of the Apoftles I will vifit every three Years, either by myself or by my Nuncio, unless I am abfolved by an apoftolical Licence. The • Poffeffions appertaining to my archiepifcopal Table, I will not fell, nor give away, nor mortgage, nor let a new Leafe of, nor alienate any other way without confulting the Roman Pontiff. So God me help and thefe Holy Gofpels.'

The Oath taken by Archbishop Cranmer was thus expreffed, 1533. "I Thomas Elect of Canterbury from this Hour as before will be 'faithful and obedient to bleffed Peter, to the Holy Apoftolical Roman Church, and to my Lord the Lord Clement VII. and his Succeffors canonically entring. I will not be in Counfel, or Confent, or Fact, that they lofe Life or Limb, or be taken with an evil Caption. But the Counsel which they fhall entruft me with by themselves or Nuncios I will not knowingly discover to any one to their Damage. The Roman Papacy, and the Royalties of St Peter I will be a Helper to them to retain and defend, faving my Order, against every Man, The Legate of the apoftolical See I will treat honourably in going and returning, and will help in his Neceffities. Being called to a Synod, I will come unless I fhall be hindred by a canonical Hindrance, The Thresholds of the Apostles, when the Roman Court is on this fide of the Alps, I will vifit every Year, and when it is beyond the Alps every fecond Year, either by myself, or by my Nuncio, unless the apoftolical Licence abfolves me. But the Poffeffions, pertaining to the Table of my Archbishoprick, I will not fell, nor give away, nor ' mortgage, nor let a new Leafe of or alienate any other way without fconfulting the Roman Pontiffs. So God me help, and these Holy Gofpels.' Cant. Regift.

6

The English Tranflation of this Oath which by the Command of King Henry VIII. was laid before his Parliament in the 24th Year of his Reign is thus printed by our Chronicler Edward Fol.205.b. Hall..

1533.

Ifahn Bishop or Abbot of A. from this hour forward shall be faithfull and obedient to Saint Peter, and to the Holy Church of Rome, and to my lord the Pope, and his Succeffors canonically entring: I fhall not be of counfaill nor confent, that they fhall lefe either life or member, or shall be taken, or fuffre any violence, or any wrong by any meanes: Their counfail to me credited, by theim, their meffyngers or letters I fhall not wyllyngly difcover to any perfon: The Papacie of Rome, the rules of the Holy fathers, and the Regalie of Saint Peter I fhall help and retain and defende against all men: The Legate of the Sea Apoftolique going and coming I fhall honourably entreat: The rights, honors, privileges, aucthorities of the Churche of Rome, and of the Pope and his Succeffors, I fhall caufe to be con'ferved, defended, augmented, and promoted: I fhall not be in counfail, treatie, or any acte in the which any thyng fhal be imagened agaynft him, or the Churche of Rome, there rights, ftates, honors or powers; and if I knowe any fuche to be moved or compaffed, I fhall refift it to my power, and as fone as I can, I fhall advertyfe hym, or fuche as maye geve him knowlege. The rules of the holy Fathers,

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This the learned Mr Collier reprefented as a Tranflation made by Bp Burnet, and trifled with hị, ów a Ignorance,

"Decrees, Ordinaunces, Sentences, Difpofitions, Refervations, Provifions and Commanndementes Apoftolicke to my power I shall kepe, and caufe to be kept of other: Hereticks, Sifmatikes and Rebelles to our boly father and his fucceffors, 1 fhall refift and perfecute to my power: I fhail come to the Sinode when I am called, except I bee letted by "a Canonicall impediment: The lights [Thresholds] of the Apoftles I fhall vifite yearly, perfonally or by my deputie: I fhall not alien nor fell my poffeffions without the Pope's Counfail, So God me helpe and the holy Evangelistes.'

