Protestation Returns, 1641-2
Transcribed from “Protestation Returns, Dorset, 1641-1642” and donated to the
Dorset OPC Project by Kim Parker
Amid the tensions that would eventually break out into the English Civil War, it was decided that everyone should make a “protestation” (i.e. a declaration) of loyalty to King Charles I and to the Church of England. It was so agreed and ordered on the 3rd May 1641 by the House of Commons, with the House of Lords following suit the next day.
The Protestation was to be made by everyone. The Speaker of the House of Commons sent a letter to the Sheriffs of each county. They and the Justices of the Peace (JP) were required to take the protestation. Then, Rectors, Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor had to appear before the Justices of the Peace in their region to make their protestation. On their return, each incumbent was tasked with reading the protestation to their congregation from the pulpit, after which any two of those sworn before the JPs were to witness the taking of the Protestation Oath by all males in the parish over the age of 18 years. All names were listed, with those unable to write and sign for themselves marked by a cross, while anyone who refused was also noted. This took place in February and March 1642 and the returns were then submitted to Parliament.
The protestation itself reads:-
I, [NAME] do, in the presence of Almighty God, promise, vow, and protest to maintain, and defend as farr as lawfully I maye, with my Life, Power and Estate, the true Reformed Protestant religion, expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England, against all Popery and Popish Innovations, within this Realme, contrary to the same Doctrine, and according to the duty of my Allegiance, His Majesties Royal Person, Honour and Estate, as alsoe the Power and Privileges of Parliament, the lawful Rights and Liberties of the Subjects, and any person that maketh this Protestation, in whatsoever he shall do in the lawful Pursuance of the same; and to my power, and as farr as lawfully I may, I will appose and by all good Ways and Means endeavour to bring to condign Punishment all such as shall, either by Force, Practice, Councels, Plots, Conspiracies, or otherwise, doe any Thing to the contrary of any Thing in this present Protestation contained: and further, that I shall, in all just and honourable ways, endeavour to preserve the Union and Peace betwixt the Three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland: and neither for Hope, Feare, nor other Respect, shell relinquish this Promise, Vow and Protestation.The following 124 men were listed for the parish of Hilton (spelt “Helton” in the return):
Henry ABBOTT
William ADDAMS
Tobias ANDREWES
John ARGENTON
John ARNOLD
Robert ARNOLD
William ARNOLD junior
Christopher BONIS
Alexander BRIDLE
Michaell BURDEN
Richard BURDEN
James BUTCHER
John BUTCHER
Richard CHALDECOT
Edward CHECKLE
John CHYLDE senior
John CHILDE junior
Hendry CHILES
Nathanuiell CHILDE
Richard CHYLD
William CHILDE
William CHILDE
George CHIPPE
Henry CHIPPE
Robert CHIPPE
Robert COOKENEY
Daniell COWARD
Joseph COWARD
Roger COWARD
Arthur COWFFE
John CROCKER
John CROCKER
Humphry CROMIDGE
Giles DAY
John DINALL
Anthonie DRAKE
Daniell DRAKE
Edward DRAKE
Thomas DRAKE
Jeffery DREW
Bartholomew DURRANT
Robert DURRANT
Bartholomew DYRANT
Mathew DYRANT
John FREAKE
Robert FREAKE
Jerom FRENCH
Thomas FRY
Thomas GLYD
Joseph HARRIS
Jesper HART
Thomas HELLIER
Edward HODGES
Henry HOLLAND
Marke HOOPER
Thomas HOOPER
William HOOPER
Robert HOSKINS
John ILFE
John KEINES
Martin KEINES senior
Martin KEINES junior
John LAN the elder
John LANE
Roger LANE
William LANE
Henry LEMON
Nicholas LEMMON
Humphry LOCKE
John LOCKE
Robert LOCKE
William LOCKE
William MICHAEL
Richard MICHELL senior
Richard MICHELL junior
Robert MICHELL
Robert MICHELL
John MORRIAN
Thomas MORRIS
William MORRIS
William MORRIS junior
Roger NELMES
Richard NOTTER
Richard NOTTER
Hugh OTTER
Richard PARSONS
Richard PAYNTER
Thomas PECUME
Francis PELSANT
Robert PETTY
Joseph POPE
Richard POPE
John PUXLER
Hugh PYSINGE
George RAYMOND
Richard RAYES
Robert RAYSE
William REASON
John ROLE
Nicholas ROLE
Richard ROLE
Robert ROLE
Robert ROLE junior
John SADBURY senior
John SUDBURY junior
John SAUL
Thomas SAULE
William SAUL
Robert SHORY
William SHOYLE
Christopher STICLAND
Christopher STICLAND junior
Jeffery TIZARD
John TREGONWELL
John TRIVAT
George TUCKER
Roger WHITE
John WILCOX
Johannes ANTRAM vicar de Helton
William CHILDE churchwarden
John HARRIS churchwarden
William ARNOLD overseer
John CHIP overseer
John ROLE overseer
[where the same name appears twice, this may either be because the men are cousins, or because “senior” and “junior” has been omitted]