſembly of your people, without your Commandment or Licence, or my lawfull defence; In the interpretation of which my lawfull defence and declaration thereof; I ſhall report me at all time unto your Highneſſe, and if the caſe require, unto my Peeres, nor any thing attempt by way of faith againſt any of your Subjects, of what Eſtate, Degree, or Condition they be; but whenſoever I ſhall be, or when I ſhall feele my ſelfe wronged or grieved, I ſhall ſue humbly for remedy unto your Highneſſe, as an humble and true Subject ought to have him to his Soveraigne Lord; All theſe things aboveſaid I permit truly to obſerve, and keepe261 by the holy Evangeliſts contained in this Booke that I lay my hand upon, and by the holy Croſſe that I here touch, and by the bleſſed Sacrament of our Lords body; that I ſhall now with his mercy receive, and over this I agree me, and will, that if I at any time hereafter, as with the grace of our Lord, I never ſhall any thing attempt by way of fact or otherwiſe againſt your Royall Eſtate, or obeyſance that ought thereto, or any thing I take upon me, otherwiſe then is above expreſſed, I from that time forth be unable to all manner of worſhip, Eſtate or dignity be it ſuch as I now occupie, or any other that might grow unto me in any wiſe; And this that I have promitted and ſworne proceedeth of my owne deſire and free volunt and by no conſtraint or cohertion; In witneſſe of all the which things above written, I262 Richard Duke of Yorke above written, Subſcribe me with my owne Hand and Seale, this with my owne Seale, &c.
The Oath which was taken in the Parliament at Coventry unto King Henry 6. Anno 38. Nov. 26. by the two Arch-Biſhops, ſixteen Biſhops, five Earles, two Viſcounts, three Dukes, (in the abſence of the Duke of Yorke) fourteene Abbots, two Pryors, and ſeven Barons.
J A. B. knowledge you moſt High and Mighty, and moſt Chriſtian Prince, King Henry 6. to be my moſt redoubted Soveraigne Lord, and right-wiſe by Succeſsion borne to Reigne upon me, and all your Liege People; Whereupon I voluntarily, without cohertion, promit and oblige me, by the faith263 and truth that I owe unto God, and by the faith, truth, and Leigiance, that I owe unto you my moſt redoubted Soveraign Lord, That I ſhall be without any variance, true, faithfull, humble, and obeyſant Subject and Liegeman unto you my moſt redoubted Soveraigne Lord and that I ſhall be unto my lives end, at all times and places, readie and attending at your calling in my moſt heartie wiſe and manner, as any true Liegeman oweth to be unto his Soveraigne Lord, putting me in my true undelayed endeavour, to do all that that may be unto the weale and ſuretie of your moſt Royall Perſon, of your moſt Noble Eſtate, and the verie conſervation, and aſſurance, and continuance of Your moſt High Authoritie, Preeminence, and Prerogative, To the weale, ſuretie, and preſerving of the Perſon of the moſt Noble and Benigne Princeſſe264 Margaret the Queene, my Soveraigne Ladie, and of her moſt High and Noble Eſtate, ſhe being your Wife; And alſo to the weale, ſuretie, and Honour of the Perſon of the right High and Mightie Prince Edward, my right redoubted Lord the Prince, your firſt begotten Sonne, and of the Right High and Noble Eſtate of the ſame, and faithfully, truly, and obeyſantly, in my moſt humble wiſe and manner, honour, ſerve obey, and beare mine Allegiance unto you my moſt redoubted Soveraigne Lord during your life, which God the Father of mercy for my moſt ſingular recomfort, preſerve long in proſperitie to endure; and if God of his infinite Power take you from this Tranſitorie life, me bearing life in this world, That then I ſhall take and accept my ſaid redoubted Lord the Prince, Edward, your ſaid firſt borne165 Sonne, for my Soveraigne Lord, and beare my true Faith and Leigiance unto him as my naturall borne Soveraigne Lord, and after him, unto his Succeſſion of his bodie lawfully begotten; and in default of his Succeſsion, which God defend, unto any other Succeſsion of your Bodie lawfully comming; And that I ſhall never at any time for any manner of occaſion, colour, affinitie, or cauſe, conſent, give aide, aſsiſtance, or favour, or agree to any thing, that I may underſtand, or know by any meanes that may be prejudiciall or contrary to the premiſſes, or any of them: But that I ſhall, as ſoone as I may have knowledge, put me in my undelayed devovre, in moſt heartie and effectuous wiſe and manner, without colour or faintneſſe, with my bodie, goods, might, power, counſell, and advertiſements, to reſiſt, withſtand,266 and ſubdue all them that would in any wiſe preſume to do contrary to the premiſſes, or any of them. So God me help, and thoſe holie Evangeliſts. In witneſſe whereof, I ſet to theſe Preſents my Seale, and my Signe Manuell.
The Oath of the Lieutenant of the Tower of London.
YOu ſhall ſweare, That you ſhall well and truly ſerve the Kings Majeſtie in the Lieutenancie of the Tower of London, and the ſame Tower yee ſhall faithfully and ſafely keepe to the behalfe of his Majeſtie, his Heires and lawfull Succeſſors; And the profit of the Kings Majeſtie ye ſhall do and advance in all things that you, as Lieutenant of the Tower belongeth; And the Rights and Priviledges of the Towre, that to the ſame lawfully appertaine,267 you ſhall keepe and preſerve; You ſhall heare nothing that may be hurtfull to the Tower, or prejudiciall to his Majeſtie, but that with all convenient ſpeed you ſhall diſcloſe it to ſome of his Majeſties Privie Councell: In theſe, and all other things that to a Lieutenant of the Tower belongeth to do, well and faithfully you ſhall, according to your beſt power and knowledge, performe, fulfill, and keepe So help you God &c.
The Oath miniſtred to certaine perſons for the renouncing of their profeſſion of Lollardiſme, in Rich. 2. his time, vide Claus, Anno Rich. 2. Nov. 18. Dorſo.
MEmorandum quod primo die Decembris, Anno Regni Regis Rich. 2. Poſt. Conqueſtum 19 Willus Divet, Nichus Taylor, Nichus268 Poncher, & Will. Staynor, de Nottingham, in Canc. prim. Regis Perſonaliter Conſtit. Sacram. diviſim preſtiteriut, ſub eo qui ſequitur Tenore.
I William Deonet, before you worſhipful Fader Lord Arch-Biſhop of Yorke and your Clergie, with my free will, and full adviſed ſweare to God, and all his Saints, upon the holy Goſpell, That for this day forthward I ſhall worſhip Images with praying and offering unto them, in the worſhip of Saints, that they be made offer; And alſo I ſhall never deſpiſe Pilgrimage, ne States of holy Church in no degree, And alſo I ſhall be Buxim to the Lawes of holie Church, and to yhorne as my Arch-Biſhop, and to my other Ordinaries and Curates, and keepe your Lawes upon my power, and maintaine them; And alſo I ſhall never more maintaine, ne teachen, ne defend a269 Errour, Concluſions ne teachings of the Lollards, ne ſwich Concluſions and Teachings that men clepite Lollards Doctrine, ne ſhall her Bookes, ne ſwich Bookes, ne hem, or any ſuſpect or defamed of Lollardie, receive or company withall wittingly, or defend in your matters; And if I know any ſwich, and alſo I ſhall excite and ſtirre all tho to good Doctrine that I have hindered with my Doctrine, up my power; And alſo I ſhall ſtand to your Declaration which is Hereſie or Errour, and do thereafter; and alſo with Pennance, yhe wooke for, that I have done for maintaining of this falſe Doctrine inmyns me, I ſhall fulfill it, and I ſubmit me thereto up my power; And alſo I ſhall make no other gloſſe of this mine Oath but as the words ſtand; And if it be ſo, that I come againe, or do againe this or any part thereof, I yeeld270 me here comptable as an Heretick, and to be puniſhed by the Law as an Heretick, and to forfeit all my Goods to the Kings will, withouten any other proceſſe of Law; And thereto I require the Notarie to make of all this the which is my will, and inſtrument againſt me.
The Oath of Fidelity, by the Priour of St. Johns of Ieruſalem, in Dorſo Claus, Anno 14. Edw. 4. Nov. 5.
I ſhall be faithfull, and true and faith, and truth ſhall beare to the King our Soveraigne, and to his Heires Kings of England, of Life and Limbe, and of Earthly worſhip for to Live and Die againſt all people, and diligently I ſhall be attendant unto the Kings needes and buſineſſes after my wit and power, and to him and to his Commandments, in that that271 to me attaineth and belongeth I ſhall be obeyſant. As God me helpe and his Saints.
A Copie of Oath of the Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury, and the reſt of the Kings Councell ſworne for performance of the Articles Matrimonial, treated and had betweene the High and mighty Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and the highneſſe of the Infanta of Spaine and their commiſſaries on both Parties, the 20 Iuly, 1625.
I George Archbiſhop of Canterbury, doe ſweare that I will Juſtifie and faithfully obſerve, ſo much as in me lyeth, all and each of the Articles which are contained in the Treaty of Matrimony betweene the moſt Excellent Prince Charles, Prince272 of Wales, and the moſt Excellent Lady, the Lady Mary Infanta of Spaine; And I doe alſo ſweare, That I will neither Execute, nor cauſe to be Executed any Law made againſt any Romane Cotholique, or exact any paine impoſed thereby neither by my ſelſe, nor any inferior Miniſters ſerving under me; but in all things appertaining unto me, I will faithfully obſerve the orders of the Kings Majeſtie in this behalfe made and provided.
The Oath which King Chaarles tooke at the time of his Coronaion.
AFter the Sermon was done the Archbiſhop of Cauteebury came to the King and with a low voyce inquires of his Majeſty, ſaying:
SIR, will you grant and keepe, and by your Oath273 confirme to the people of England their Lawes and Cuſtomes, to them granted by the Kings of England, your lawfull, and religious predeceſſors; and namly the lawes, Cuſtomes and Franchizes granted to the Clergie, and to the People, by the King Saint, Edward, your predeceſſor, according and comformable to the Lawes of God and profeſsion of the Goſpell eſtabliſhed in this Kingdome, and agreeing to the prerogatives of the Kings thereof, and to the ancient Cuſtomes of this Realme.
Reſpons,I grant, and promiſe to keepe.
Sir, will you keepe peace and agreement entierly according to your power both to God, the holy Church, the Clergie, and the People?
Reſpons,I will keepe it.
Sir will you to your power cauſe Law, Juſtice, and mercie274 in diſcretion and truth, to be executed in all your Judgements?
Reſpons,I will.
Sir, will you grant to hold and keepe the Lawes, and rightfull Cuſtomes which the Communalty of your Kingdome have, and to defend and uphold them to the Honour of God, ſo much as in you lyeth?
ReſponsI grant, and promiſe ſo to doe.
Legatur Admonitio, ſequens ab uno Epiſcopo coram omnibus, Clars voce ſic dicendo.
Domine Rex, a vohis perdonaci petimus vnicuiquede nobis & Eccleſiis omnis, commſſis Canonicum, Privilegium & debitam legem atque juſtitiam conſervetis & defentiones exhibiatis, ſicut Rex in ſuo Regno debet, vnicuiqueEpiſcopo & Eccleſiis ſibi Commiſſis.
Reſpondet Rer.Animo Liberti, & devoto, promitvobis,275 & pardn•quia vnicuiquede vobis, & Eccleſiis vobis Comiſſis. Canovicum Privelegium, & debitam legem, atquejuſtitiam ſervabo, & defenſionem (quantum potuero adiuvante Domino) exhibeo ſicut Rex inſuo Regno vnicuiqueEpiſcopo, & Eccleſiis, ſibi Comiſſis per rectum defendere debet.
This being done the King cometh to the Altar, and laying his right hand on the Bible, ſaith theſe words:
Theſe things which I have before promiſed, I ſhall obſerve and keepe So God me helpe, and by the contnts of this Booke.
The Oath which all Piopſh Biſhops ſweare unto the Pope, unde decretalls; Lib. 1. Tit. 14. Ca. 4.
I. D. Biſhop, will be faithfull, from this day forward, unto St. Peter, and to the holy Church of Roome, and to my Lord Bomface276 the Pope, and to his Succeſſors ellected Cannonically; and I will be an helpe to keepe and defend againſt all people, the Popedome, or Papall Soveraignty, and the rules of the holy Fathers. So God me helpe and the holy Goſpell.
The Oath of the Treaſurer of the Kings Houſhould, in the time of H. 8. as it is entered in the Blacke Booke of the Houſhold.
