Untitled

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 33, 14 August 1902, Page 16

* The least scrupulous rulers, and, therefore, those that needed the moet stringent bindiug, were precisely those who paid least regard to the sanctity of their accession or coronation oaths or protestations. But its actual binding force upon the noimal conscience was sufficient to guarantee its retention. Amoug the predecessors of King Edward TIL the form of coronation or accession oath or declaration has varied greatly. In the days of JUgbeet it took the form of a decree, which ran as follows :—: — It is the duty of a king newly ordained and enthroned to enjoin on the Christian people subject to him these three precepts : first, that the Chuch of God and all the Christian people preserve true peace at all times. Amen. Secondly, that he forbid rapacity and all iniquities to all degrees. Amen. Thirdly, that in all judgments he enjoin equity and mercy, that therefore the clement and merciful God may grant cb His mercy. Amen. King Edgah, at Bath, in 973, and King Ethelred 11., at Kingston, twenty-five years later, took solemn oaths before St. Dunstan, to duly observe the things mentioned above.