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 men were listed for the parish of Tarrant Monkton:
ACKLIN, George
ACKLYN, Henry
AMY, Edmund
ASHLEY, Robert
BALLETT, John
BOWRING, John
CARTER, John
DOMINY, Robert
ELLIOTT, Thomas
EVEMAY, Edward
GOTHRED, Stephen
GUMBLETON, Henry
HANDLEY, Richard
HARBYN, George
HARDING, John - junior
HARDING, John - senior
HARRIS, George
HARRIS, Richard
HARRIS, William
HAYWARD, Henry
HAYWARD, John
HAYWARD, Thomas
HOMER, Thomas
ISAACK, Nicholas
KEILE William
LAMBERT, Nicholas
LAMBERT, Scipio
LAMBERT, William
LETTEY, William
LUCKESS, Stephen
LUCKESSE, William
MARTYN, Leonrad
MUNLE, Thomas
PARSONS, Richard
PAULE, Robert
RANDALL, John
RANDALL, Valentine
SHITLER, Robert
SMARTE, Adry
SOPER, Richard
TURNER, Henry
VEARE, Allen
WAREHAM, Henry
WHEELER, Jewell
WHEELER, John
WHITE, John
WILKINS, Christopher
WILLS, Thomas
WILLMS, John - Mr
MARTYN, Henry - vicar
HAYWARD, Robert - churchwarden
EVEMAY, Stephen - junior, churchwarden
VEARE, John - overseer
EVEMAY Stephen - senior, overseer