tion oath, which by the ſtatute 1 W. & M. ſt. 1. c. 6. is to be adminiſtred to every king and queen, who ſhall ſucceed to the imperial crown of theſe realms, by one of the archbiſhops or biſhops of the realm, in the preſence of all the people; who on their parts do reciprocally take the oath of allegiance to the crown. This coronation oath is conceived in the following terms:
“The archbiſhop or biſhop ſhall ſay, Will you ſolemnly promiſe and ſwear to govern the people of this kingdom of England, and the dominions thereto belonging, according to the ſtatutes in parliament agreed on, and the laws and cuſtoms of the ſame?—The king or queen ſhall ſay, I ſolemnly promiſe ſo to do.
“Archbiſhop or biſhop. Will you to your power cauſe law and juſtice, in mercy, to be executed in all your judgments?—King or queen. I will.
“Archbiſhop or biſhop. Will you to the utmoſt of your power maintain the laws of God, the true profeſſion of the goſpel, and the proteſtant reformed religion eſtabliſhed by the law? And will you preſerve unto the biſhops and clergy of this realm, and to the churches committed to their charge, all ſuch rights and privileges as by law do or ſhall appertain unto them, or any of them?—King or queen. All this I promiſe to do.
“After this the king or queen, laying his or her hand upon the holy goſpel, ſhall ſay, The things which I have here before promiſed I will perform and keep: ſo help me God. And then ſhall kiſs the book.”
This is the form of the coronation oath, as it is now preſcribed by our laws: the principal articles of which appear to be at leaſt as antient as the mirror of juſtices[1], and even as the time of Bracton[2]: but the wording of it was changed at the revolution, becauſe (as the ſtatute alleges) the oath itſelf had been
