Note 459 — INTRODUCTORY NOTE TO CHAPTER IX

John, sixteenth Earl of Shrewsbury, Premier Earl of England. This question of the oath to be taken by Roman Catholic peers and members had been repeatedly brought forward by the Bishop of Exeter. It pledged the jurant to do nothing to “disturb or weaken the Protestant Religion or Protestant Government, or to subvert the Church establishment.” A gentleman wrote to the Bishop to say that he could not take the oath, as his wish was to upset the Church establishment, and he was therefore excluded from Parliament. See ante, p. 56.