YEE will ſweare, By that Booke to be after your power and cunning, and good worſhipfull and true Officer to the King our Soveraigne Lord, whoſe high eſtate is here preſent and diligent ſervice to doe him; as Treaſurer of his honorable Houſhold, and be knowing and conſenting to any thing that might be againſt him in his bodie naturall, or of his277 goods Temporall, but that you let it after your power, or elſe to give haſtie knowledge thereof to himſelfe, or to ſuch about him that will doe him wit, or to let it or amend it; And alſo ſuch good as ye ſhall receive of the King, by the Treaſurer of England, or other Offices for the Eſtate, and conſervation of his Royall Houſhold, and for the expences of it, you ſhall truly charge your ſelfe therewith, and true Accompt yeeld into the Exchequer: full and whole, by every two yeares end at the furtheſt and no concealement make; alſo to behave you truly and honeſtie, in making of all your payments with favorable demeaning, cheriſhing love betweene the King and people, and that ſuch payments be made and uſed continually as the greene Cloth in the Countinghouſe of Houſhold; alſo that yee take oftentimes views and278 ſuch over ſight of all manner of victuall, and ſtuff, compriſed within your charge and parcell, in every Office, ſo that the utterance of it be guided to the Kings moſt worſhip and profit; and that in all your Seſsions and Judgements in the Counting houſe, upon any matter, cauſe or thing to ſay and give your doome truly, after good conſcience, right, reaſon, and all the rules of this Court will require betweene the King and party, or any other party or parties, cheriſhing the good Officers, & puniſhing the evill doer, not by affect on or love only, nor in anger or evill will but returne truth to every partie as nigh as you can.
Item, ye ſhall neither aske, nor conſent to any allowance but as ſhall be rightfull and due to be done, and that you demeane you in charging, or diſcharging of the expences of Houſhold, alwaies to the Kings Houſhold279 worſhip and profit, and in your owne perſon, to be example to other in the Court; All ſuch parcell of purveyance as ſhall be brought into the Countinghouſe of your time, be truly purveyed and parcelled by Indentures, betwixt ſuch Officers, and you by good examinations and ſearches in the Countries, as truly ye can charge all the purveyors, and that it be duly oppoſed in the Countinghouſe monthly for the King; And alſo that he ſearch, the good old rule worſhipfull, and profitable of this Court uſed before time and them to keepe, uphold, and better if you can. As God helpe you, and by that Booke
The Oath of the Comptroller of the Kings Houſhold, as it is recorded in the Blacke Booke of the Houſhold.
YEE will ſweare, By that Booke, to doe unto the King our Soveraigne Lord, good and true ſervice, and diligent after your power and cunning, as Comptroller of his honourable Houſhold, and not to know or conſent to any thing, that may be hurting to his Highneſſe Eſtate, or to his bodie, or goods, but that ye ſhall that after your power, or elſe warne them in haſtie time that may let it, alſo to comptroll the receipts and all iſſues, of the Treaſurers Office of Houſhold, and that to record in paine Accompt into the Kings Exchequer, of the old forme of the Compting houſe; Alſo truly and juſtly, to helpe to make the prizes of all manner of Stuffe, Victuall, and281 other purveyance for this Houshold, and that you ſee and know it to be good and wholeſome Victualls in every thing for the King, and his Houshold, and for the Kings worſhip; Alſo that it be like worth to the Silver, that the King muſt pay therefore, or better by your wiſedome and diſcretion; and alſo ſuch Victualls of meat and drinke be dampned and annulled, ſo that it be not expended within the houſhold, and to shew comin ſuch matters as the greene Cloth, before the Steward, and Treaſurer, that it may be underſtood, not done for malice, and then to counſell upon whom to caſt the loſſes of ſuch miſpurveying; Alſo ye to be conſciently aſſenting in, and to all due allowance to be made, or giving in the Counting houſe, betwixt the King and his people, to apply your buſineſſes, upon the good guiding282 and overfight of all ſuch manner of charges, and expences within this Court and without alſo belonging to this houſhold, alſo in our parties to make due ſearch and enquire, of and upon the conditions of purveyance, and of thier purveyance inward and outward and of all the demeaning of the Officers of the Court, that there riſe no ſlander by their deedes, unto this famous Court and that you ſee that the Officers under you for the King, put them in their diligence to take often the views of the Offices, that the allowance of the Expences, paſſe not their charges of receipts; ye alſo to make Accompt of all the Treaſurer of Houshold charge, and diſcharge for all receipts, purveyances and expences, and no concealements make thereof but truly to ingroſſe it, and to put into the Kings Exchequer; and in your Office to attend,283 and preſerve the Kings Worſhip and profit, as nigh as you can deviſe; and ye to ſearch, keep, and uphold the good ſaid Worſhipfull and profitable Rules and Statutes uſed before time in this Court, and them to increaſe, and that this demeaning be example to all other under you in this Court of good governance; And alſo that ye or your under Clearke, or both, be at the Cowperage of Fleſh, and at the departing of Fiſh, at the ſervice of the Kings Chamber and Hall, and to know the very duties of Liveries daily in Houſhold, and to ſee with the Almner that the Meſſes thereof be ſmitten in a ſufficient and according manner, after the old Cuſtomes, and ſo to ſee it to the Kings Table, and to other Officers due: Alſo ye and your Clerke truly, as oft as it is requiſite, ſhall take the Remanents and viewes in Offices, and ſurely284 make the Booke of Wine, and all preſent into the counting Houſe, as oft as you be deſired by the Steward, Cofferer, and Clerke of the Greene Cloth, which muſt needs ingroſſe the great Accompt of the Houſhold by your Record. To all which things ye will conforme, after your power and underſtanding, So helpe you God, and by this Booke.
The Oath that is to be miniſtred to a Mid-wife by the Biſhop or his Chancellor of the Dioceſſe, when ſhe is licenſed to exerciſe that Office of a Midwife.
YOu ſhall ſweare, Firſt, That you ſhall be diligent and faithfull, and readie to helpe every Woman labouring of Childe, as well the poore as the rich; and that in time of285 neſsitie, you ſhall not forſake, or leave the poore woman, to go to the Rich.
2. Item, Yee ſhall neither cauſe nor ſuffer any woman to name, or put any other Father to the Childe, but onely him which is the very true Father thereof indeed.
3. Item, You ſhall not ſuffer any woman to pretend faine, or ſurmize her ſelfe to be delivered of a Childe, who is not indeed; neither to claime any other womans Childe for her owne
4. Item, You ſhall not ſuffer any Womans Childe to be murthered, maymed, or otherwiſe hurt, as much as you may; and ſo often as you ſhall perceive any perill or jeopardie, either in the Woman, or in the Childe, in any ſuch wiſe, as you ſhall bee in doubt what ſhall chance thereof, you ſhal thenceforth in due time ſend for other286 Midwiſes, and expert women in that facultie, and uſe their advice and counſell in that behalfe.
5. Item, That you ſhall not in any wiſe uſe or exerciſe any manner of Witchcraft, Charme; or Sorcery, Invocation, or other Prayers than may ſtand with Gods Laws and the Kings.
6. Item, You ſhall not give any counſell, or miniſter any Herbe, Medicine, or Potion, or any other thing, to any Woman being with childe whereby ſhe ſhould deſtroy or caſt out that ſhe goeth withal before her time.
7, Item, You ſhall not enforce any Woman being withchilde by any paine, or by any ungodly wayes or meanes, to give you any more for your paines or labour in bringing her a bed, then they would otherwiſe do.
8. Item, You ſhall not conſent,287 agree, give, or keepe counſell, that any woman be delivered ſecretly of that which ſhe goeth with, but in the preſence of two or three lights readie.
9 Item, You ſhall be ſecret, and not open any matter appertaining to your Office in the preſence of any man, unleſſe neceſsity or great urgent cauſe do conſtraine you ſo to do.
10. Item, If any childe bee dead borne, you your ſelfe ſhall ſee it buried in ſuch ſecret place as neither Hogg nor Dogg, nor any other Beaſt may come unto it, and in ſuch ſort done, as it be not found nor perceived, as much as you may; And that you ſhall not ſuffer any ſuch childe to be caſt into the Jaques or any other inconvenient place.
11. Item, If you ſhall know any Midwife uſing or doing any thing contrary to any of the premiſſes, or in any other288 wiſe than ſhall be ſeemely or convenient, you ſhall forthwith detect open to ſhew the ſame to me, or my Chancellor for the time being.
12. Item, You ſhall uſe your ſelfe in honeſt behaviour unto the woman being lawfully admitted to the•oome and Office of a Midwife in all things accordingly.
13. Item, That you ſhall truly preſent to my ſelfe, or my Chancellor, all ſuch women as you ſhall know from time to time to occupie and exerciſe the roome of a Midwife within my foreſaid Dioceſſe and Juriſdiction of A. without my Licenſe and admiſsion
14. Item, You ſhall not make or aſsigne any Deputie or Deputies to exerciſe or occupie under you in your abſence the Office or roome of a Midwife, but ſuch as you ſhall perfectly know to be of right honeſt and189 diſcreet behaviour, as alſo apt, able, & having ſufficient knowledge and experience to exerciſe the ſaid roome and Office.
15. Item, You ſhall not bee Privie, or conſent, that any Prieſt, or other partie, ſhall in your abſence, or in your companie, or of your knowledge or ſufferance, Baptiſe any child, by any Maſſe, Latine-Service, or Prayers then ſuch as are appointed by the Lawes of the Church of England; neither ſhall you conſent, that any child, borne by any woman, who ſhall be delivered by you, ſhall be carried away without being Baptiſed in the Pariſh by the Ordinarie Miniſter, where the ſaid child is borne, unleſſe it be in caſe of neceſsitie. Baptiſed privately, according to the Booke of Common Prayer: But you ſhall forthwith upon underſtanding thereof, either give knowledge to me the ſaid290 Biſhop, or my Chancell our for the time being All which Articles and Charge you ſhall faithfully obſerve and keepe, ſo help you God and by the contents of this Booke.
The Oath of a Nun, taking upon her a Monaſticall life.
TƲ igitur Primo Jurabis quod in caſtitate corporis te conſervabis: Item tu Jurabis, quod eis Obediens Abati Sci. Auguſtini comtuari, qui uunc eſt, & Succeſſoribus ſuis, qui & Tempore fuerint, in Omnibus, quae Pertiuent, ad juriſdictionem quam eadem Abbas Habet, ſuperte, vel habefurum ſunt Succeſſores ejus.
Item, Tu Jurabis, quod eris Obediens & intendens Magiſtro, & Prioriſſe, hujus Loci, qui pro Tempore fuerint in his, quam tibi ex parte dicti Abbatis Injungent-ſaluberituevel imponent haec omnia permittis Obſervaturam,291 quam diu in hac domo, ſoror volueris commorari, & Beneficio bujus domus gaudere, ſic Deus te Adjuvet, & haec ſancta Dei Evangelia.
The Oath taken by Edw. 2. King of England, at his Coronation, Anno 1. vide claus Novemb. 10.
SIre volez vous grauntere garder, & par voſtre ſorment, confermer an People d'engleterre les leyes, & les cuſtumes, a eux grauntees pur les Auncien Rois d'engleterre voz Predeſceſours, duotenus & deotz a dieu & nement les leys cuſtumes, & les Franchiſez guntez, an clerge & an People, Parle gloriens Rol Seint Edw. voſtre Predeceſſour.
Reſpens, Jeo lees grantee, & permitte.
Sire, garderez vous a dieu, & Seint Egliſe, & an clerge, & an People Paes & acore, en dieu entiremt. ſelunt, vere Poer.
292Reſpons, Jeo les garderai.
Sire, freez vous feare en touz v•s Ingementz, mele, & droit Juſtice, & diſcretion, en Miſericorde, & verite a vere Poer.
Reſpons, Jeo lefrai.
Sire, graunt vous, a tenir, & garder, les leys, & les cuſtumes, droit les quieles, la comunante, de vere Royalme, Aura eſt in, & les defendres, & afforcerez ad honor, de dieu a voſtre Poer.
〈◊〉Reſpons, Jeo les graunte, & promitte.
The Oath taken by Charles the firſt, King of great Britaine, at his Coronation.
AFter the Sermon done, the Metropolitan commeth to the King, and doth w•th a low voyce, enquire of his Majeſtie, ſaying:
Sir, Will you grant, and keep, and by your Oath confirme to293 the People of England, the Laws and Cuſtomes to them granted by the Kings of England, your Lawfull and Religious Predeceſſors; And namely, The Lawes, Cuſtomes, and Franchizes granted to the Clergie, and to the People, (by the) glorious King Saint Edward your Predeceſſor, according, and conformable to the Lawes of God, and Profeſsion of the Goſpell Eſtabliſhed in this Kingdome, and Agreeing to the Prerogatives of the Kings thereof, and to the Antient Cuſtomes of this Relame.
Reſpons, I grant, and Promiſe to keepe them.
Sir, Will you keepe Peace, and Agreement, entirely, according to your Power, both to God, the Holy Church, the Clergie, and the People?
Reſpons, I will keepe it.
Sir, Will you to your Power, cauſe Law, Juſtice, and294 Mercie, in diſcretion, and Truth to bee Executed in all your Judgements?
Reſpons, I will.
Sir, Will you grant to hold and keep, the Laws and Rightfull Cuſtomes, which the Commonaltie of the Kingdome have; And to defend and uphold them, to the honour of God, ſo much as in you lyeth?
Reſpons, I grant, and promiſe ſo to doe.
Legatur, Admonitio ſequens, ab uno Epiſcopo, Coram Omnibus, Clara voce ſic dicendo.
