Thursday 13 October 2011

The duty of a Christian King...



In the name of the Holy Trinity, I promise three things to the Christian people, my subjects:


First, that God's Church and all Christian people within my dominions shall experience true peace.


Second, that I forbid robbery and all crime to every class of people.


Third, I promise and order laws based on justice and mercy, that the gracious and merciful God may forgive us all our sins.


The duty of a Christian king is to judge no one corruptly, to defend widows, orphans and strangers, and to abolish immoral marriages. He must drive out those who practice magic, and who murder their kin, or commit perjury. He must feed the needy, and have old and experienced men for his counsellors, appointing honest servants. He will be answerable on the Day of Judgement for the crimes of his servants done in his name. (From the Coronation Oath, preserved in tact from the time of St Edward the Confessor).


A very happy feast day to you all.

1 comment:

  1. I've never read the oath before. What a remarkable document. And to think that Henry VIII took it. Talk about your historical irony.

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