AitMsrRONG — Manuscnjjts of." Modus tenendi Parliamentum.'''' 261 



This very oath is known to have been sworn by the custos in 1462.' As 

 stated above, it is taken from the oath of the King of England. On exami- 

 nation we find that it was not the form sworn by Richard I, John, or 

 Henry III,^ and that, while it resembles the accredited oath of Edward I, it 

 is almost identical with that sworn by Edward II in catechetical form.^ 

 This connexion with the reign of Edward II is strengthened by the fact that 

 this very catechism appears next in the transcript. It closely resembles the 

 catechism of the "Liber Eegalis"* of the English Kings. Of this work there 

 are two -versions, one belonging to the time of Edward II and one to that of 

 Eichard II. The catechism here given is that of Edward II, as is shown by 

 the short rubrics. It was written on a separate roll of papyrus and found 

 at the same time with Christopher Preston by Sir John Talbot. It was 

 evidently exemplified with the " Modus " as complementary to its latter part. 

 The Custos was to be bound by all the undertakings of the King. The 

 catechism is as follows : — 



Metropolitanus electu?)i medioeriter 

 distinctaq«e interroget voce," si leges 

 et consuetudines ab antiquis Eegib«s 

 plebi Aaglor«;»° concessas cxxm sacra- 

 menti confirmacio7ie eidem plebi cou- 

 cedere et serva (sic) voluerit, et 

 p?'aesertim leges et consuetudines et 

 libertates a gloriosissM?to Rege et sancto 

 Edwardo elero popuIoq!(e concessas. 

 Si' autem omnibus hiis assentire se 

 velle promiserit exponat ei Metropoli- 

 tanus ita dieendo. Servabis ecalesiae 

 Dei cleroque populo pacem ex integro 

 et concordia??i inde (in Deo ?) secun- 

 du7« vires tuas ? respondebit, Servabo. 

 Facias** fieri in omnibws judiciis tuis 

 aequa??ietrecta?ft justiciam et diseretio- 

 nem in miserecordia et veritate secun- 

 dum vires tuas ? respondebit, faciaw. 



The Metropolitan shall ask him with 

 moderation and in a distinct voice if 

 he is willing to grant and guard for 

 the same people the laws and customs 

 granted to the people by ancient Kings 

 of the English with the confirmation 

 of an oath, and especially the laws and 

 customs and liberties granted by the 

 most glorious King and Saint, Edward, 

 to clergy and people. Now if he shall 

 have said that he is willing to agree to 

 all these things the Metropolitan shall 

 put the matter to him, speaking thus : 

 Wilt thou preserve for the church of 

 God, for clergy and people, peace and 

 concord wholly (in God ?) according to 

 thy power ? He shall reply, I will 

 keep them. Wilt thou cause to be 

 done in all thy suits equal and right 



1 Rot. Pat. Hib., 1 Ed. IV, No. 62. 



" Stubbs, " Constitutional History," vol. ii, pp. 18, note 1 and 331. 



3 "Fojdera," ii, p. 36. 



■• Wickham Legg, " English Coronation Records,'" p. 81. 



= This is a shortened form of the rubric in Liber Regalis, temp. Ed. II (Legg, 



P-87). 



"Steele, "ab antiquo a regibus Anglorum " ; Liber Regalis, "ab antiquis justis 

 et deo devotis regibus plebi Anglorum." 



'• This is the rubric of Liber Regalis, temp. Ed. II. 



8 Steele, p. cxci, and Liber Regalis (Legg, p. 87), "Facies." 



