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The Constitution’s Deep Roots
‘‘So help me God.’’
‘‘I, A. B., do swear, That I do from my heart abhor, detest, and abjure as
impious and heretical that damnable doctrine and position, that Princes
excommunicated or deprived by the Pope, or any authority of the See of
Rome, may be deposed or murdered by their subjects, or any other whatsoever. And I do declare, that no foreign prince, person, prelate, state, or
potentate hath, or ought to have, any jurisdiction, power, superiority,
preeminence, or authority, ecclesiastical or spiritual, within this realm:
‘‘So help me God!’’
IV. Upon which their said Majesties did accept the Crown and royal
dignity of the kingdoms of England, France, and Ireland, and the dominions thereunto belonging, according to the resolution and desire of the
said Lords and Commons contained in the said declaration.
V. And thereupon their Majesties were pleased, that the said Lords
Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, being the two Houses of Parliament, should continue to sit, and with their Majesties’ royal concurrence
make effectual provision for the settlement of the religion, laws and liberties of this kingdom, so that the same for the future might not be in
danger again of being subverted, to which the said Lords Spiritual and
Temporal, and Commons, did agree and proceed to act accordingly.
VI. Now in pursuance of the premises, the said Lords Spiritual and
Temporal, and Commons, in Parliament assembled, for the ratifying, confirming, and establishing the said declaration, and the articles, clauses,
matters, and things therein contained, by the force of a law made in due
form by authority of Parliament, do pray that it may be declared and enacted, That all and singular the rights and liberties asserted and claimed
in the said declaration are the true, ancient, and indubitable rights and
liberties of the people of this kingdom, and so shall be esteemed, allowed, adjudged, deemed, and taken to be, and that all and every of the
particulars aforesaid shall be firmly and strictly holden and observed, as
they are expressed in the said declaration; and all officers and ministers
whatsoever shall serve their Majesties and their successors according to
the same in all times to come.
VII. And the said Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, seri-