Protestation Returns of 1641–1642 facts for kids
The Protestation Returns of 1641–1642 were special lists made in England. They recorded the names of English men over 18 years old. These men either took an important promise, called an oath, or they refused to take it. The oath was about being loyal to the "true Protestant religion," protecting people's rights, and supporting the Parliament.
These lists were usually put together by local areas, like a parish (a church district) or a township (a small town or village). They are very important for people who study local history because they help estimate how many people lived in an area a long time ago. They also help family historians find their ancestors right before the English Civil War. Plus, they show how surnames (family names) were spread out.
Records for about one-third of these lists still exist today.
Why Were These Lists Made?
In May 1641, there were many worries and rumors in England. People were afraid that the Protestant religion was in danger. Because of this, a group of ten men from the House of Commons (a part of Parliament) decided to create a national declaration. This was the first of three loyalty oaths that the Long Parliament (a very long-lasting Parliament) asked people to take between 1641 and 1643.
All men over 18 were asked to sign this declaration. They had to swear an oath to the Protestant religion. In each parish, local officials wrote down the names of everyone who took the oath. Sometimes, people even wrote their own names.
What Did the Oath Say?
The declaration, or Protestation, said:
- 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, to 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 oppose 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.
Members of the House of Commons took this oath on May 3, 1641. The next day, Protestant nobles in the House of Lords (the other part of Parliament) also swore it. Later, on January 18, 1642, the Speaker of the House, William Lenthall, sent out a letter. This letter said that all men aged 18 or older should take the oath. This might have been because the King tried to arrest five members of Parliament on January 4.
The main idea was that anyone who refused the oath would be thought of as a Catholic. At that time, Catholics were not allowed to hold important jobs in the Church or the government. However, this oath was not always a perfect way to tell Catholics from Protestants. In some areas, Catholics took the oath, even if they had some private concerns about their religion. Also, some people known to be Catholic from other lists still appeared on these returns.
Many of these county lists have been published. This includes lists from Cornwall, Devon, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Lincolnshire.
A helpful guide to these returns has been published by the Federation of Family History Societies.
See also
- Demography of England
- Early modern demography
