to detest and abhor them, amongst other particular
heads of Papistry abjured therein; and, therefore,
from the knowledge and conscience of our duty to God,
[to our King and country,[11]] without any worldly
respect or inducement, so far as human infirmity will
suffer, wishing a further measure of the grace of
God for this effect, we promise and swear by the great
name of the Lord our God, to continue in the profession
and obedience of the foresaid religion; that we shall
defend the same, and resist all these contrary errors
and corruptions, according to our vocation, and to
the uttermost of that power that God hath put in our
hands, all the days of our life; and, in like manner,
with the same heart, we declare before God and men,
that we have no intention nor desire to attempt any
thing that may turn to the dishonour of God, or to
the diminution of [the King’s[12]] greatness
and authority; but on the contrary, we promise and
swear, that we shall, to the uttermost of our power,
with our means and lives, and to the defence of [our
dread sovereign, the King’s Majesty, his person
and authority[13]] in the defence and preservation
of the foresaid true religion, liberties, and laws
of the kingdom; as also, to the mutual defence and
assistance every one of us of another, in the same
cause of maintaining the true religion [his Majesty’s[14]]
authority, with our best counsel, our bodies, means,
and whole power, against all sorts of persons whatsoever.
So that whatsoever shall be done to the least of us
for that cause, shall be taken as done to us all in
general, and to every one of us in particular; that
we shall, neither directly nor indirectly, suffer
ourselves to be divided or withdrawn, by whatsoever
suggestion, allurement, or terror, from this blessed
and loyal conjunction; nor shall cast in any let or
impediment that may stay or hinder any such resolution,
as by common consent shall be found to conduce for
so good ends;—but, on the contrary, shall,
by all lawful means labour to further and promote
the same, and if any such dangerous and divisive motions
be made to us by word or write, we, and every one
of us, shall either suppress it, or if need be, shall
incontinent make the same known that it may be timeously
obviated; neither do we fear the foul aspersions of
rebellion, combination, or what else our adversaries
from their craft and malice would put upon us, seeing
what we do is so well warranted, and ariseth from
an unfeigned desire to maintain the true worship of
God, the majesty of [[15] our King,] and peace of the
kingdom, for the common happiness of ourselves and
the posterity.