It is a grand ceremony, and we have even to-day, in the old Latin records, a full account of what took place.  Anything more truly Roman Catholic, or less like the Anglican Church of the “Reformation,” it would be difficult to imagine.

It was directed by the rubrics, that the Cathedral clergy should be called together, at an early hour, and that Prime and the rest of the Divine Office should be recited, up to the High Mass.  Then the cross-bearers and torch-bearers and thurifers, and the attendants carrying the Book of the Gospels and other articles of the sanctuary, are drawn up in processional order in the chancel.  Two and two, followed by priests and other ecclesiastical dignitaries, they walk down the nave.  Then comes the Archbishop himself, robed in full pontificals, though, out of respect to the Pallium, with bare feet.  The rubric on this point is explicit, viz., “nudis pedibus”.  Behind the Archbishop come the Prior and the monks wearing copes.  In this order they all pass through the streets of London to the gate of the city to meet the Papal Commissioner who bears the Pallium.  He is dressed in an alb and choir-cope, and solemnly carries the Pallium enclosed in a costly vessel either of gold or of silver.  As soon as the procession meets the Pallium-bearer it turns round, and those who issued forth retrace their steps towards the Abbey.  Last but one walks the Archbishop, and last of all follows the bearer of the Pallium.  On reaching the church the Pallium is reverently laid on the high altar.  The Archbishop then remains, for some minutes, prostrate in prayer before the high altar.  Then the choir having finished their singing, the Archbishop rises, and turning to the assembled multitude, gives them his blessing.  He then approaches the altar, and with his hands upon the holy Gospels, takes the following solemn oath.

Now, gentle reader, we are anxious that you should pay particular attention to the words of this oath.  They may be found in Wilkins’ Concilia (vol. ii., p. 199), in the original Latin, just as they were uttered by Simon Langham, and other Archbishops, in old Catholic days.  We give them translated into English.  And, as you read them, ask yourselves whether the Archbishops who uttered them were genuine Roman Catholics, or merely Parliamentary Bishops of the local and national variety, belonging to the present English Establishment.

We take our stand in spirit in Westminster Abbey, on the 4th day of November, 1366, and, in common with the rest of the vast congregation which fills every available space, we listen to the newly elected Archbishop, as in clear, ringing words, with his hands on the Gospels, he swears as follow:—­

“I, Simon Langham, Archbishop of Canterbury, will be from this hour henceforth faithful and obedient to St. Peter, and to the Holy Apostolic Roman Church, and to my Lord the Pope, Urban V., and to his canonical successors.”