That I do from my heart abhor detest and abjure as Impious and Heretical this damnable Doctrine and Position That Princes which be Excommunicated or Deprived by the Pope may be deposed or murthered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever And I do believe 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 ministred unto me and do renounce all Pardons and Dispensations to the contrary And all these things I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear according to these express words by me spoken and according to the plain and common sense and understanding of the same words without any Equivocation or mental Evasion or secret Reservation whatsoever And I do make this recognition and acknowledgment heartily willingly and truly upon the true faith of a Christian So help me God The Resolution and Declaration of the Chancellor of the Vniversity of Paris upon the Question WE underwritten Chancellor of the Church and University of Paris do testifie to all who are or may be concern'd That we have seen and have seriously perus'd the Oath above transcrib'd and that we have found nothing in it contrary to the word of God or to the Catholick and Apostolick Faith And therefore we judge that it may be taken by the English Catholicks with a safe Faith and a good Conscience Nay and that they are bound by the Principles of Religion as it becomes faithful Subjects to fulfil it and practice it in all points In witness whereof We have here Subscrib'd and have order'd this present Subscription to be Seal'd with our Seal Given at Paris in the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary the 9 th of August in the year of our Lord 1681. COQUELIN By the command of the aforesaid Lord Chancello◠ROGER The Declaration and Subscription of the other Doctors with their Titles and Qualities WE underwritten Divines of the Sacred Faculty of Paris do judge the Oath as it is conceiv'd in the other Page may with safety of Faith and Conscience be taken by the English Catholicks so that the words Depos'd and Murder'd in the proposition which is of the deposition and Murder of Princes and which is Condemn'd as Heretical be taken joyntly Nay also tho' separately so notwithstanding that the Heretical proposition for as much as it asserts That Princes may be Depos'd be taken materially that is contrary to the word of God and formally also for as much as it adds That they may be Murder'd Alex. Vaillant Pastor of St. Christophers Chassebras Arch-priest of Paris and Pastor of St. Mary Magdaline Gerbais Principal of the Colledge of Reims Mezure Pastor of St. Paul Le Caron Pastor of St. Peters Rouland N. Petitpied Pastor of St. Marcellus Le Feure Professor Royal in Divinity Navarre A. Faure Vicar general of the Church of Reims Fran. Lovis Le Feure Ph. Le Feron Arch-deacon of the Church of Sens. Ph. du Bois Principal of the Colledge of the Thresurors Biord Thire Varet Robine Augustin Ermite André Mouteau Des Moulins De Lescolle Bigres De Riviere Camyn C. Blovin Petitpied De Bienual J. de Beaumont J. de Guigneul Le Charpentier Can. Regular of St. Augustin L. Empereur Can. Regular Hicot De la Grange Can. Regular Denis F. de Bourges Can. Regular Du Four J. C. Braquet Bourdon Can. Regular Blampignon Pastor of St. Mederick J. Marie L. Deuyon D'Heroval Nau. Basset Baudinet Carmelit Fryer Le Pescheur F. J. Germain Car. Fryer A. P. Deuyon D'Heroval Can. Regular M. Humbelot De la Mare Le Tourneur Courcier Theologal of the Church of Paris De Mousseau Counsellor of the Parliament of Paris T. H. Malet Carmelit Fryer De Fita Pastor of S. S. Cosma and Damianus Berthault Principal of the Colledge of St. Barbara Boesset Le Feron I have Subscrib'd to the same Declaration without any restriction Le Marais Pastor of the Cloister of our Blessed Virgin THe aforesaid Declaration with the Subscriptions of the Doctors mention'd under it does agree with the Original of the same Declaration as it did appear to me by the comparing it to the said Original the 13th of October in the year 1681. In Witness whereof I have subscrib'd this at Paris Tassin Register of the Sacred Facultyof Divinity of Paris FINIS
