[A1567/12/7]¹

Concerning the king's oath to be given at his coronation

Item, because that the increase of virtue and suppressing of idolatry craves that the prince and the people be of one perfect religion, which of God's mercy is now presently professed within this realm, therefore it is statute and ordained by our sovereign lord, [James Stewart, earl of Moray], my lord regent, and three estates of this present parliament that all kings and princes or magistrates whatsoever holding their place, which hereafter in any time shall happen to reign and bear rule over this realm, at the time of their coronation and receiving of their princely authority, make their faithful promise by oath in presence of the eternal God that, enduring the whole course of their life, they shall serve the same eternal God to the utmost of their power accordingly as he has required in his most holy word revealed and contained in the New and Old Testaments; and according to the same word, shall maintain the true religion of Jesus Christ, the preaching of his holy word and due and right administration of the sacraments now received and preached within this realm; and shall abolish and gainsay all false religion contrary to the same; and shall rule the people committed to their charge according to the will and command of God, revealed in his aforesaid word and according to the loveable laws and constitutions received in this realm, in no way repugnant to the said word of the eternal God; and shall procure to the utmost of their power to the kirk of God and whole Christian people true and perfect peace in all time coming, the rights and rents, with all just privileges of the crown of Scotland, to preserve and keep inviolated, nor shall they transfer nor alienate the same; they shall forbid and repress in all estates and degrees robbery, oppression and all kind of wrong; in all judgements they shall command and procure that justice and equity be kept to all creatures, without exception, as the Lord and father of all mercies be merciful to them; and out of their lands and empire they shall be careful to root out all heretics and enemies to the true worship of God that shall be convicted by the true kirk of God of the aforesaid crimes; and that they shall faithfully affirm the things above-written by their solemn oath.