Domine, Rex a vobis Pardonari Petimus unicuiquede nobis & Eccliis, nobis commiſſis Cannonicum Privilegium, & debitam Legem, atqueJuſtitiam conſervetis, & defenſionem exhibiatis, ſicut Rex in ſuo Regno d•bet unicuiqueEpiſcopo, & Eccliis, ſibi commiſſis.
Reſponder Kex.
Anime L•benti & devoto promitto195 vobis, & Pardono, Quia unacuique de uobis & Eccleſiis, vobis Commiſſis Canonicum Privilegium & debitam Legem, atquejuſtitiam ſervabo, & defenſionem (quantum potuero adjuvante Domino) exhibeo ſicut Rex in ſuo Regno unicuiqueEpiſcopo, & Eccleſiis ſibi Comiſſis, per rectum defendere debet.
This being done, the King cometh to the Altar, and laying his right hand on the Bible, ſaith:
Theſe things which I have before promiſed, I ſhall obſerve and keepe So God me help and by the Contents of this Booke.
The Oath taken by ſuch as are convicted for ſtealing the Kings Veniſon, and therefore ordered to abjure the Land.
MAſter Crowner heare you this, That I have offended our Soveraigne Lord the King in his Veniſon, for which cauſe I abjure the Realme of England, and hereafter I ſhall never return into it againe, without the leave of our Soveraigne Lord the King So God me helpe, and thoſe holy Saints.
The Oath of a Ranger of the Forreſt.
YOu ſhall truly execute the Office of a Ranger in the Panralles of W. upon the Borders of the Kings Forreſt of Waltham, you ſhall rechuſe, and297 with your hand drive back againe the wilde Beaſts of the Forreſt, as often as they ſhall range out of the ſaid Forreſt into your Panralles; you ſhall truly preſent all unlawfull hunting and hunters of wilde Beaſts of Venire and Chaſe, as well within the Pancallees as within the Forreſt. And thoſe and all other Offences you ſhall preſent at the Kings next Court of Attachments or Swanmothe, which ſhall firſt happen So God you helpe
The Oath of a Verderor of the Forreſt.
YOu ſhall truly ſerve our Soveraigne Lord the King in the Office of a Verderor in the Forreſt of W. you ſhall, to the uttermoſt of your power and knowledge, do for the profit of the King, ſo far as it doth appertaine unto you to do; You298 ſhall preſerve and maintaine the ancient Right and Franchizes of the Crowne; you ſhall not conceale from his Majeſtie any Right of Priviledges, nor any Offence, either in Vert or Veniſon, nor any other thing; You ſhall not withdraw nor abridge any defaults but ſhall endeavour your ſelfe, you ſhall give knowledge thereof unto the King, or unto his Juſtice of the Forreſt; Ye ſhall deale indifferently with all the Kings Liege People; You ſhall execute the Lawes of the Forreſt, and do equall Right and Juſtice, as well unto the poore, as unto the rich, that appertaineth unto your Office; You ſhall not oppreſſe any perſon by colour thereof, for any Reward, Favour, or Malice. All theſe things you ſhall to the uttermoſt of your power, obſerve and keep. So help you God.
The Oath of the Regarder of the Forreſt.
YOu ſhall truly ſerve our Soveraigne Lord the King, in the Office of a Regarder of the Forreſt of Waltham; you ſhall make the Regard of the ſame Forreſt, in ſuch manner as the ſame hath been accuſtomed to be made; You ſhall range throughout the whole Forreſt, and through every Bayliwick of the ſame, as the Forreſters there ſhall leade you to view the ſame Forreſt; and if the Forreſters will not, or do not know how to leade you to make the regard, or range of the Forreſt, or that they will conceale from you any thing that is forfeited to the King, you your ſelves ſhall not let for any thing; but you ſhal ſee the ſame forfeiture, and cauſe the ſame to be enrolled in your Roll; You ſhall enquire300 of all waſts, purproſtures, and aſſerts of the Forreſt, and alſo of concealemente of any offence or treſpaſſe in the Forreſt, either in Vert or Veniſon, by any Officers of the ſame Forreſt. And all theſe things you ſhall to the uttermoſt of your power do. So helpe you God.
The Oath of a Forreſter of the Forreſt.
YOu ſhall truly execute the Office of a Forreſter or Keeper of the Kings wilde Beaſts, in the Walke called P. within this Forreſt of W. You ſhall be of good behaviour your ſelfe towards his Majeſties wilde Beaſts, and the vert of the ſame Forreſt; You ſhall not conceale the offence of any other perſon, either in Vert or Veniſon that ſhal be done within your Charge; but as well302 the ſame offence, as alſo all Attachments and Swanmothe, other you ſhall preſent at the Kings next Court of Attachments or Swanmothe, which ſhall firſt happen to be holden for the〈◊〉Forreſt; And you ſhall, to the uttermoſt of your power, maintaine and keep the Aſsizes of the Forreſt, and in all things the Kings Right defend, concerning the ſame, ſo long as you ſhall bee Keeper there. So help you God, &c.
The Oath of the Inhabitants of the Forreſt, being of the age of twelve yeares, as the ſame hath been accuſtomed and uſed in antient time.
YOu ſhall true Liegeman be unto the Kings Majeſtie; You ſhall no hurt do unto his Beaſts of his Forreſt, nor unto any thing that doth belong302 thereto, the offences of other you ſhall not conceale; but to the uttermoſt of your power, you ſhall them reveale unto the Officers of the Forreſt, or to them that may ſee the ſame redreſt. All theſe things you ſhall ſee done. So help you God, and Holidome,
The Oath of the Engliſh Seminaries of the Romiſh inſtitution uſe to take.
I John Copley Collegiall of the Engliſh Seminary, duly conſidering the great benefits which Almighty God hath beſtowed upon me, and that eſpecially whereby he hath drawne me out of the Country infected with Hereſie, and made me a Member of his true Catholike Church; and deſiring not to ſhew my ſelfe altogether ingrate unto Gods ſo great mercy, I have freely decreed to303 conſecrate, and offer up my ſelfe wholly unto his divine ſervice, for attaining as much as in me lyeth to the end of the ſaid Colledge; And I doe promiſe & confirme, by this mine Oath unto Almightie God, that I am, and ſhall be ever moſt readie in mind, by the aſſiſtance of his holy grace, to receive in due time Holy Orders, and to returne into England, there to gaine Soules, whenſoever the Superiour of this Colledge ſhal thinke good by vertue of his Office, to command me thereto.
The Oath of a Knight of the Bathe, as it was Miniſtred at the Coronation of King Charles, Anno, 162.
RIght deare Brother, great Worſhip be this Order unto you, And the Almightie304 God give you the praiſe of all Knight-hood; You ſhall love God above all things, yee ſhall bee ſtedfaſt in the Faith of Chriſt, and the ſame maintain and defend to your power; You ſhall love your Soveraigne above all earthly creatures, and for your Soveraigne, and your Soveraignes Right and Dignitie live and dye; You ſhall defend Maidens, Widowes, and Orphans, in their Rights; You ſhall ſuffer no Extortion ſo far forth as you may, nor fit in place to heare any wrongfull Judgments given to your knowledge, And as great Honour be this Noble Order unto you, as ever it was to your Progenitors.
The Oath of Fealtie taken by John Balioll King of Scots, to the King of England.
THis heare you my Lord Edward King of England, Soveraigne Lord of the Realm of Scotland, that I John de Balioll King of Scotland, which I hold and claime to hold of you, that I ſhall be faithfull and loyall, and owe faith and loyaltie to you, I ſhall beare of life and member, and of earthly honour againſt all people; And lawfully I ſhall acknowledge, and doe the ſervices which I owe to you, for the Realme of Scotland aforeſaid; So God me helpe, and his Holy Evangeliſts.
The Oath and Fealtie, made by King John. to Pope Innocentius, Anno Dom. 1213. Anno R. Joh. 14
John by the grace of God, King of England, France, and Ireland, from this houre forward ſhall be faithfull to God, and to Saint Peter, and to the Church of Rome, and to my L. Pope Innocentius, and to his Succeſſors lawfully entring; I ſhall not be in word nor deed in conſent, or counſell, that they ſhould lofe life, or member, or bee apprehended in evill manner: Their loſſe, if I may know it, I ſhall Impeach and ſtay, ſo farre as I ſhall be able, or elſe ſo ſhortly as I can, I ſhall ſignifie unto them, and declare to ſuch perſons the which I ſhall believe, will declare the ſame unto you; The counſell307 which they ſhall commit unto me, by themſelves, their meſſengers, or their Letters, I ſhall keepe ſecretly, and not utter to any man, to their hurt, to my knowledge. The Patrimony of Saint Peter, and eſpecially the Kingdome of England, and Ireland, I ſhall endeavour my ſelfe to defend, againſt all men to my power; So helpe me God, and theſe Holy Evangeliſts, Amen.
This Fealtie was done on the Eve of the Aſcention of our Lord, in the yeare Anno, 1213.
The Oath of a Doctor of Divinitie, according to the practice of the Ʋniverſitie of Baſill.
Ornatiſſime, Vir, Sacrarum Literarum, canditate, D. Doctiſſime, Hodie coram Ampliſſimo hoc conceſſu pormittis atquefidem das in conſpectu Sacroſancti Adorandae Trinitatis,308 cui te Hactenus Totum Addixiſti, Conſecrati ſtudiis, laboribus, Vigilliis tuis, quod velis doctrinam Puram, a Prophetis Apoſtelis ae Patribus, Melioris Notae Acceptam in corrupte in Scolis Eccleſiiſquedocere; Dogmata Pugnantia cum dei verbo: (quantum vis〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉habeant) nulla vel Seminare, vel tueri per totam vitam eruditioni, ac gradui ſermone, & Actionibus morum gravitatem conjungere eam, que Theologie docet, et ſit avera〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, comoda noſtrae Reipublicae Symnaſii; utilitatem, ac in Primis Ordinis Theologici ſalutem (quantum in te fuerit) Perpetuo promonere Indignes, Ambitioſes, contentioſes à dignitatis titula (quem docturatam Appellamus longe Abarcere, deniquecum univerſis Fratribus ſinceram, Religionem profitentibus,〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) inſigne conjunctionis vinculum Colore, Alere, aeternum, Amen.
The Oath of a Sheriffe of a Count•e, according as it was reformed by direction of the Kings Councell, the 4. of Decemb. Anno, 1625.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That well and truely yee ſhall ſerve the King, in the Office of the Sheriffe of the Countie of B. and doe the Kings Profits in all that belongeth to you to doe, by way of your Office, as farre forth as you may or can; Yee ſhall truely keepe the Kings, and all that be ongeth to the Crowne; Yee ſhall not aſſent to decreaſe, to leſſon, ne to concealement of any of the Kings Rights, or of his Franchizes; And whenſoever yee ſhall have knowledge, that the Kings Rights, or the Rights of the Crowne bee concealed or withdrawne, be it in Lands, Rents,310 Franchizes, or Suits, or any other thing; Ye•ſhall doe your true power to make them be reſtored to the King againe: And if he may not doe it, yee ſhall certifie the King, or ſome of his Councell thereof, ſuch as you know for certaine will ſay it unto the King; Yee ſhall not reſpite the Kings debts for any gift or favour, where yee may rayſe them without great grievance of the debtor; Yee ſhall truely and righteouſly treat the people of your Sheriffe wick, and doe right as well to poore as to rich, in all that belongeth to your Office; Yee ſhall doe no wrong to any man, for any gift or other beheſt, or promiſe of goods, for favour nor hate; Yee ſhall diſturbe no mans right, yee ſhall acquit at the Exchequer all thoſe of whom yee ſhall any thing receive of the Kings debts; Yee ſhall nothing take whereby the King may311 loſe, or that right may be letten, or diſturbed, or the Kings debt delayed; Yee shall truely returne, and truely ſerve the Kings Writs, as farre forth as it shall be in your cunning; Yee ſhall not have to be your Unde-Sheriffe, any of the Sheriffes Clerks of the laſt yeare paſſed; Yee ſhall take no Bayliffe into your ſervice, but ſuch as you will anſwer for; Yee ſhall make each of your Bayliffs make ſuch Oath as you make your ſelfe, in that that belongeth to their Occupation; Yee ſhall receive no Writs, by you, nor any of yours unſealed, nor any Sealed under the Seale of any Juſtice, ſave of Juſtice in Eyre, or Juſtice aſsigned in the ſame Shire where you be Sheriffe in, or other Juſtices having power or authoritie to make any Writs unto you, by the Law of the Land, or Juſtice of Newgate; You ſhall make your Bayliffe of312 the true and ſufficient men in the Countrey; Yee ſhall bee dwelling in your owne proper perſon within your Bayliffewicke, for the time you ſhall be in the ſame Office, except yee be otherwiſe Licenſed by the King; You ſhall not let your Sheriffe-wicke, nor any Bayliffe-wicke thereof, to Farme to any man; Yee ſhall truely ſet, and returne reaſonable and due Iuſſes of them, that be within your Bayliffe wicke, after their Eſtate and their Haviour, and make your Pannell your ſelfe of ſuch perſons as be moſt meet, moſt ſufficient, and not ſuſpect, nor procured, as it is ordained by the Statute; And over this in eſchewing and reſtraining of the Robberies, Man-ſlaughters, and other manifold grievous offences that bee done dayly, namely by ſuch as name themſelves Souldiers, and by other Vagarants, the which increaſe313 in multitude and number; So that the Kings true Subjects may not ſafelie ride nor goe to doe ſuch things as they have to doe, to their intollerable hurt and hinderance; Yee ſhall truly & effectually, with all diligence poſsible to your power, execute the Statutes of Wincheſter, and of Vagabonds; All theſe things yee ſhall well and truely obſerve and keepe, So help you God, &c.
