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The Constitution’s Deep Roots
maintain, and defend their said Majesties, and also the limitation and
succession of the Crown herein specified and contained, to the utmost of
their powers, with their lives and estates, against all persons whatsoever
that shall attempt anything to the contrary.
IX. And whereas it hath been found by experience, that it is inconsistent with the safety and welfare of this Protestant kingdom, to be governed by a Popish prince, or by any king or queen marrying a Papist, the
said Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, do further pray that
it may be enacted, That all and every person and persons that is, are, or
shall be reconciled to, or shall hold communion with, the See or Church
of Rome, or shall profess the Popish religion, or shall marry a Papist,
shall be excluded, and be for ever incapable to inherit, possess, or enjoy
the Crown and Government of this realm, and Ireland, and the dominions thereunto belonging, or any part of the same, or to have, use, or exercise any regal power, authority, or jurisdiction within the same; and in
all and every such case or cases the people of these realms shall be and
are hereby absolved of their allegiance; and the said Crown and Government shall from time to time descend to, and be enjoyed by, such person
or persons, being Protestants, as should have inherited and enjoyed the
same, in case the said person or persons so reconciled, holding communion, or professing, or marrying, as aforesaid, were naturally dead.
X. And that every King and Queen of this realm, who at any time hereafter shall come to and succeed in the Imperial Crown of this kingdom,
shall, on the first day of the meeting of the first Parliament, next after his
or her coming to the Crown, sitting in his or her throne in the House of
Peers, in the presence of the Lords and Commons therein assembled, or
at his or her coronation, before such person or persons who shall administer the coronation oath to him or her, at the time of his or her taking the
said oath (which shall first happen), make, subscribe, and audibly repeat
the declaration mentioned in the statute made in the thirteenth year of
the reign of King Charles II., intituled ‘‘An act for the more effectual preserving the King’s person and Government, by disabling Papists from
sitting in either House of Parliament.’’ But if it shall happen, that such
King or Queen, upon his or her succession to the Crown of this realm,
shall be under the age of twelve years, then every such King or Queen
shall make, subscribe, and audibly repeat the said declaration at his or