English Loyalty Vindicated by the French Divines OR A DECLARATION AND SUBSCRIPTION Of Threescore DOCTORS of SORBONNE FOR THE Oath of Allegiance As it was Originally deliver'd by them in LATIN Faithfully done in English By W. H. Tributum Caesaris est non negatur Ambr. Ep. 32. LONDON Printed for Nath. Thompson next to the Cross-Keys in Fetter-Lane MDCLXXXI TO THE READER 'T Is the Duty of all good Subjects to give sincere and undeniable Proofs of Loyalty to their Prince And because the Oath of Allegiance is generally offer'd to Roman-Catholicks as the Legal Test of their Fidelity in which they all profess to agree as to the substance tho' some hard words in it and other circumstances not in the least material to their Allegiance as some affirm have caus'd dissputes and rais'd Scruples in tender or weak Conciences several Gentlemen and Persons of Quality of their persuasion have made it their business these late years to clear those small Doubts that whilst the Substance of the Oath is embrac'd by all none should startle at the shadow since they almost unanimously at least very few excepted who are sufsiciently known to the World acknowledge the Imperial Crown of England independent of any Deposing Power whatsoever Their misfortune in being dispers'd and driven into Foreign Countries almost ever since the beginning of these Troublesome times has given them at last a fair opportunity to accmplish abroad what they were before endeavouring to effect at home And because there were Difficulties grounded as many did suppose chiefly upon Religion which made them boggle at the taking of the Oath The whole matter with all the particulars was propos'd to the Doctors of Sorbonne at Paris a Body of as able and learned Divines as any is of the Roman Persuasion and those whom Rome it self upon Debates of the greatest moment has often consulted and advis'd with Many of these Pious and Learned Doctors have examin'd the Oath very carefully have weighed every word and consider'd every circumstance And as they themselves declare Perpensis omnibus difficultatibus praecipuè illis quae à summorum Pontificum Brevibus adversus hoc Juramentum datis ab haereseos notâ Paragrapho quarto petuntur Having weighed all the difficulties particularly those that arise from the Popes Breifs given against this Oath and from the word Heretical in the fourth Paragraph after a long and mature Deliberation have given under their Hands this following Determination and Declaration upon the Oath in Latin as 't was worded when first sent to Rome in Paul the fifths time Which with a faithful Translation has been thought very Convenient to be Publish'd here in England that Men of clearer understanding and of deeper sence then the common sort of People and whose Judgement is wholly carried by the strength of reason may be sensible that the Roman Catholicks tho' never in so great a distress will be always ready with all submission and chearfulness to give Caesar his due which cannot be deny'd him but by a breach of the Law of Jesus Christ who with the same breath Commanded Obedience to God in Heaven and to Caesar his Vice-gerent upon Farth By which Decree of the Divine Wisdom the Primitive Christians thought the Emperors and Kings so well settled in their Thrones that great Athanasius the Pillar of Catholick Faith against the Arians Writing to Constantius the first Heterodox Emperor and a dreadful Enemy to Gods Church acknowledges That no Power in the World without opposiing Gods positive Command can so much as casâ— a spiteful look upon his Crown Tibi Deus Imperium commisit qui tuum Imperium malignis oculis carpit contradicit Ordinationi Divinae God says he Has Committed the Empire unto You he that but looks awry upon your Empire opposes Gods Ordination And St. Augustin commending the obedieuce the Christians constantly paid to Julian the Apostate Successor to Constantius Speaks thus of them upon the Psal 124. Propter Dominum aeternum subditi erant Domino temporali quia necessitate subditi erant non solùm propter iram evadendam sed etiam propter conscientiam propter dilectionem quia jussit Dominus They obey'd the Temporal Lord for the Eternal Lords Sake because they were by necessity his Subjects not only to avoid anger but for Conscience sake out of Love and because God Commanded it Certainly in that Golden age of Christianty there was no such thing as deposing Emperors and Kings or dispensing with their Subjects