The Oath with is uſually miniſtred to a Juſtice of the Peace, in the ſeverall Counties of England.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That as Juſtice of Peace in the Countie of S. in all Articles in the Kings Commiſsion to you directed, yee ſhall doe equall right, to the poore as to the rich, after your cunning, wit and power, and after the Lawes and314 Cuſtomes of this Realme, and Statutes thereof made; And yee ſhall not bee of counſell with any perſon, in any quarrell hanging before you, Yee shall truely cauſe to be entred, without any concealment, or imbezelling, and truely ſend them to the Kings Exchequer; Yee shall not let for gift, or other cauſe, but well and truely yee shall do your Office of Juſtice of the Peace to be done, but of the King, and Fees accuſtomed, and coſts limited by the Statute; And yee shall not direct, or cauſe to be directed any Warrant by you to bee made to the parties, but yee shall direct them to the Bayliffes of the ſaid Countie, or other the Kings Officers and Miniſters, or other indifferent perſons, to do Execution thereof: So helpe yee God, and by the contents of this Booke.
The Oath of the Regiſter, and Keeper of the Kings Papers and Records of State in his Pallace of White-hall at Weſtminſter.
YOu ſhall ſweare, To beare faith and true Allegiance unto the Kings Majeſtie, and him from henceforth truely and faithfully to ſerve in the place of Clerke, Keeper, and Regiſter of his Majeſties Papers and Records for matters of State, eſtabliſhed at his Majeſties Pallace of White-hall; You ſhall doe your uttermoſt endeavour to keepe and conſerve the ſaid Papers and Records, which either now or hereafter ſhall be committed to your charge, from all harme and dammage; You ſhall not willingly ſuffer any of the ſame to be purloyned, embezled, or316 defaced; You ſhall carefully and faithfully keepe ſecret and conceale, from the knowledge of others, either by writing or relation, all ſuch things therein contained as shall be fit, either for reaſon of State, or otherwiſe for his Majeſties ſervice, to be concealed and kept ſecret, except it be to the Lords, and others of his Majeſties Privie Councell, or ſuch as his Majeſtie shall be content to have them communicated unto; if you shall know of private perſon, or perſons, that have embezled, or doe detaine any ſuch Papers or Records which belong unto his Majeſtie, you shall doe the beſt to recover the ſame, and bring them to the ſaid Office, and doe all things elſe that belong to the dutie of the Clerke, Keeper, and Regiſter of the ſaid Papers and Records; All theſe you shall well and truely performe and doe, So help you God.
The Oath to be miniſtrrd to the Maſter of the Court of Wards and Liveries.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That well and truely yee ſhall ſerve the King in the Office of the Maſter of the Kings Wards, and ſhall miniſter equall Juſtice unto rich and poore, to the beſt of your cunning, wit, and power; And that yee 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 truely uſe the Kings Seale appointed to your Office, and alſo endeavour your ſelfe to the uttermoſt of your power, to ſee the King juſtly and truely anſwered yearely of all ſuch Rents, Revenues, Iſſues, and Profits, which ſhall,318 or may ariſe, grow, or be due to the King in your Office, and from time to time deliver with ſpeed ſuch as ſhall have to doe before you, And that yee ſhall not take, nor receive of any perſon any Gift or Reward, in any caſe or matter depending before you, or wherein the Kings Highneſſe ſhall be Partie, whereby any prejudice, loſſe, hindrance, or diſheriſon ſhall grow, or be to the Kings Highneſſe; So helpe you God, and all Saints.
The Oath to be miniſtred to the Atturney of the Court of Wards and Liveries, as it is in the Statute 32. H. 8. Ca. 16.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee well and truely ſhall ſerve the King as his Atturney in all Courts, for, or concerning any319 matter, or cauſe, that ſhall concerne the Poſſeſsions and Hereditaments limited to the Surveigh and Governance of this Court, and procure the Kings Profit thereof; And that yee ſhall truely counſell the King, and the Maſter of this Court, in all things concerning the ſame to the beſt of your wit and cunning, and with all ſpeed and diligence from time to time, at the calling of the ſaid Maſter ye ſhall endeavour your ſelfe, for the hearing and determination indifferently of ſuch matters and cauſes as ſhall depend before the ſaid Maſter; & that yee 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 hurted or hindred, or diſ-herited; And further, yee ſhall doe to your power, wit, and cunning,320 all and everie thing that ſhall appertaine to your Office; So helpe you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of the Receivergenerall of the Court of Wards and Liveries, as in Statute, Anno, 32. H. 8. Ca. 46.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall well and truely ſerve the King our Soveraigne Lord, and his People, in the Office of the generall Receiver of this Court; 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 Receipt of his Money, you ſhall truely keepe, diſpend, pay, and deliver, and true declaration and Accompt make321 thereof from time to time without any concealment, according to the Act made for the eſtabliſhment 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 Auditors of the Court of Wards and Liveries, as in the Statute, Anno, 32. H. 8. Ca. 46.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall truely ſerve the King in your Office, and true Allowance make to everie perſon which ſhall be accomptant before you; And you ſhall not take, or receive of poore or rich any Gift or Reward, in any matter or cauſe depending, or to be diſcuſſed in the ſame Court, but ſuch as ſhall be ordinarie appertaining to your322 Office, whereby the King ſhall be hurted, hindred, or diſ-herited; And yee shall doe all and every thing, which shall be appertaining to your Office; So helpe you God, and all Saints.
And all Particular Auditors, that shall belong to, and be appointed to the ſaid Court, shall take the ſame Oath aforesaid, before the Maſter of the ſaid Court of Wards.
The Oath of the particular Receivers of the Court of Wards and Liveries, as in the Statute, Anno, 32. H. 8. Ca. 46.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee trutly shall ſerve the King in your Office, and nothing conceale, but true Accompt make of all ſuch Revenues, Rents, ſummes of Money, and323 other Profits, wherewith yee ſhall be lawfully charged by reaſon of your Office; Yee ſhall make no Petition, or aske Allowance, but ſuch as ſhal be good, juſt, true, and reaſonable; And alſo truely content and pay to the King, all ſuch ſummes of Money as ſhall come to your hands, and yee ſhall doe all, and everie thing and things which yee ought to doe, by reaſon of your Office, according to the forme and effect of this Act; So helpe you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of the Clerks of the Councell of the Court of Wards, as in the Statute, 32. H 8. Ca. 46.
YEE will ſweare, That yee ſhall well and truely ſerve the King in your Offices of Clerks of the Councell of this324 Court, and truely doe, and Execute all, and everie thing and things which yee ought to doe, by reaſon of your Office, according to the forme and effect of this Act; So helpe you God, and all Saints.
All Surveyors, and Feodaries, that ſhall be appoynted by the ſaid Maſter, Atturney, Receiver generall, and Auditor of the ſaid Court, or three, or two of them, whereof the Maſter to be one, ſhall take a corporall Oath before the ſaid Maſter, according to the forme aboveſaid.
The Oath of the Chancellour of the firſt Fruits and Tenths, as in the Statute, Anno, 32. H. 8. Ca. 46.
YOu ſhall ſweare, That yee well and truely ſerve the King in the Office of the Chancellour-ſhip325 of the firſt Fruits, and Tenths, and ſhall miniſter equall Juſtice to rich and poor, to the beſt of your cunning, wit, and power; And that yee ſhall diligently procure all things which may honeſtly and juſtly be to the Kings beſt Advantage and Profit, and to the Augmentations of the Rights and Prerogatives of his Crown, and truely uſe the Kings Seale appoynted to your Office, and alſo endeavour your ſelfe, to the uttermoſt of your power, to ſee the King juſtly and truly anſwered yearely, of all ſuch Rents, Revenues, and Profits, which ſhall or may ariſe, grow, or be due to the King in your Office, and from time to time, deliver with ſpeed, ſuch as ſhall have to do afore you; And that yee ſhall not take nor receive of any perſon any Gift or Reward in any caſe or matter depending before you, or wherein the326 Kings Highneſſe ſhall be Partie, whereby any prejudice, hindrance, loſſe, or diſ-heriſon ſhall grow, or be to the Kings Highneſſe; So helpe you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of the Treaſurer of the Court, of firſt Fruits and Tenths, as in the Statute, Anno, 32. H. 8. Ca. 45.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall well and truely ſerve the King our Soveraigne Lord, and his People in the Office of the Treaſurer of this Court; And yee ſhall reaſonably and honeſtly procure the Kings Profits, and doe right to all manner of people, poore and rich, in thoſe things which touch your Office, and the Kings Receipt of his Mony, yee ſhall truely keepe, diſpend, pay, and deliver a true declaration327 and Accompt thereof ſhall make, from time to time without any concealement, according to this Act made for the ſtabliſhment 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 Atturney of the Court of firſt Fruits and Tenths, as in the Statute, Anno, 32. H. 8. Ca. 45.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee shall well and truely ſerve the King as his Atturney in all Courts, for, and concerning any matter or cauſe that shall concerne or touch the Rents, Revenues, Profits, or Hereditaments, limited to the Survey and Governance of this Court, and procure the King Profit thereof; And that yee shall328 truely counſell the King, and Chancellour of this Court, in 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 Chancellour, you shall endeavour your ſelfe, for the hearing and determination indifferently of ſuch matters and cauſes as shall depend before the ſaid Chancellour; And that yee shall not receive any Gift, or reward, in any matter or cauſe depending in the Court, or elſewhere, wherein the King shall be Partie, whereby the Kings Majeſtie shall be hurted, hindred, or diſ-inherited; And further, yee shall doe to your power, wit and cunning, all and everie thing that of right appertaineth to your Office; So helpe you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of the Auditor of the Court of firſt Fruits and and Tenths, as in the Statute, Anno, 32. H. 8. Ca. 45.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee truly ſhal ſerve the King in your Office, and true Allowance make to everie perſon which ſhall be accomptant before you; And you ſhall not take nor receive of poore nor rich, any Gift or Reward in any matter or cauſe depending; or to be diſcuſſed in the ſame Court, but ſuch as ſhall be ordinarie appertaining to your Office, whereby the King ſhall be hurted, hindred, diſ-herited; And yee ſhall doe everie thing appertaining to your Office, So helpe you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of the Clerk of the Court of firſt Fruits and Tenths, as in the Statute, Anno, 32. H. 8. Ca. 45.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall well and truely ſerve the King in your Office of Clerke of the Councell of this Court, and truely doe, and execute all and everie thing and things which yee ought to doe, by reaſon of your Office, according to the forme and effect of this Act; So helpe you God, and all Saints.
The Oath taken for the ſuretie of the Succeſſion of the Kings Highneſſe, by Queene Anne, Anno, 26. H. 8. Ca. 2.
YEE ſhall ſweare, To beare Faith, Truth, and Obedience, all only to the Kings Majeſtie,331 and to his Heires of his bodie of his moſt deare and entirely beloved lawfull Wife Queene Anne, begotten, and to be begotten; And further, to the Heires of our ſaid Soveraigne Lord, according to the limitation in the Statute made for ſuretie of his Succeſsion in the Crowne of this Realme, mentioned and contained, not to any other within this Realme, nor for any Authoritie or Potentate; And in caſe any Oath be made, or hath been made by you to any perſon or perſons, that then yee repute the ſame as vaine and Adnihillate; And that to your cunning, wit, and uttermoſt of you power, without guile, fraud, or other undue meane, yee ſhall obſerve, keepe, maintaine, and defend the ſaid Succeſsion, & all the whole effects and contents thereof, and all other Acts and Statutes made in confirmation, or for execution of the ſame, or of any thing therin contained; and this yee ſhall doe againſt all manner of perſons, of what Eſtate, Dignitie, Degree, or Condition ſoever they be, and in no wiſe doe, or attempt, nor to your power ſuffer to be done or attempted, directly or indirectly, any thing or things privately or appartly, to the let, hindrance, dammage, or derogation thereof, or of any part of the ſame, by any manner of means, or for any manner of pretence; So helpe you God, all Saints, and the holy Evangeliſts.
The Oath taken for the eſtabliſhment of the Succeſſion of the Crown of this Realme, in the Kings Highneſſe by Queen Jane, An. 28. H. 8. Ca. 7.
