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Protestation Returns of 1641–1642

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The Protestation Returns of 1642 are lists of males over the age of eighteen who took, or did not take, an oath ‘to live and die for the true Protestant religion, the liberties and rights of subjects and the privilege of Parliaments’. These lists were usually compiled by parish, or township, within hundred, or wapentake. They are of importance to historians for estimating populations, to genealogists trying to find an ancestor immediately before the Englsh Civil War and for scholars interested in surname distributions. [1]

Background

In May 1641 reacting to scares, rumours of plots and anxiety that the Protestant reformation was in danger of being undone, a ten man committee of the House of Commons was appointed to draft a national declaration.

I, _ A.B. _ do, in the presence of Almighty God, promise, vow, and protest to maintain, and defend as far as lawfully I may, 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 Realm, contrary to the same Doctrine, and according to the duty of my Allegiance, His Majesties Royal Person, Honour and Estate, as also 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 far 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, Fear, nor other Respect, shell relinquish this Promise, Vow and Protestation. [2]

It was taken by the members of the House of Commons on 3 May 1641. The following day the Protestant Peers in the House of Lords also swore it. Subsequently on 18 January 1642, perhaps prompted by the King’s attempt to arrest the five members of parliament, the Speaker sent a letter to the effect that that all males of eighteen or over should take the oath. [3] Those that refused were presumed to be Catholics and thus thought unfit to hold office in church or state.

A guide to the returns has been published by the Federation of Family History societies.[4]

References

  1. ^ A. Whiteman,’ The Protestation Returns of 1641-1642’ in Local Population Studies,55 (1995), passim
  2. ^ S. E. Gardiner, History of England from the Accession of James I to the Outbreak of the Civil war 1603-1642 , Vol.9 (Cambridge,2011), p.354.
  3. ^ S. E. Gardiner, Ibid, pp.315-25,343-9,351-6,413-4.
  4. ^ J. Gibson and A.Dell, The Protestation Returns, 1641-1642, and Other Contemporary Listings: Collection in Aid of Distressed Protestants in Ireland; Subsidies; Poll Tax; Assessment Or Grant; Vow and Covenant; Solemn League and Covenant (Baltimore, 1995)
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