Both thefe laft Forms appear to be of the fame Year, yet are they very different: Particularly in that laid before his Parliament by King Henry, is inferted that bloody and cruel Claufe of the Bishops oppofing and perfecuting with all their Might Heretics, Schifmatics, &c. This therefore feems to have been a Tranflation of the Form of the + Oathas it then was in the Roman Pontifical, whereas the Oath taken by Archbishop Cranmer, feems to have been copied from the Registers of his Predeceffors.

However this be, in 1516. the Roman Pontifical was reftored and published by Pope Clement VIII. when feveral other Alterations or Additions were inferted in this Oath. This is the Form of it as it is in the Edition of the Pontifical, printed at Antwerp 1627. p. 39.

I. N. Elect of the Church of N. from this time forwards will be faithful and obedient to bleffed Peter the Apoftle, and the Holy Roman Church, and to our Lord the Lord N. Pope N. and his Suc'cessors canonically entering. I will not be in Counfel, or Confent, or Fact, that they may lofe their Life, or Limb, or be taken with an evil Caption, or, that violent Hands be laid upon them in any manner, or, that any Injuries be done to them on any pretended Colour. But the • Counsel which they shall truft me with by themselves, or their Nun* tios, or Letters, I will knowingly discover to no body to their Damage. The Roman Papacy and the Royalties of St Peter, I will be affifting ' to them to retain and defend, faving my Order, against every Man. 'The Legate of the apoftolic See, I will treat honourably in going and returning, and will help in his Neceffities. The Rights, Honours, Privileges, and Authorities of the Holy Roman Church, of our Lord "Pope, aforefaid, Successors, I will take care to conferve, defend, increase,

• The Translator mifread lumina for limina.

Jeremy Collier, the Nonjuring Protos, in his Ecclefiaftical Hiftory of Great Britain, Vol. II. pag. 68. col. 2. ignorantly calls this Tranflation Bifhop Burnet's, and fays, he has tranfcribed it as to the Main; and tells his Readers, that Bp Burnet tranflates profequar et impugnabo, in the Original, by refift and perfecute. But 1. This is not the Bishop's Tranflation, he copied it from Hall. 2. Mr Collier has altered the Tranflation as follows;

To me credited.

Hall

I fhall Caufe to be conferved.

Shall be imagined against him or the
Church.

I fhall refift and perfecute to my Power.

Collier.

Trufted as a Secret.
Endeavour to preferve.

Shall be contrived against the Church

I fhall refift and profecute to my Power.

Laftly, In the Latin Original the perfecuting Claufe ftands as follows: Hereticos, Schifmaticos & Rebelle's eidem domino noftro vel fuccefforibus prædictis, pro poffe perfequer impugnabo.

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crease, and promote. Neither will I be in Counsel or Fal, or Treaty in which any finifter or prejudicial Things of their Perfons, Rights, Honour, State and Power shall be plotted against our Lord himself, or the fame Roman Church. And if I shall know fuch Things are treated or • procured by any, I will binder them to my Power, and as soon as I can, will fignify them to the fame our Lord, or to another by whom it may come • to his Knowledge. The Rules of the Holy Fathers, the Decrees, Ordinances, or Difpofitions, Refervations, Provifions, and apoftolical Mandates, I will obferve with my whole Powers, and make them to ⚫be obferved by others; Heretics, Schifmatics, and Rebels to the same our Lord, or the forefaid Succeffors I will perfecute and oppose to my Power. Being called to a Synod I will come, unless I fhall be hindred by a canonical Hindrance. The Thresholds of the Apostles I will every three Years perfonally vifit by myself, and give an Account to our Lord, and the aforefaid Succeffors of my whole paftoral Office, and of • all Things in any Manner pertaining to the State of my Church, to the Difcipline of the Clergy and People, and laftly to the Salvation of the • Souls which are committed to my Truft: And in like manner I will humbly receive, and moft diligently execute the apoftolical Mandates. But if I shall be detained by a lawful Impediment, I will fulfill all the • forefaid Things by a certain Nuncio having inCommand this Special Thing of the Bofome of my Chapter, or another conftituted in fome ecclefiaftical Dignity, or otherwife having a Perfonage: Or, these being wanting to me, by a diocefan Prieft; and the Clergy being utterly wanting, by any other fecular or regular Prieft of fignal Probity and Religion fully instructed in all the Things abovefaid. But of an Impediment of this ⚫ fort I will inform by lawful Proofs to be transmitted by the abovesaid Nuncio to the Cardinal proponent of the Holy Roman Church in the Congregation of the Holy Council.