YEE ſhall ſweare, To beare Faith, Truth, and Obedience, all only to the Kings Majeſtie,333 Supreame Head in earth under God of the Church of England during his life, and to his Heires of his bodie, and of his moſt deare and entirely beloved lawfull Wife Queen Jane, begotten, and to be begotten and Procreated; And further, to the Heires of our ſaid Soveraigne Lord, according to the limitation in the Statute made for ſuretie of his Succeſsion in the Crowne of this Realme, As the Parliament begun, and holden at Weſtminſter the 8 day of June, in the 28. yeare of the Kings moſt gracious Raigne; And alſo for lack of ſuch heires to ſuch perſon or perſons as the Kings Highneſſe ſhall limit and appoint to ſucceed to the Crowne, by vertue and authoritie of the ſame Act, and not to any other within this Realm, nor for any authoritie, power, or Potentate; And in caſe any other. Oath be made, or hath334 been made by you to any perſon or perſons, that then yee to repute the ſame as vaine & Adninillate, and that to your cunning, wit, and uttermoſt of your power, without guile, fraud, or other undue manner; Yee ſhall obſerve keep, defend and maintaine the ſaid Act of Succeſsion, made in the ſaid Parliament begun and holden at Weſtminſter, in the ſaid 8 day of June, in the ſaid 28. yeare of the Kings moſt Royall Raign, and all the whole effects and contents thereof, and all things that ſhall be done by the Kings Highneſſe by authoritie of the ſame and all other Acts and Statutes, made in confirmation or execution of the ſame, or any thing therein contained; And this yee ſhall doe againſt all manner of perſons, of what Eſtate, Dignitie, Degree, or condition ſoever they be, and in no wiſe doe or attempt, nor to your power ſuffer to be335 done or attempted, directly or indirectly, any thing or things, privately or appartly, to the let, hindrance, dammage, or derogation thereof, or any part of the ſame, or of any thing or things that ſhall be done by the Kings Highneſſe, by vertue and authoritie of the ſaid Act, by any manner of meanes, or for any manner of pretence; So help you God all Saints, and the holy Evangeliſts.
The Oath of the Commiſſioners appointed for inquiry of the decay of Caſtles, Forts, and other places neare Scotland, and for Reparation of the ſame. Anno, 2. & 3. P. 4. & M. Ca. 1.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That to your cunning wit & power, yee ſhall truely and indifferently execute the Authority to336 you given by this Commiſsion, without any favour, affection, corruption, dread, or malice to be borne, to any manner of perſon or perſons; and as the caſe ſhall remaine, you ſhall conſent, and endeavour your ſelfe, for your part, to the beſt of your knowledge and power, to the making of ſuch wholeſome, juſt, equall, and indifferent Lawes and Ordinances, as ſhall be made and deviſed by the moſt diſcreet and indifferent number of your ſelves, being in Commiſsion with you, for the making errection and preſervation of all & everie ſuch things as are contained and ſpecified in the ſaid Commiſsion, and the ſame Lawes and Ordinances to your cunning, wit, and power, cauſe to be put in due execution, without favour, meed, malice, or affection. As God you helpe, and all Saints.
The Oath of ſuch as were Sworne to declare the true value of their Eſtates, towards the payment of the 15. Diſmes and Subſidies, An. 2. & 3. P. & M. Ca. 23.
I Shall faithfully, truely, and plainely, according to my knowledge, ſhew unto you the King and Queenes Commiſsioners, and to others by you aſfigned, the beſt and greateſt value of all my goods and chattells, and ſummes of money to me owing, according to the grant of this Act of Subſidie, and truely anſwer to that I ſhall be examined of, touching the premiſſes, without coven or deceipt; So help me God, and the holy contents of this Book.
The Oath of ſuch as were to make inquirie of the value of Goods and Lands of ſuch perſons as were lyable to the payment of Fifteenes, Diſmes, and Subſidies, Anno, 4. &. 5. P. & M. Ca. 6.
I Shall truly enquire, with my fellowes that ſhall be charged with me of the Hundred, Wapentake, Ward, Towne, and other places of the beſt and moſt value of the ſubſtance of every perſon dwelling and abiding within the limits of the places, that I and my fellowes ſhall be charged with, and of other which ſhall have his or their moſt reſort unto any of the ſaid places, and chargeable with any ſum of money by this Act of the ſaid Subſidie, and of all other Articles that I ſhall be charged with touching the ſaid339 Act and according to the intent of the ſame, and thereupon as neare as it may be, or ſhall come to my knowledge, truely to preſent and certifie before you the names, fir-names, and the beſt and uttermoſt ſubſtance and values, of every of them, as well of Lands, Tenaments, and other Hereditaments, Poſſeſsions, and Profits, as of Goods, Chattells, Debts, and other things chargeable by the ſaid Act, without any concealment, favour, love, affection, dread, feare, or malice, as neare as God will give me grace; So help me God, and the holy contents of this Booke.
The Oath of ſuch as were to make enquirie of the value of the Goods and Lands of ſuch perſons as were lyable to the payment of Fifteenes, Diſmes, and Subſidies, Anno, 6. Edw. 6. Ca. 7.
I Shall truly enquire, with my fellowes that ſhall be charged with me, of the Hundred, Wapentake, Ward, Town, or other place of the beſt and moſt value of the ſubſtance of every perſon dwelling and abiding within the limits of the places that I and my fellowes ſhall be charged with & of other which ſhall have his or their moſt reſort unto any of the ſaid places, and chargeable with any ſum of money by this Act of the ſaid Subſidie, and of all other Articles that I ſhall be charged with touching the ſaid Act, and341 according to the intent of the ſame, and thereupon as neare as it may, or ſhall come to my knowledge, truely to preſent and certifie before you, the names, fir-names, and the beſt and uttermoſt ſubſtance and value of everie of them, as well of Lands, Tenements, and other Hereditaments, Poſſeſsions, and Profits, as of Goods, Chattells, Debts, and other things chargeable by the ſaid Act, without any concealment, favour, love affection, dread, feare, or malice; So helpe me God, and the holy contents of this Booke.
The Oath of ſuch as were to preſent names and beſt values of the ſubſtance of ſuch perſons as were to pay reliefe to to the King, Anno, 2. & 3. Edw. 6. Ca. 36.
I Shall truely enquire, with my fellowes that ſhall be charged342 with me, of the Hundred, Wapentake, Ward, Towne, or other place of the beſt and moſt value of the ſubſtance of every perſon dwelling and abiding within the limits of the places that I and my fellowes ſhall be charged with, and of other which ſhall have his or their moſt reſort unto any of the ſaid places, and chargeable with any ſumme of money by this Act, of this ſaid reliefe, and of all other Articles that I ſhal be charged with touching the ſaid Act, and according to the intent of the ſame, and thereupon as near as it may, or ſhall come to my knowledge, not onely truely to preſent and certifie before you, the names, fir-names, additions, and the beſt and uttermoſt ſubſtance and values of every of them, of their Goods, Chattels, Debts, and other things chargeable by the ſaid Act, and how many Strangers, Denizons, or343 not Denizons, being above the age of 7. yeares, be refiant and dwelling within the limits of my charge, of what value in Goods and other things chargeable to the payment of this reliefe they have beene, and whether they be houſholders, or ſervants, or otherwiſe, under the rule and government of their parents, without any concealment, favour, love, affection, dread, feare, or malice; So help me God, and the holy contents of this Booke.
The Oath taken by thoſe that were to pay Reliefe to the King, Anno, 2 & 3. Edw. 6. Ca. 36.
I Shall faithfully, truely, and plainely, according to my knowledge, ſhew unto you the Kings Commiſsioners, and to others by you aſsigned the beſt344 and greateſt value, or above of all my Goods and Chattells, and ſummes of money to me owing, according to the grant of this Act of Reliefe, and truely anſwer to that I ſhall be examined of touching the premiſſes, without coven or deceipt; So help me God, and the holy contents of this Booke.
The Oath to be taken by Parſons, Vicars, or Curats, and others, to declare what number of Sheepe were in their ſeverall Pariſhes, to the end, that the King might be payd his Reliefe by the Poll, Anno, 2. & 3. Edw. 6. Ca. 36.
YEE ſhall diligently enquire, and juſtly and truely preſent and certifie us, the Kings Commiſsioners, what number of Ewes? Wethers, and other Sheare ſheepe there be within345 the limits of your charge whoſe they be, in what Towne or Pariſh the Owner dwelleth, of what condition or degree he is, and whether for the moſt part of the yeare they be kept in ſeverall Paſtures or Marſhes or in Commons, or Grounds, commonly uſed to be Tilled, As yee truſt to be ſaved by the merits of Chriſts Paſsion.
The Oath of ſuch as were to value Cloths, to the end, that the K. might receive payment of Reliefe for everie Cloth, Anno, 2. & 3. Edw. 6. Ca. 36.
YEE ſhall faithfully and truly eſteeme, ſet the juſt price and value of all ſuch Cloths as ſhall brought to you to be viewed and praiſed, as yee ſhall in your conſcience thinke the ſame worth in your conſcience to be ſold when they ſhall346 be wrought, and the ſame ſhall not ſuffer to be delivered out of your cuſtody till you have made of the Colour, Kind, and Price thereof an enterie, both in the Book of the Clothier, and alſo of the Alnager, or his Deputie, and ſet your hands, or marks, declaring who was the Owner of the Cloth and the Kind and Price thereof So help you God, and by this Booke.
The Oath of the Surveyor of the Kings Liveries, Anno, 33. H. 8. Ca. 22.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee well and truely ſerve the King our Soveraign in the Office of Surveyor of his Graces Liveries, and ſhall miniſter equall Juſtice to rich and poore to the beſt of your power, wit, and knowledge, and that you ſhall diligently proceed in all347 things which may honeſtly and juſtly be to the Kings advantage and profit, and to the Augmentation of the right and prerogative of his graces Crowne, and from time to time deliver with ſpeed ſuch as ſhall have to doe before you•; And that you ſhall not take, nor receive of any perſon or perſons any gift or reward, in any caſe or matter, depending or to depend in the ſaid Court of the Kings Wards, wherein the Kings Highneſſe ſhall be Partie, by reaſon whereof, any prejudice, loſſe, hindrance, or diſ-heriſon, ſhall or may grow to the Kings Highneſſe his Heires or Succeſſors; So help you God and all Saints.
The Oath of the Clerk of the Liveries, as in Anno, 33. H. 8. Ca. 22.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall well & truly ſerve the348 King our Soveraigne Lord in your Office of Clerk of the Liveries, and truly do and execute, without delay, fraud, or covin, all and everie thing and thing which you ought to doe, by reaſon of your ſaid Office, according to the forme and effect of this preſent Act; So helpe you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of the general Surveyer of the Kings Court, called the Court of generall Surveyer of the Kings Lands, Anno, 23. H. 8. Ca. 39.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee well & truly ſhall ſerve the King in the ſaid Office of the generall Surveyer of the Revenues of this Court, called the Court of the generall Surveyer of his graces Lands, and ſhall miniſter equall Juſtice to rich and poore, to the beſt of your cunning, wit, and power; A••349that yee ſhall diligently procure all things which may honeſtly and juſtly be to the Kings advantage and profit, and to the Augmentation of the rights & prerogatives of his Crown, and truly uſe the Kings Seal appointed for your Office; And alſo endeavour your ſelfe, to the uttermoſt of your power, to ſee the King truly anſwered of all ſuch Rents, Revenues, Iſſue, and Profits, which ſhall or•ay ariſe or grow in your office and from time to time deliver with ſpeed, ſuch as ſhall have to doe before you; And that yee ſhall not take, or receive of any perſon, any Gift or Reward, in any cauſe or matter depending before you, or wherein the Kings Highneſſe ſhal be Partie whereby any prejudice, hindrance, loſſe, or diſ-heriſon ſhall grow, or be to the Kings Highneſſe; So helpe you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of the Treaſurer of Office or Court of the Kings generall Surveyer, Anno, 33. H. 8. Ca. 39.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall well & truly ſerve the King our Soveraigne Lord, and his people in the Office of Treaſurer of his Highneſſe Court of generall Surveyer; 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 thereof ſhall make from time to time, without any concealment, to and before ſuch per on and perſons, as ſhall be named and appointed by the Kings Highneſſe, his Heires and Succeſſors for the ſame; And further, ſhall351 doe everie thing that of right appertaineth to your Office: So helpe you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of the Kings Attourney of the Court of generall Surveyer, Anno, 33. H. 8. Ca. 39.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee well & truly ſhall ſerve the King in all places, for, or concerning any matter or cauſe that ſhall concern or touch the poſſeſsions and Hereditaments, limited to the ſurvey and governnance of this Court, and procure the Kings Profit thereof; And yee ſhall truly counſell the King and the Surveyer & Treaſurer of this Court, in all things concerning the ſame, to the beſt of your cunning wit, & power, and with all ſpeed and diligence from time to time at the calling of the ſaid Surveyer and352 Treaſurer, you ſhall endeavour your ſelfe, for the hearing and determination indifferently, of ſuch matters and cauſes as ſhall depend before the ſaid Surveyer and Treaſurer; And that yee 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 hurted, hindred, or diſ-inherited; And further, doe all and everie thing that ſhall appertain to your Office: So helpe you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of the Maſter of the Woods of the Court of generall Surveyer, Anno, 33. H. 8. Ca. 39.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee well & truly ſhall ſerve the King our Soveraigne Lord, in the Office of Maſter of the353 Woods in this Court; And that yee ſhall ſhake true ſale and ſales of all Wood, and under-woods belonging to your Office, according to the authoritie given unto you by this Act of generall Surveyer, or any other Act or Acts to be made concerning the ſaid generall Surveyers for the Kings moſt advantage, and nothing conceal, but true accompt make of all ſuch ſums of money received for the ſame, and other Profits wherewith yee ſhall be lawfully charged by reaſon of your ſaid Office; Yee ſhall make no Petition, nor aske any Allowance, but ſuch as ſhall be good, juſt true, and reaſonable; And yee ſhall doe all and every thing and things which yee ought to doe, by reaſon of your Office, according to the forme and effect of this Act; So helpe you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of the Auditors of the Court of the generall Surveyor, Anno, 33. H. 8. Ca. 39.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall well & truly ſerve the King in your Office, and ſhall not take or receive of poore or rich, any gift or reward, in any matter or cauſe depending, or to be diſcuſſed in the ſame Court but ſuch as ſhall be your ordinarie Fees; And yee ſhall do all and everie other thing which ſhall appertaine to your Office; So help you God and all Saints.
