Coke's Institutes describes the oath of office as it was
anciently administered to every Privy Councillor. Among the obligations which the Privy Councillor accepted were the following : "To forward and help the execution of whatsoever shall be resolved at meetings of the Council. To withstand all persons who shall attempt the contrary. And generally to observe, keep, and do all that a good and true Councillor ought to do unto his sovereign Lord." In more recent times Privy Councillors have been required to take a short comprehensive oath : " You shall solemnly and sincerely declare that you will be a true and faithful servant unto His Majesty King George, as one of His Majesty's Privy Council. You shall keep secret all matters committed and revealed unto you, or that shall be secretly treated of in Council, and generally in all things you shall do as a faithful and true servant ought to do to His Majesty." Sir Edgar Speyer either forgot or' deliberately disregarded those purposely general but fine and impressive words which must compel both the heart and the mind and fix themselves in the memory of every man who takes the oath sincerely.
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