But the Poffeffions pertaining to my Table I will not fell, nor give away, nor mortgage; nor will I lease or enfeoff them anew, or any wife alienate, even with the Confent of the Chapter of my Church, without confulting the Roman Pontiff. And if I should make any Alienation, I am willing to incur the Penalties contained in a certain Conftitution "published on this very Thing.'

The Confecrator bolding open in his Lap with both his Hands the Book of the Gospels, the lower Part of the Book being turned to the Elect, he takes from it the Performance of this Oath, the Eleat fill kneeling before the Confecrator faying:

So God me help, and these holy Gospels of God.

And touching with both his Hands the very Text of the Gospels, then, not before, the Confecrator faith: Thanks be to God.

It is uncertain, I find, when these Additions were made, tho' its certain the perfecuting Claufe was added here in England after A. D. 1414, and perhaps by Archbishop Chicheley's Counfel, who was a violent Perfecutor of the poor Lollards. The Forms of the Oath in the Canon Law, Archbishop Chichley's, and Archbishop Cranmer's Regifters, and that exhibited to the Parliament by K. Henry VIII. order, are all of them very different from that in the prefent Roman Pontifical. The Royalties of St Peter are not mentioned in that in the Canon Law,

nor:

* The words Regulas Sanctorum Patrum were changed into Regalia Sandi Petsi

nor those Claufes of increasing and promoting the Pope's Honours, Privileges and Authorities; informing him of any Confpiracies against bim; and fwearing to perfecute and oppofe Heretics and Schifmatics; going every three Years perfonally to Rome, to give an Account to the Pope of their Paftoral Office, &c. Humbly receiving and diligently executing the Pope's Command: Not alienating their Poffeffions without the Pope's Leave. But it is too truly obferved, that the Importance of this Oath is but little confidered by English Proteftants; fince few among us have ever seen a Roman Pontifical, much lets read it with Care and Attention. It is very plain from it how much the Popes of Rome have had it at their Hearts to deprefs the Epifcopal Power andAuthority, and what gradual Advances they made towards it, till they completed its Ruin, and made the Bishops their fworn Subjects and Vaffals, not only to maintain and preferve the Pope's Honours and Authorities, but to increase and promote them.

The Romish Miffionaries in England are perpetually infinuating to the ignorant English, that Popery is mifreprefented by their Minifters, and, that Pulpit Popery is falfe Popery : Particularly, that the Papifts are falfly accused of encouraging and practising Perfecution, or of making a gazing Stock by Defamation and Reproaches, fpoiling their Goods, Banifhing, Imprifoning and putting to Death, the Perfons of thofe who cannot bow down to the Golden Image which they have fet up. Bat now it appears by this Oath, that all the Bishops of the Church of Rome are Sworx, with the utmoft Solemnity, to perfecute and oppofe, as far as they are able Heretics, Schifmatics and Rebels to their Lord Pope. By thefe names, its well known, all Proteftants are called, by the Papifts, and confequently they are obliged, whenever they have it in their Power, to perfecute and oppose those who are Proteftants, or whom they commonly call Heretics.