The Oath of the Receivor of the Court of the generall Surveyance, An. 33. H. 8. Ca. 39.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall truly ſerve the King in your Office, and nothing conceale, but true accompt make of all ſuch Revenues, Rents, ſums355 of money, and other profits wherewith you ſhall be lawfully charged, by reaſon of your ſaid Office; You ſhall make no Petition, nor aske Allowance, but ſuch as ſhall be good, juſt, and true, and reaſonable; and ye ſhall doe all, and everie thing and things which yee ought to doe, by reaſon of your Office, according to the forme and effect of this Act; So helpe you God, and by the contents of this Booke.
The Oath of the Clerke of the Court of the generall Surveyor, Anno, 33. H. 8. Ca 39.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall well & truly ſerve the King in your Office of Clerke of the ſaid Court, and truly doe and execute, all, and every thing and things which yee ought to doe by reaſon of your Office, according to the forme and effect356 of the Act; And yee ſhall alſo be attendant unto the ſaid generall Survey or from time to time, as they ſhall require you; So help you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of the Meſſenger of the Court of the generall Surveyor, Anno, 33. H. 8. Ca. 39.
YOu ſhall ſweare, That ye ſhall well and truely ſerve the King in your Office of Meſſenger of this Court, as well in ſpeedie ſerving all and ſingular Proceſſes to you, to be delivered without fraud, covin, guile, or deceipt; As alſo making true and ſpeedie Certificate to this Court of the ſame; And that you well and truly doe, and execute all, and every other thing and things which yee ought to doe by reaſon of your ſaid Office; So helpe you God, and all Saints
The Oath of Supreamacie, Anno, 28. H. 8. Ca. 10.
IT is Ordained and Enacted by Authoritie aforeſaid, That all, and everie Eccleſiaſticall Judge, Ordinarie, Chancellour, Commiſſarie, Officiall, Vicar-Generall, Mayor, Bayliffe, Sheriffe, Under Sheriff, Eſcheator, Alderman, Jurate, Conſtable, Headborough, Thirdborow, Burſholder, and every other Lay-Officer and Miniſter to be made created elected, or admitted within this Realme, or any othe•the Kings Dominions, of what eſtate, order, degree, or condition ſoever he ſhall be, from, and after the ſaid laſt day of July, ſhall before he take upon him ſuch Office, make, take, and receive a corporall Oath upon the Evangeliſts, before ſuch perſon and perſons as have, or ſhall have authoritie to admit358 him; That he from henceforth ſhall utterly renounce, refuſe, relinquiſh and forſake the Biſhop of Rome, and his authoritie, power, and juriſdiction. And that yee ſhall never conſent or agree, that the Biſhop of Rome ſhall practiſe, exerciſe, or have any manner of authoritie, juriſdiction or power within this Realme, or any other the Kings Dominions, but that he ſhall reſiſt the ſame at all times to the uttermoſt of his power; And that from henceforth he ſhall accept, repute & take the Kings Majeſtie to be the onely Supreame Head in earth of the Church of England, and that to his cunning, wit, and uttermoſt of his power, without guile, fraud, or other undue meane; He ſhall obſerve, keep, maintain, and defend the whole effect and contents of all and ſingular Acts and Statutes, made, and to be made within this Realme, in359 derogation, execution, and extinguiſhment of the Biſhop of Rome and his authoritie, and all other Acts and Statutes, made, and to be made in Reformation and coroboration of the Kings Power of Supreame Head in earth of the Church of England; And this he ſhall doe againſt all manner of perſons, of what eſtate, dignitie, degree, or condition they be, and in no wiſe doe or attempt, nor to his power ſuffer to be done or attempted, directly or indirectly, any thing or things privily or appartly, to the let, hindrance, dammage, or derogation thereof, or of any part thereof, by any manner of meanes, or of any manner of pretence; And in caſe any Oath be made, or hath been made to him, by any manner of perſon or perſons, in maintenance, defence, or favour of the Biſhop of Rome, or his authoritie, juriſdiction, or power, yea, repute the360 ſame as vaine and adnihillate; So help him God and all Saints, and the holy Evangeliſts.
The Oath of a Commiſſioner for Sewers, as in the Statute, Anno, 23. H. 8
YEE ſhall ſweare, That you to your cunning, wit, and power ſhall truly & indifferently execute the Authoritie given by this Commiſsion of Sewers, without any favour, affection, corruption, dread or malice, to be borne to any manner of perſon or perſons, and as the caſe ſhall require, yee ſhall conſent and endeavour your ſelfe, for your part, to the beſt of your knowledge and power, to the making of ſuch wholeſome juſt, equall, and didifferent Lawes, and Ordinances, as ſhall be made and deviſed by the moſt diſcreet and indifferent number of your fellowes, being in Commiſsion361 with you, for the due redreſſe, reformation, and amendment, of all, and everie ſuch things as are contained & ſpecified in the ſaid Commiſsion; And the ſame Lawes and Ordinances, to your cunning, wit, and power, cauſe to be put in due execution without favour, meed, dread, malice, or affection; So God you helpe and all Saints.
The Oath of an Ʋnder-Sheriff, Bayliffe of Franchies, Deputies, and Clerke of every Sheriffe, and Ʋnder-Sheriff, Statute, Anno, 27. of Queene Eliz. Ca. 12.
I. A. B. Shall not uſe or exerciſe the Office of Under-Sheriffe corruptly, during the time that I ſhall remaine there, neither ſhall, or will accept, rejoyce, or take by any colour, meanes, or device whatſoever,362 or conſent to the taking of any manner of fee or reward of any manner of perſon or perſons for the inpannelling or returning of any Inqueſt, Jurie, or Tales, in any Court of Record for the Queene, or betweene partie, and partie, above two ſhillings, or the value thereof, or ſuch Fees as are allowed and appointed for the ſame by the Lawes and Statutes of this Realme, but will, according to my power, truly and indifferently with convenient ſpeed, impannell all Jurours, and returne all ſuch Writ or Writs touching the ſame, as ſhall appartain to be done by my dutie or Office, during the time that I ſhall remaine in the ſaid Office; So helpe me God, and by the contents of this Book.
It is Ordained, That every Under-Sheriff, Bayliffe of Franchizes, Deputie, and Clerke of every Sheriffe & Under-Sheriff, and every other perſon and perſons363 which ſhall have Authoritie, or take upon him to impannell or returne any Inqueſt, Jurie or Tales, or entermedle with execution of Proceſſe in any Court of Record, untill he or they have taken the Oath of Supreamacie, as it is Ordained in the firſt yeare of Queene Elizabeth; Together with the Oath aboveſaid.
The Oath given to the Kings Councell and Judges of his Court of Requeſts, as it is entred in an old Book of Preſidents remaining among the Records of that Court, Anno, 27. H. 6. Fo. 56.
YOu ſhall be faithfull & true Councellour to our Soveraigne Lord, Henry by the grace of God, King of England, and of France, and Lord of Ireland, the 7, and to his Councell be diligently364 attendant, and due, and diligent attendance he ſhall give to the ſame, and in every matter touching our ſaid Soveraigne Lord, his honourable ſuretie or profit that ſhall come to your knowledge, or that ſhall be communed or treated in his Councell; Yee ſhall to the beſt of your wiſedome, give plaine and true Councell, not letting ſo to do for meed, dread, favour, or affection of any perſon, of what degree or condition ſoever he be; the Kings Councell, as long as it is Ordained to be Councell, yee ſhall conceale and keepe ſecret, without diſcloſing it to any perſon, though he be of the ſame Councell, if it touch him, and that he may not be made privie there: And if there ſhall come any thing to your knowledge, that may be hurtfull prejudiciall, or diſhonourable to our ſaid Soveraign Lord; Yee ſhall let it to the beſt of365 your power, and as ſoone as yee goodly may, ſhew it to our ſaid Soveraigne Lord, or ſuch of his Councell as yee ſhall think will ſhew it to him; All which premiſſes, and every of them, yee ſhall well and truly keep and obſerve; So help you God, and all Saints, and by his holy Evangeliſts, by you bodily touched.
The Oath which was given by Henry Garnet the Jeſuit, to Catesby, Piercy, Chriſtopher Wright, and Thomas Winter, and the reſt of the Conſpirators in the Powder Treaſon, Anno, 1605. for ſecreſie, as perſeverance and conſtancie in the execution of their Plots.
YOu ſhall ſweare, By the bleſſed Trinitie, and by the Sacrament you now purpoſe to366 receive, never to diſcloſe, directly nor indirectly, by word or circumſtance, the matter that ſhall be propoſed to you to keep Secret, nor deſiſt from execution thereof, untill the reſt ſhall give you leave
The Oath concerning the Office of a Conſtable in the Countrey, Vide Dalton, Title Warrants.
YOu ſhall ſweare, That you ſhall well & truly ſerve our Soveraigne Lord the King, in the Office of a Conſtable; You ſhall ſee, and cauſe his Majeſties Peace to be well & truly kept and preſerved according to your power; You ſhall Arreſt all ſuch perſons as in your ſight or preſence ſhall ride or go Armed offenſively, or ſhall commit, or make any Riot, Affray, or other breach of his Majeſties Peace; You ſhall doe your beſt367 endeavour (upon complaint to you made) to apprehend all Fellons, Baretors, and Rioters, or perſons Riotous aſſembled; and if any ſuch Offenders ſhal make reſiſtance (with force) you ſhall leave hue and cry and ſhall purſue them untill they be taken; You ſhall doe your beſt endeavour, that the Watch in your Towne be duly kept, and that hue and cryes be duly purſued, according to the Statute of Wincheſter; And that the Statutes made for the Puniſhment of Rogues and Vagabonds, and Night walkers, and ſuch idle perſons comming within your Bounds and Limits be duly put in Execution; You ſhall have a watchfull eye to ſuch perſons as ſhall maintaine or keepe any common houſe or place where any unlawfull Games is, or ſhall be uſed; As alſo, to ſuch as ſhall frequent or uſe ſuch places, or ſhall uſe or exerciſe any368 unlawfull Games there, or elſewhere, contrarie to the Statutes at your Aſsizes, Seſsions, or Leet; You ſhall preſent all, and everie the offences done, contrarie to the Statutes made, 1. Jacob. 4. Jacob. & 21. Jacob. Regis, to reſtraine the inordinate hunting and tipling in Innes, Alehouſes, and other Victuallinghouſes, and for repreſsing of drunkenneſſe; You ſhall true repreſentment make of all Bloodſhedding. Affraies, Out-cryes, Reſcuous, and other Offences committed or done againſt the Kings Majeſties Peace within your Limits; And you ſhall have a care for the maintenance of Archerie, according to the Statute; You ſhall well duly execute all Receipts and Wa rants to you directed, from the Juſtices of this Countie; And yee ſhall well and dulie, according to your knowledge, power, and abilitie, doe, and execute all other369 things belonging to the Office of a Conſtable, ſo long as you ſhall continue in this Office; So help you God.
The Oath of a Duke and Earle in Scotland, to their King.
YOu shall fortifie and defend the true and Chriſtian Religion, and Chriſts holy Evangell preſently preached in this Realme and shall be loyall and true to our Soveraigne Lord the Kings Majeſtie, and shall defend his Highneſſe Realme and Lieges from all Aliens and Strangers, at the uttermoſt of your power; So helpe you God and by the Oath that yee have elſe made.
The Oath of a Lord of Parliament in Scotland.
YEE shall give due andfaithfull Councell to our Soveraign Lord the Kings Majeſties, Weale publiquely in Parliament, as in all other places needfull, and ſecretly according to you knowledge, for the preſervation of his Highneſſe moſt noble Perſon, his Royall Eſtate, Lieges, and Realme and Common weale thereof; And shall never Heile nor conceyle any point of Treaſon or Crime Leiſmajeſtie, that shall appeare to be conſpired againſt his ſaid Royall Perſon but shall incontinent, with all poſsible diligence reveale the ſame; So help you God, and by the Oath that yee have elſe made.