Allegiance upon the score of Heresie or Apostasy or upon any other pretence whatsoever And many hundred years after Pope Gregory the II. declar'd in a Letter to the Emperor Leo Isauricus accounted a dangerous Heretick by the See of Rome that he had not the power so much as to look into his Majesties Palace and to dispose of any of his Regalities Pontisex introspiciendi in Palatio potestatem non habet ac dignitates Regias deferendi Where was the pretended deposing power in those days This publication will be therefore very necessary also for the satisfaction of several honest and well-meaning Catholicks who having been hitherto troubled with doubts for want it may be of a right information concerning the Oath may be glad to have so firm and so good a ground to settle their wavering and scrupulous Conscience upon These were the motives which induc'd me to make this publick and as my endeavours in all this business have been clear from all Interest and my intentions sincere without any other prospect but of the common good I hope in this I may have oblig'd many without incurring the displeasure of any one who is a lover of truth and a faithful Subject to his Majesty W. H. QUAERITUR An Salvâ Fide turâ Conscientiâ A Catholicis Anglis Praestari possit subsequens Juramentum EGo A.B. verè sincerè agnosco profiteor testificor declaro in conscientiâ meâ coram Deo mundo quod supremus Dominus noster Rex Carolus est Legitimus verus hujus Regni Rex omnium aliorum Majestatis suae Dominiorum terrarum Et quod Papa nec per-seipsum nec per 〈◊〉 autoritatem Ecclesiae vel sedis Romanae aut per-â—lla alia media cum quibuscunque aliis aliquam potestatem vel autorittem habeat Regem deponendi vel de aliquious Majestati suae Regnis aut Dominiis disponendi vel alicui Principi extraneo ad ipsum damnificandum aut terras suas inuadendum autoritatem concedendi vel ullos subditorum suorum ab eorum suae Majestati Subjectione obedientiâ exonerandâ— aut ullis eorum licentiam vel facultatem dandi ut arma contra ipsum gerant tumultus excitent aut aliquam violentiam aut damnum Majestatis suae Regiae Personae Statui vel regimini aut aliquibus Majestatis suae Subditis intra sua Dominia offerant Item Juro ex corde quod non obstante ullâ declaratione vel sententiâ Excommunicationis vel
deprivationis factâ vel concessâ aut faciendâ vel concedendâ per Papam vel Successores vel per quamcunque autoritatem derivatam aut derivari praeten sam abille seu a suâ sede contra dictum Regem Haeredes aut Successores suos vel quaounque absolutione dictorum subditorum ab eorum obedientiâ fidelitatem veram obedientiam suae Majestati Haeredibus Successoribus suis praestabo ipsum que ipsos totis meis viribus contra omnes Conspirationes attentata quaecunque quae contra Personam illius vel illorum eorumque Coronam dignitatem ratione vel colore alicujus ejusmodi sententiae vel Declarationis vel alias facta fuerint defendam omnemque operam impendam ut Majestati suae haeredibus Succesloribus suis revelem manifestas faciam omnes Proditiones Proditorias Conspirationes quae contra illum aut aliquos illorum attentari cognoscam vel audiam Praeterea Juro quod ex corde abhorreo detestor abjuro tanquam impiam haereâ—â—cam hanc Doctrinam damnabilem positionem quod Principies per Papam Excommunicati vel deprivati possunt per suos subditos vel alios quoscunque deponi aut occidi Et vlterius credo in Conscientiâ meâ resolvor quod nec Papa nec ulla alia Persona quaecunque potestatem habeat me ab hoc Juramento aut aliquâ ejus parte absoluendi Quod Juramentum agnosco rectâ plenâ autoritate esse legitimè mihi ministratum omnibus Indulgentiis ac Dispensationibus in contrarium renuncio haecque omnia planè sincerè agnosco juro iuxta haec expressa verba à me prolara juxta planum communem sensum intellectum eorum verborum absque vllâ aequivocatione aut mentali evasione aut secretâ reservatione quâcunque hancque recognitionem agnitionem facio cordialiter voluntariè verè in verâ fide Christiani viri Sic me Deus adjuvet NOs infra scripti Ecclesiae Academiae Parisiensis Cancellarius Doctor socius Sorbonicus testamur omnibus quorum interest vel interesse potest attento nos animo vidisse perlegisse juramentum supra transcriptum nihilque in eo reperiisse quod sit verbo Dei aut Catholicae Apostolicae fidei