Nothing can be a plainer and more evident Note of a falle and Antichristian Sect, than the obliging Bifhops or any others to swear, that they will perfecute those who are Rebels to the Lord Pope, who owe him no Obedience and Submiffion, and who worship the GOD of their Fathers after the way which the Pope's call Herefie. The Truth or Christian Faith is to be manifested to Men's consciences, in a * meek and teachable Manner, and not attempted to be written on them with the Points of Swords: The Son of Man came not to deftroy Men's Lives, but to fave them. It is as true and evident a Note of a falfe Church not to be Subject to the higher Powers, but to withdraw their own Obedience and that of others from them: Since a fuller and more formal Allegiance can be fworn by no Subjects to their Sovereign Princes, than is here (worn to the Pope, by the Bifhops of the Church of Rome. From it, therefore, may be easily inferred, what all Princes may, or ought to, expect, from Subjects fo bound and tied by a folemn Oath to the Pope or Bishop of Rome, or a foreign encroaching Power.

↑ So St Peter intimates Epift. iii, 15.- Be ready always to give an Answer to every one who asketh you a Reafon of the hope which is in you with meekness and fear. But thefe laft Words are omitted by the Popish Compiler of the Profession of Cathalick Faith printed in the Year M,DCC,XXXI.

Remarks

Remarks on HISTORY, faid to be written by Mr.
ADDISON.

T

RUE Hiftory has these 3 Marks 1ft, Judgment. 2dly, Truth. 3dly, Clearnefs. Truth in the Relation of Matters of Fact Judgment in the Reflections upon them, and Clearness in the Style and Manner of Expreffion,

Of the Greeks there are two, which seem to have thefe Marks in an eminent Degree.

1. Thucydides, whofe Hiftory contains but a fhort Space, and the Actions he relates are but of fmall Confequence; yet perhaps carries the Palm from all the reft. He is grand and expreffive in his Style, weighty in his Reflections, found in his Judgment, fecretly inftructing us thro' all his Parts and directing our Lives and Actions; in his Speeches and little Excurfions almoft divine; and the oftner you read this Author, the more Inftruction you will draw from Lim; and the greater your Acquaintance is with him, the greater Thirt you will have of perufing his Work over again.

2. Polybius, whofe Hiftory confifted of 40 Books, the greatest Part of which is entirely loft, and what Remains we have come very lame and corrupted to us. In his Prudence and Judgment he is equal to Thucydides, more exact and flowing in his Style. He abbreviates or enlarges according to the Weight of his Subject, and frequently gives us his own Inftruc tions instead of a Narrative, which are always useful and to the Purpose: He is fo careful in explaining himself, that you imbibe his Senfe at the first Sight, which particular makes him more proper for the Closets of Princes, and those who will not give themselves the Trouble of fearching for the Author. Beauties, &c. of

an

Plutrack is not properly to be call'd an History but a Life Writer. He very wonderfully forms the Judgment, and by a a plain and open Way of Writing leads us to Virtue and Prudence; but chiefly to the firft; and is. in my Opinion, rather a virtuous Mafter, than an acute Instructor.

Xenophon's Lite of Cyrus is an inftructive Romance, not History. The Greek and Perfian Histories are written with Fidelity and Circumfpection. But the Advance you must expect in civil Prudence from this Author must be owing to your own Induftry, he relating Facts only, and very feldom giving his own Opinion, or mingling any useful Reflections with the Hiftorical Part. What we are most obliged to him for, is his Publication of Thucydides, which was then only in his Hands, and might have been fuppreffed by him from the usual Envy of Writers to each other.

Nicetas Choniates wrote the Greek Empire Hiftory in Greek from the Reign of John Comnenes to the taking of the City by Baldwin, i. e. from He is an Author but little known, tho' most the Year 1055 to 1210. worthy to be read. He is a bright Genius fhining in that dull Age, his Style turning pretty much towards Homer and the Greek Poets; but his Facts narrative are diftinct, fhort and deliver'd with Fidelity, not written with Vanity nor mingled with Trifles; his Reflections are admirable, open, ufeful and judicious, and, in a Word, whoever reads him will thank the Perfon who puts him into his Hands.

Nicephorus Gregory takes up the History where it is left by Choniates, but not with an equal Pen: He is either too fhort or too tedious; and in

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terfperfes