The Oath of a Knight of Scotland.
1. I Shall fortifie and defend the Chriſtian Religion, and Chriſts holy Evangell preſently preached in this Realme, to the uttermoſt of my power.
2. I ſhall be Loile and true to my Soveragine Lord the Kings Majeſtie, to all Orders of Chivalrie, and to the Noble Office of Armes.
3. I ſhall fortifie and defend Juſtice at my power, and that with favour or feed.
4. I ſhall never flye from my Soveraigne Lord the Kings Majeſtie, nor from his Highneſſe Lieutenants, in time of Mellay and Battaile.
5. I ſhall defend my Native Realme from all Alieners and Strangers.
6. I ſhall defend the juſt occaſion and quarrell of all Ladies372 of Honour, of all true and friendleſſe Widowes, of Orphans, and of Maidens of good ſame.
7. I ſhal do diligence whereſoever I hear there is any Murtherers, Traytors, or maſterfull Reavers, that Oppreſſeth the Kings Laeges, and poore people, to bring them to the Law at my power.
8. I ſhall maintaine and uphold the Noble eſtate of Chivalrie, with Horſe, Harneſſe, and other Knightly Habillements, and ſhall helpe and ſuccour them of the ſame Order, if they have need.
9. I ſhall enquire, and ſeeke to have the knowledge and underſtanding, of all the Articles and Points contained in the Booke of Chivalrie.
All theſe premiſſes to obſerve, keep, and faithfull, I oblige me; So helpe me God, by my owne hand, ſo help me God, &c.
The Oath of the Mayor of London and Oxford, as it is entred in the Red Book of the Exchequer.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall ſerve well and truely our Soveraigne Lord the King, in the Office of Mayoraltie in the Citie of London, or (Oxenford) and the ſame Citie; Yee ſhall ſurely, and ſafely, unto the uſe of our ſaid Soveraigne Lord the King of England, and of his Heires, Kings of England, and the Profit of the King, yee ſhall doe in all things that to you longeth, and the Right of the King, and that that longeth to the Crowne yee ſhall truely keepe; Yee ſhall not aſſent unto decrees nor concealment of the Rights, nor of the Franchize of the King or of the Crown, be it in Lands, Rents, or•n374 Franchizes, or in Suits concealed or withdrawn, you ſhall put your power to call it againe; And if yee may not doe it, yee ſhall tell unto the King, or to thoſe of his Councell, of whom yee shall underſtand for to be certaine, that they shall enform the King thereof; And yee shall truly and right-wiſely treat the people of your Baylie, and right yee shall doe to every perſon, as well to Stranger as to privie, to poore as to rich, in that that belongeth to you for to doe; And that for highneſſe, nor for riches, for gift, promiſe, favour, nor hate, yee shall no wrong doe to any perſon, nor to any man yee shall the right let; Yee shal not take whereby the King may leeſe, or by which the right may be letted; And alſo, that ye may ſet good keeping upon the••ſsize of Bread, Wine, Fiſh, Fleſh, Corne, and all other Victuals, and alſo of Weights and375 Meaſures in the ſaid Citie, doing ſad and due execution upon the defaults that there ſhall be found, according to all the Statutes thereof made not repealed, and that in all things to the May or of the ſaid Citie longing for to doe, well and truely you ſhall have you, and doe; So helpe you God, and holydome.
The Oath of the Sub-Treaſurer, as it is entred in the Red Booke of the Exchequer.
YEE Shall well and truely ſerve the King our Soveraine Lord, in the roome of Under-Treaſurer of this his Exchequer, and in the Receipt of the ſame; and well and truly ſurvey and order as wel the Receipts of all ſums of money, payd and to be payd to the Kings uſe in the ſaid Receipt, as the iſſue of the ſame; And well and truly behave376 have your ſelfe in the ſame roome; So helpe you God, and all Saints, and the holy Evangeliſts.
The Oath of the Auditor of the Exchequer, as it is entred in the Red Booke of the Exchequer.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall truely ſerve the King our Soveraign Lord, in the Office of one of the Auditors of this Exchequer, during the time yee ſhall have the ſame; And well and truly yee ſhall intreat, and with all goodly ſpeed yee ſhall rid ſuch perſons as ſhall be by this Court Aſsigned to Accompt before you; Yee ſhall not take of any perſon, whereby the Kings Majeſtie may loſe, nor conſent to any untruth; And right yee ſhall doe to every Accomptant that ſhall have to doe before you, according377 to your wit and diſcretion, and ſafely and ſurely keepe ſuch Records, Writs, and other Mynuments of this Court as ſhall be committed for any time to your cuſtodie, without rayſing or imbezling of the ſame; So God you helpe, &c.
The Oath of the Ingroſſer of the great Roll, as it is entred in the Red Booke of the Exchequer.
YEE ſhall ſweare,Clerke of the Pipe. That yee ſhall well and truely ſerve the Kings Majeſtie our Soveraigne Lord, in the Office of Ingroſſer of the great Roll, otherwiſe called the Clerk of the Pipe of this Exchequer, and the Office, with all the Rolls, Records, Accompts, and other Mynuments, being and remaining in the ſame, and that hereafter ſhall be committed to your cuſtodie, and pertaining to the378 ſame Office; Yee ſhall ſafely and ſurely keepe, or doe to be kept, to the uſe of our ſaid Soveraigne Lord the King; And yee ſhall draw, or caufe to be drawn out of the Two Remembrancers Offices, with all convenient ſpeed, all manner of Femes, or other Debts and duties to be engroſſed; And all the ſaid Femes, Debts and Duties, yee ſhall ſet forth to be ſummoned at the next Liberate; And yee ſhall true entry make of all Awards made by the Court upon any Oppoſall of any Sheriffs, or other Accomptants, for and concerning any Femes, Debts or other the Kings Duties; And the ſame Awards yee ſhall ſet out in the Scrowles of the Pipes; And alſo, yee ſhall well and truely make and diſcharge, or cauſe to be made and diſcharged, all Allowances and diſcharges the ſame Terme, or the next Vacati•n, before the379 firſt day of the next Terme, without any further delay; And yee ſhall not take of any perſon or perſons, by promiſe, gift, reward, or otherwiſe, whereby the King may loſe, or be hindred, or his ſaid Femes, Debts, or other duties may be prolonged or detained by any time; or elſe by the which, the right let to any manner of perſon and perſons; And well and truely, and with all convenient ſpeed, yee ſhall diſcharge, or cauſe to be diſcharged, all perſons of all ſuch things as the Court ſhall award, belonging to your ſaid Office; And all this yee ſhall doe, during ſuch time as yee ſhall be Officer in the ſaid Office, without fraud or guile; So helpe you God, &c.
The Oath of the Chancellour of the Exchequer, as it is entred in the Red Book of the Exchequer.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall ſerve well and truly the King our Soveraigne Lord, in the Office of Chancellor of this Exchequer, and well and truly yee ſhall doe all things that appartaineth to that Office; And yee shall ſpeed the Kings Buſineſſe before all other; And yee shall not enſeale any Writ of Judgement of any other Place then of the Exchequer, with the Seale of this Place, whiles the Chancerie shall be 20. miles about the place where this Exchequer is abiding; And alſo, yee shall ſweare, That if it fortune, that if hereafter, by reaſon of your Office, to make any Clerks or Miniſters, to execute any Office or Place within381 this Court, yee ſhall make ſuch Clerks or Miniſters, as yee will anſwer for at your perill, and ſuch as ſhall be ſufficient, true, and intendant unto that to them ſhall appertaine, in ſpeed, as well of the Kings Buſineſſes, as of his people, after the forme of the Statute in that behalfe, made in the Parliament holden at Weſtminſter the ſecond yeare of the Raigne of King Henry the fixt; So help you God, &c.
The Oath of a Baron of the Exchequer, as it is entred in the Red Booke of the Exchequer.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That well and truly yee ſhallſerve the King our Soveraigne Lord, in the Office of Baron of this Exchequer, and lawfully yee ſhall charge and diſchar•e the people that have to accompt before you, and right yee ſhall doe to382 all people, as well to poore as to rich, and that for highneſſe for riches, neither for hate, nor for the eſtate of any perſon, for benefit, gift, nor promiſe of any perſon that may be made to you, or ſhall be made to you, ne by Art nor Engine, the Right of the King, nor none other you ſhall diſturbe, ne reſpite, contrarie to the Lawes of the Land, and the Kings Debts yee ſhall not put in reſpite there where they may goodly be Levyed, and the Kings Bufineſſe yee ſhall ſpeed before all other, and that for gift, wages, or benefit, yee ſhall not conceale the Kings Profit or Advantage in advantage to other, nor for your ſelfe; And that yee ſhall not take Fee, neither Robe of any perſon, but of the King onely; And yee ſhall have nothing of any perſon for to doe wrong, or delay the right, or to delude, or delay the people383 that have to doe afore you, but in all that ye may ye ſhall deliver them; And there where yee may underſtand wrong, or prejudice, to be done to the King, yee ſhall put all your power and diligence to redreſſe it; And if yee may not yee ſhall tell it to the King, or to thoſe of his Councell which may ſhew it to the King, if yee may not come unto him; And the Kings Councell yee ſhall keepe in all things; So help you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of the Kings 'Remembrancer in the Exchequer, as it is entred in the Red Book of the Exchequer.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That you well and truely ſerve the King our Soveraigne Lord, in the Office of Remembrancer of his Majeſtie of this his Exchequer;384 And the ſame Office, with all the Rolls, Records, and other Mynuments, now lying and remaining in t•e ſame, and that hereafter ſhall be committed to your cuſtodie, and appertaining to the ſame Office yee ſhall ſafely and ſurely keepe, or doe to be kept, to the uſe of our ſaid Soveraigne Lord the King, and of his Heires Kings of England; You ſhall true Entry make of all Awards, and other things to be entred in the ſaid Office, and that with all convenient ſpeed; You ſhall not take of any perſon or perſons, by promiſe gift reward, or otherwiſe, whereby the Kings Majeſtie may leeſe or be hindred, or by which the right may be let, to any manner of perſon or perſons and all other things belonging to the Maſter of the ſaid Office to doe, yee ſhall well and truly do, without fraud or guile; So help you God, &c.
The Oath of the Clerke of the Pleas in the Exchequer, as it is entred in the Rea Book of the Exchequer.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall well and truly intend, that which ſhall appertaine unto your Office in ſpeed, as well of the Kings Buſineſſe, as of his people, and all ſuch rewards as doe, or ſhall concerne your Office, you ſhall ſafely keepe, or cauſe to be kept; And you ſhall true Entrie make of all Orders, Awards, and other things to be entred into your ſaid Office, and that with all convenient ſpeed; And all other things belonging to the Maſter of the ſaid Office to doe you ſhall well and truly do; So help you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of the Forraigne Oppoſer of the Exchequer, as it is entred in the Red Booke of the Exchequer.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall well and truly ſerve the King our Soveraigne Lord, his Heires and Succeſſors, in the Office of Forraigne Oppoſer of this Exchequer, and the Kings Buſineſſe in the ſame yee ſhall ſpeed and diſpatch before all other; And you ſhall faithfully and truly charge and diſcharge all Accompts and people that have to doe before you, and doe all other things appertaining to the ſaid Office, and ſhall well and truly behave your ſelfe in the ſame Office, without undue practiſe, fraud, or concealment, ſo long as you ſhall continue in the ſame Office; So help you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of the Comptroller of the Pipe in the Exchequer, as it is entred in the Red Book of the Exchequer.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall well and truly execute the place of the Comptroller of the Pipe in his Majeſties Court of Exchequer, and ſhall comptroll the great Roll of the Pipe, and the Pipes thereunto belonging; And ſhall twice in the yeare (that is to ſay) in the Terme of Saint Hiliarie, and the Holy Trinitie, yearly write into the Summons of the Pipe, all Femes and Debts contained in the ſaid great Roll, and well and truly behave your ſelfe in the ſaid Office of Comptroller of the Pipe, as long as you ſhall continue in the ſame Office; So help you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of the Chamberlaines of the Exchequer, as it is entred in the Red Book of the Exchequer.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall truly ſerve the King our Soveraigne Lord, in the Office of one of the Chamberlaines of this Exchequer, and truly enter and ingroſſe, as well all manner of Receipts of Money received, and to be received to the Kings uſe, at the Receipt of this Exchequer, as the payment of the ſame; And alſo, you ſhal ſafely and truly keep, as well all Records, being in the Kings Treaſury, as all other things, Leagues, Truces Evidences, and Jewels, and all other things being to the Kings Treaſurie, and all that hereafter ſhall be committed to your keeping; And yee ſhall not aſſent unto deliverance of any of the Kings Money,389 nor any other thing being in his Treaſurie, without ſufficient Warrant in that behalfe; And yee ſhall not depute, or put any Clerke or Miniſter to occupie any place or roome under you in this Office, but ſuch as ſhall be ſufficient, true, and intendant unto that to them ſhall appertaine in ſpeed, as well of the Kings Buſineſſe, as of his people, after the forme of the Statute in that behalfe made, in the Parliament holden at Weſtminſter, the ſecond yeare of the Reigne of King Henry the fixt; And in theſe, and all other things concerning your Office, yee ſhall well and truly have you, and doe; So help you God, and all Saints.