contrarium proindeque-censemus illud salvâ eâdem fide tutâ Conscientiâ a Catholicis Anglis emitti posse imo eos ex Religione teneri illud idem ut fideles decet Subditos omni ratione adimplere exequi In Cujus rei fidem Subscripsimus praesentem Subscriptionem Sigillo nostro muniri fecimus Datum Parisiis in aedibus Beatae Mariae die nonâ Augusti Anno Dom. 1681. COQUELIN Ex mandato praefati Dom. Cancellarii ROGER NOs infra scripti sacrae facultatis Parisiensis Theologi censemus Iusiurandum ut in obversâ paginâ conceptum est saluâ fide tutâ Conscientiâ à Catholicis Anglis jurari posse Si modo in propositione quae est de depositione caede Principum quae damnatur ut Haeretica Deponi Occidi conjunctim accipiantur imo si divisim ita ut tamen propositio materialiter id est verbo Dei contraria finiatur quatenus deponi posse Principes effert formaliter vero etiam quatenus occidi posse Superaddit Deliberatum datumque Parisiis die decimâ sextâ Augusti Anno Dom. 1680. Alex. Vaillant Pastor Sti. Christophori Chassebras Archipresbyter Paris Pastor Stae Mariae Mag. Gerbais Collegii Rhemensis Primarius Mezure Pastor Sti. Pauli Le Caron Pastor Sti. Petri. Rouland N. Petitpied Pastor Sti. Marcelli Le Feure Professor Regius in Theologiâ Navarre A. Faure Vicarius generalis Ecclesiae Rhemensis Fran. Lovis Le Feure Ph. Le Feron Archdiaconus Ecclesiae Santonensis Ph. du Bois Primarius Collegii de Faen Biord Thire Varet Robine Eremita Augustinianus André Mouteau Des Moulins De Lescolle Bigres De Riviere Camyn C. Blovin Petitpied J. de Beaumont De Bienual J. de Guigneul Le Charpentier Can. Regul L. Empereur Canonicus Reg. Hicot De la Grange Canon Reg. Denis F. de Bourges Can. Reg. Du Four J. C. Braquet Bourdon Can. Reg. Blampignon Pastor Sti. Mederici J. Marie L. Deuyon d Heroual Nau. Basset Baudinet Carmelita Le Pescheur F. J. Germain Carmelita A. P. Deuyon Can. Reg. M. Humbelot De la Mare Le Tourneur Courcier Theologus Eccl. Paris De Mousseau Senator Curiae Paris T. H. Malet Carmelita De Fita Pastor S. S. Cosmae Dam. Berthault Coll. Stae Barb. Primarius Boesset Le Feron Eidem Deliberationi Subscripti nullâ adhibitâ limitatione Le Marais Pastor Claustri B. V. SUpradicta Declaratio cum Subscriptionibus Doctorum infra eam descriptorum Concordat cum originali ejusdem Declarationis prout mihi constitit ex collatione à me factâ cum dicto originali die decimâ tertiâ Octobris Anno 1681. In cujus rei fidem Subscripti Parisiis Tassin Actuarius facultaris sacrae Theologiae Parisiensis The Question is Whether the English Catholicks may with safety of Faith and Conscience take this following OATH I A. B. do truly and sincerely acknowledge profess testifie and declare in my Conscience before God and the World That our Sovereign Lord King Charles the Second is lawful and rightful King of this Realm and of all other His Majesties Dominions and Countries and that the Pope neither of himself nor by any authority of the Church or See of Rome or by any other means with any other hath any Power or Authority to Depose the King or to Dispose of any of His Majesties Kingdoms or Dominions or to authorize any Foreign Prince to Invade or Annoy Him or His Countries or to discharge any of His Subjects of their Allegiance and Obedience to His Majesty or to give Licence or leave to any of them to bear Arms raise Tumults or to offer any violence or hurt to His Majesties Royal Person State or Government or to any of His Majesties Subjects within His Majesties Dominions Also I do swear 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 or his Successors or by any authority derived or pretended to or derived from him or his See against the said King His Heirs or Successors or any Absolution of the said Subjects from their obedience I will be at faith and true allegiance to His Majesty His Heirs and Successors and Him and Them will defend to the uttermost of my Powe against all Conspiracies and Attempts whatsoever which shall be made against His or their Persons their Crown and Dignity by reason or colour of any such Sentence or Declaration or otherwise and will do my best endeavour to disclose and make known unto His Majesty His Heirs and Successors all Treasons and Traiterous Conspiracies which I shall know or hear of to be against Him or any of them And I do further swear