Protestation Returns 1641
Transcribed from original returns on microfilm by Tony Higgins.
| The English Revolution (1640-60) began in November 1640
when Charles 1st. summoned Parliament to help him out of a financial crisis.
Charles was very unpopular and was forced to agree to radical reforms which
gave Parliament a more prominent roll in the constitution. The political crisis escalated and the "Long Parliament" split into two opposing parties in the Autumn of 1641, forming the King's party of Royalists (Cavaliers) and the Parliamentarians (Roundheads), who demanded further political and religious reforms. The events of 1640/41 led to the Civil War which began in August 1642. It was agreed and ordered on the 3rd May 1641, that every Member of the House of Commons should make a protestation (declaration of loyalty), which the House of Lords also agreed to the following day. The Commons ordered the printing of the protestation and preamble on the 5th May 1641 and this was distributed by the Members to their counties. The Protestation was to be made by everyone and the Rectors, Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor had to appear before the Justices of the Peace in their Hundred to make their protestation and, on returning to their parishes, any two of them were to witness the taking of the Protestation Oath by all males over the age of 18 years. All names were listed and anyone who refused was to be noted. The protestation itself reads:- I,-------- 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.
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| (Note:
Ornate letters and unusual spellings introduce uncertainties.) The names of all ye Inhabitants of ye pish of Batcombe not one refusing to ye protestation The Inhabitants of the parish of Loders in the County of Dorset |
| Will
Larder Esquire Geo: Reeves – vicar of Loders Robert Larder gent Henry Marsh Anthony Mattocke John Browne Nicholas Browne Robert Hooper John Warren William Mattock Richard Stiby Miles Warren John Marsh Hugh Warren John Reede William Hallett Edmund Wood John Crafford John Crafford William Crafford Lewes Larder gent William Barrett Daniell Rose Henry Craford George Crafford Henry Stiby John Toller George Way Sen. George Way Jun. John Samwayes James Hallett Toby Mores John Hide Edmund Akerman Henry Peach Robert Peach William Mores Thomas Hide John BakerThomas Crafford Henry Hunniborne Andrew Trolloppe(?) Nicholas Pitfolde William Chubbe John Greening Richard Greening Edmund Gregory Robert Lane Toby Simmonds Elie(?) William
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Andrew
Trolloppe(?) Nicholas Pitfolde William Chubbe John Greening Richard Greening Edmund Gregory Robert Lane Toby Simmonds Elie(?) William Henry Samwayes Robert Hunniborne Richard Hunniborne Hen: Came Robert Marsh Andrew Cozens Nicholas Browne John Blanchard Anthony Mattocke Richard Smith Roger Smith John Sampson Robert Hooper John Hooper Stephen Tucker Jasper Toller Nicholas Toller Edward Hooper Robert Greening Sen Robert Greening Jun Nicholas Tucker Robert Reech Toby Marsh Robert ffoster Jasper ffoster Robert Wadden Hercules Mores Richard Mores John Waywood Richard Browne Edmund Browne Benjamin Winde John Knigh(?) Robert Smith Richard Mores Roger Addams Henry Travis Charles Travis John Travis William Travis John Brinsham Robert Brinsham |
Benjamin
Winde John Knigh(?) Robert Shinner Nicholas Hide Richard Shinner Robert Willmount Nicholas Heers(?) Henry Wadden Robert Watercombe John Crafford John Mattocke Thomas Mattocke Roger Mattocke John Langford Henry Helliour John Biadell Robert Mantle John Peach Edmund Langford Thomas Game Nicholas Langford Mathew Collant John Woodcocke Thomas Way Joseph Way Hugh Way ffrancis Long Sen John Gillam Richard Herne Simond Longe ffrancis Longe Jun James Pooke Thomas Travis Gregory Hansford John Hansford William Warre Richard Warre William Herne Edmund Stibie John Hansford Phillip Hansford Robert Brinsham Ralph Dew William Dew Thomas Browne Thomas Tucker Nicholas Hansford Roger Hen***ice Robert Travis John Burage John Slade |
| Nich
Browne – Constable Joh: Stybie – Churchwarden Robt: Travis – Churchwarden Joh: Shippick – Collector for the Poor Will: Marsh – Collector for the Poor Joh: Barret – Collector for the Poor All the persons above named have taken the protestation enjoined by House of Comons, neither have any one of Loders refuse to take ye same. |
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