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 delivered 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.  
'TIs 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 offered to roman-catholics, 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 caused dissputes;, and raised Scruples in tender or weak Consciences) 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 embraced 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 dispersed 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,) chief upon Religion, which made them boggle at the taking of the Oath; The whole matter, with all the particulars, was proposed 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 itself, upon Debates of the greatest moment, has often consulted and advised with. Many of these Pious and Learned Doctors have examined the Oath very carefully, have weighed every word, and considered 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 Pope's 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 'twas worded when first sent to Rome in Paul the fifth's time. Which, with a faithful Translation has been thought very Convenient to be Published here in England, that Men of clearer understanding, and of deeper sense than the common sort of People; and whose Judgement is wholly carried by the strength of reason, may be sensible that the Roman Catholics, (tho' never in so great a distress) will be always ready, with all submission and cheerfulness to give Caesar his due, which cannot be denied 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 Vicegerent upon Forth. 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 Catholic Faith against the Arians, Writing to Constantius the first Heterodox Emperor, and a dreadful Enemy to God's Church, acknowledges: That no Power in the World, (without opposiing Gods positive Command,) can so much as cas● 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 God's 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 obeyed 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 Subject's Allegiance upon the score of Heresy or Apostasy, or upon any other pretence whatsoever. And many hundred years after Pope Gregory the II. declared in a Letter to the Emperor Leo Isauricus, accounted a dangerous Heretic by the See of Rome, that he had not the power so much as to look into his Majesty's 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 wellmeaning Catholics, 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 induced me to make this public, 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 obliged 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 Saluâ 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-●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 invadendum autoritatem concedendi, vel ullos subditorum suorum ab eorum suae Majestati Subjectione & obedientiâ exonerand●▪ 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 same 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 & haere●●cam hanc Doctrinam & damnabilem positionem, quod Principies per Papam Excommunicati vel deprivati possunt per suos subditos vel alios quoscunque deponi, aut occidi.  
Et ulterius 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 ullâ 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 saluâ 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 jusiurandum, 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 Charon, Pastor Sti. Petri.  
Roland.  
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 Beaumond.  
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. Devyon, d Heroual Nau.  
Basset.  
Baudinet, Carmelita.  
Le Pescheur.  
F. J. Germain Carmelita.  
A. P. Devyon 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 Catholics may with safety of Faith and Conscience, take this following OATH.  
I A. B. do truly and sincerely acknowledge, profess, testify, 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 Majesty's 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 Majesty's Kingdoms or Dominions, or to authorise any Foreign Prince to Invade or Annoyed 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 Majesty's Royal Person, State, or Government, or to any of His Majesty's Subjects, within His Majesty's 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 Traitorous Conspiracies, which I shall know or hear of to be against Him, or any of them.  
And I do further swear, 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 murdered 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 ministered 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 acknowledgement hearty, willingly, and truly, upon the true faith of a Christian.  
So help me God.   

The Resolution and Declaration of the Chancellor of the University of Paris, upon the Question.  
WE underwritten, Chancellor of the Church and University of Paris, do testify to all, who are, or may be concerned, That we have seen, and have seriously perused the Oath above transcribed, and that we have found nothing in it contrary to the word of God, or to the Catholic and Apostolic Faith; And therefore we judge that it may be taken by the English Catholics 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 practise it in all points. In witness whereof We have here Subscribed, and have ordered this present Subscription to be Sealed 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 Chancellor.  
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 conceived in the other Page, may with safety of Faith and Conscience be taken by the English Catholics, so that the words, Deposed and Murdered (in the proposition, which is of the deposition and Murder of Princes, and which is Condemned as Heretical,) be taken jointly; Nay also, tho' separately; so notwithstanding that the Heretical proposition, for as much as it asserts, That Princes may be Deposed, be taken materially (that is contrary to the word of God) and formally also, for as much as it adds, That they may be Murdered.  


Alex. Vaillant, Pastor of St. Christopher's.  
Chassebras, Archpriest of Paris, and Pastor of St. Mary Magdaline.  
Gerbais, Principal of the College of Reims.  
Mezure, Pastor of St. Paul.  
Le Charon, Pastor of St. Peter's.  
Roland  
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,  of the Church of Sens.  
Ph. du Bois, Principal of the College 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 Beaumond.  
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. Marry.  
L. Devyon, D'Heroval Nau.  
Basset.  
Baudinet, Carmelit Friar.  
Le Pescheur.  
F. J.  Car. Friar.  
A. P. Devyon 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 Friar.  
De Fita, Pastor of S. S. Cosma and Damianus.  
Berthault, Principal of the College of St. Barbara.  
Boesset.  
Le Feron.    
I have Subscribed 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 mentioned 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 subscribed this at Paris.  
Tassin, Register of the Sacred Facultyof Divinity of Paris.    
FINIS.