The Oath of an Eſcheator, as it is entred in the Red Booke of the Exchequer.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall ſerve the King well390 and truly in the Office of the Eſcheator, in the Towne of N. and doe the Kings Profit in all that belongeth unto you to doe, by way of your Office, after your wit and your powre, & his Rights, and all that belongeth to his Crowne yee ſhall truly keep; Yee ſhall not aſſent to decreaſe, neither conceal the Kings Right, nor his Franchizes; And whereſoever that ye have knowledge of the Kings Rights, or of his Crowne, be it in Lands, Rents, Franchizes, or Suits, that be concealed or withdrawn yee ſhall doe your true paine and diligence to withſtand it; And if yee may not doe it, you ſhall ſay it to the King, or ſome of h•s Councell ſuch as you know for certaine will ſay it to the King; Yee ſhall truly, and right-wiſely, treat the people of your Bayly-wick, and doe right to everie man, as well to poor as to rich, in that that belongeth to391 you to doe, by way of your Office; Yee ſhall doe no wrong to any man, neither for gift, promiſe, nor hate, neither no mans right yee ſhall diſturbe; ye ſhall take nothing, whereby that right may be diſturbed, letted, or delayed; Yee ſhall truly and right-wiſely return and ſerve all the Kings Writs; Yee ſhall in your proper perſon make the extent of Lands, after their verie value and enqueſts, to return them as oft as they be taken afore you, and that within a moneth after they be taken, yee ſhall take no Bayley into your ſervice, but ſuch as yee will anſwer for, and yee ſhall doe your Bayliffs to make ſuch Oath as it belongeth to them; Yee ſhall truly and right wiſely yeeld accompt at the Kings Exchequer, of all Iſſues of your ſaid Bayliffe-wick; Yee ſhall take your enqueſts in open places, and that by Indenture, after the effect of392 the Statute thereof made; As God helpe you, and his Saints.
The Oath of the Deputie-Chamberlaine of the Exchequer, as it is entred in the Red Booke of the Exchequer.
YEE ſhall ſweare, That yee ſhall well and truly ſerve the King our Soveraigne Lord, as Deputie unto A.D. one of the Chamberlaines of the Exchequer, in the Office of the ſaid Chamberlaine of this Court, and ſhall ſurely joyne all ſuch Tables as any Accomptant or Debtor ſhall bring unto you to be joyned with the Foyles of the ſame, being in your charge and cuſtodie; And the ſame Tables ſo joyned, yee ſhall deliver over unto the Clerks of the Pipe, or the ingroſſer of the great Roll in this Court, and do all other things appertaining to the ſaid Office, ſo long as yee393 ſhall be Officer there; So God you helpe and his Saints.
The Oath to be miniſtred to all Church-wardens, & Sidemen, within the Dioces of Salisburie, to preſent according to Articles publiſhed in An. 1616.
YOu ſhall ſweare, That all affection, favour, hatred, hope of reward and gaine, or feare of diſpleaſure, or malice ſet aſide; You ſhall upon due confideration of the Article given you in charge, Preſent all and every ſuch perſon within your Pariſh, as hath committed any offence or fault, or made any default mentioned in theſe or any of thoſe Articles or which are vehemently ſuſpected or defamed, of any ſuch offence, fault, or default, wherein you ſhall deale uprightly, and according to394 truth, neither of malice, preſenting any contrarie to truth, nor of corrupt affection, ſparing to Preſent any and ſo conceale the truth, having in this action God before you eyes, with an earneſt zeale to maintaine truth, and to ſuppreſſe vice; So help you God, and the contents of this Booke.
The Oath to be miniſtred to all Church-wardens within the Dioces of Briſtol, in the Viſitation to Preſent according to Articles publiſhed in Anno, 1595.
YEE ſhall ſweare, Calling Almighty God to witneſſe, who ſeeth into your hearts, and knoweth your verie thoughts, That you, and everie of you, ſhall diligently and faithfully performe and execute the Office whereunto he is appointed,405 and ſetting apart all malice, hatred love, feare, or affection, to any perſon or perſons, ſhall diligently enquire, and truly preſent and diſcover, all, and every ſuch perſon or perſons within your Pariſh, either knowne, commonly reported, or vehemently ſuſpected to have committed any Miſdemeanour, Fault, Default, Crime, Sinne, or Offence, mentioned or ſpecified within any the Articles in this Booke compriſed, or in the ſame omitted, which comming to your knowledge, are by Eccleſiaſticall Authoritie to be reformed; So helpe you God, in Chriſt Jeſus.
The Proteſtation.
I•B. Doe in the preſence of Almightie God, Promiſe, Vow, and Proteſt, to maintain and defend as farre as lawfully I may, with my life, power, and406 eſtate, the true Reform'd Proteſtant Religion, expreſſed in the Doctrine of the Church of England, againſt all Popery and Popiſh Innovations within this Realme, contrary to the ſame Doctrine, and according to the dutie of my Allegiance, his Majeſties Royall Perſon, Honour, and Eſtate; as alſo the Power and Ptiviledges of Parliament, the lawful Rights and Liberties of the Sub•ect and every perſon that maketh this Proteſtation, in whatſoever he ſhall do in the lawfull purſuance of the ſame. And to my power, and a far as lawfully I may, I will oppoſe, and by all good wayes & means endea•our to bring to condigne puniſhment, all ſuch as ſhall either by Force. Practice, Councells, Plots, Conſpiracies, or otherwiſe, doe any thing to the contrary of any thing in this preſent Proteſtation contained. And further, That I ſhall in all407 juſt and honourable wayes endeavour to preſerve the Union and Peace betweene the three Kingdomes of England, Sco•land, and Ireland; and neither for hope, feare, nor other reſpect ſhall relinquiſh this Promiſe, Vow and Proteſtation.
The Vow and Covenant appointted by the Lords and Commons Aſſembled in Parliament, to be taken by every man, in the Cities of London, Weſtminſter, the Suburbs and Liberties thereof, and throughout the whole Kingdome.
IA. B. In humilitie and reverence of the Divine Ma•eſty, declare my heartie ſorrow for my own ſins and the ſins of this Nation, which have deſerved the calamities & judgments that now lye upon it; And my true408 intention is, by Gods grace to endeavour the amendment of my owne wayes; And that I do abhor and deteſt the ſaid wicked and treacherous Deſign lately diſcovered, And that I never gave, nor will give my aſſent to the execution therof, but wil according to my power & Vocation oppoſe & reſiſt the ſame, and all other of the like nature: And in caſe any other like Deſigne ſhall hereafter come to my knowledge, I will make ſuch timely diſcoverie as I ſhall conceive may beſt conduce to the preventing thereof. And whereas I do in my conſcience believe, That the Forces rayſed by the Two Houſes of Parliament are rayſed and continued for their juſt Defence, and for the Defence of the true Proteſtant Religion and Liberties of the Subject againſt the Forces raiſed by the King: I doe here in the preſence of Almightie God, Declare,409 Vow and Covenant, That I will, according to my power and Vocation, aſsiſt the Forces rayſed and continued by both Houſes of Parliament, againſt the Forces rayſed by the King without their conſent; and will likewiſe aſsiſt all other perſons that ſhall take this Oath, in what they ſhall doe in purſuance thereof, and will not directly or indirectly adhere unto, nor ſhal willingly aſsiſt the Forces rayſed by the King without the conſent of both Houſes of Parliament. And this Vow and Covenant I make in the preſence of Almightie God, the Search of all hearts with a true intention to perform the ſame, as I ſhall anſwer at the great Day, when the ſecrets of all hearts ſhall be diſcloſed.
4101. T That we ſhall ſincerely, really and conſtantly, through the grace of God, endeavour in our ſeverall places and callings the prefervation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of S•o•und, in Doctrine, Worſhip, Diſcipline & Government, againſt our common Enemies, the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdomes of Engl•nd and Ireland, in Doctrine, Worſhip, Diſcipline & Government according to the Word of God, & the Example of the beſt Reformed Churches; And ſhall endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the Three Kingdoms, to the neareſt Con•unction and Uniformity in Religion, Confeſsion of Faith Forme of Church-government, D•rectory for Worſhip and Catechizing: That we and our Poſterity after us may as Brethren live in faith and love, and the Lord may delight to dwel in the midſt of us.
4112. That we ſhall in like manner, without reſpect of perſons, endeavor the extirpation of Poperie Prelacie, (that is, Church-Government by Arch-Biſhops, Biſhops, their Chancellors and Commiſſaries Deans, Deans & Chapters Archdeacons, and all other Eccleſiaſtical Officers depending on that Hierachy) Superſtition Hereſie Schiſm, Prophaneſſe, and what ſoever ſhalbe found to be contrarie to ſound Doctrine, and the power of godlineſſe, leſt we partake in other mens ſins, & thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues, and that the Lord may be one, and his Name one in the Three Kingdoms.
3. We ſhall with the ſame ſinceritie realitie and conſtancy, in our ſeveral Vocations endeav•r with our Eſtates and Lives, mutually to preſerve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliament, and the Liberties of the Kingdoms, and to preſerve and412 defend the Kings Majeſties Perſon and•uthoritie, in the preſervation & defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms, that the world may beare witneſſe with our conſciences of our loyaltie, and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminiſh his Majeſties juſt power and greatneſſe.
4. We ſhall alſo with all faithfulneſſe endeavor the diſcovery of all ſuch as have bin or ſhalbe Incendiaries. Malignants or evill Inſtruments, by hindring the Reformation of Religion, dividing the King from his people, or one of the Kingdoms from another, or making any Faction or P•rties amongſt the people contrarie to this League and Covenant that they maybe brought to publike Tryall, and re•eive condign puniſhment, as the degree of their Offences ſhall require or deſerve, o•the Supreme Judicatories of both413 Kingdoms reſpectively, or others, having power from them for that effect, ſhall judge convenient.
V. And whereas the happineſſe of a bleſſed Peace between theſe Kingdoms, denied in former times to our Progenitors, is by the good providence of God granted unto us, and hath beene lately concluded and ſetled by both Parliaments, we ſhall each one of us, according to our place and intereſt, endeavor that they may remain conjoyed in a firm Peace and Union to all Poſteritie; And that Juſtice may be done upon the wifull Oppoſers thereof, in manner expreſſed in the preſent Articles.
6. We ſhall alſo, according to our places and callings, in this Common Cauſe of Religion, Libertie and Peace of the Kingdoms, aſsiſt and defend all thoſe that enter into this League and Covenant, in the maintaining414 and purſuing thereof, and ſhall not ſuffer our ſelves directly or indirectly, by whatſoever combination, perſwaſion or terror, to be divided and withdrawne from this bleſſed Union & Conjunction, whether to make defection to the contrary part, or give our ſelves to a deteſtable indifferency or neutrality in this Cauſe, which ſo much concerneth the glory of God, the good of the Kingdoms and Honor of the King; but ſhall all the dayes of our lives zealouſly and conſtantly continue therein againſt all oppoſition, and promote the ſame according to our power againſt all Lets and Impediments whatſoever; & what we are not able our ſelves to ſuppreſſe or overcome, we ſhall reveal & make known, that it may be timely prevented or removed all which we ſhal do as in the fight of God.
And becauſe theſe Kingdoms are guiltie of many ſins & provocations415 againſt God, and his Son Jeſus Chriſt, as is too manifeſt by our preſent diſtreſſes and dangers, the fruits thereof: We profeſſe and declare before God and the world, our unfeigned deſire to be humbled for our own ſins, and for the ſins of theſe Kingdoms, eſpecially that we have not as we ought, valued the ineſtimable benefit of the Goſpel, that we have not laboured for the puritie and power thereof, and that we have not endeavoured to receive Chriſt in our hearts, nor to walke worthy of him in our lives, which are the cauſes of other ſins and tranſgreſsions, ſo much abounding amongſt us And our true & unfeigned purpoſe deſire & indeavor for our ſelves and all others under our power & charge, both in publike and in private, in all duties we owe to God and man, to amend our lives and each one to go before another in the example416 of a reall Reformation, that the Lord may turn away his wrath and heavie indignation, & eſtabliſh theſe Churches and Kingdoms in truth & peace. And this Covenant we make in the preſence of Almighty God, the ſerarcher of all hearts, with a true intention to performe the ſame, as we ſhall anſwer at that great day, when the ſecrets of all hearts ſhall be diſcloſed, moſt humbly beſeeching the Lord to ſtrengthen us by his holy Spirit for this end, & to bleſſe our deſires & proceedings with ſucceſs, as may be deliverance & ſafetie to his people, & encouragement to other Chriſtian Churches, groningunder, or in danger of the yoke of Antichriſtian tyranny, to joyn in the ſame, or like Aſſociation & Covenant to the glorie of God, the enlargement of the Kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt, and the Peace and Tranquility of Chriſtian Kingdoms & Common wealths.