East Orchard

Protestation Returns 1641-2

Transcribed for Dorset OPC by Sue Thornton-Grimes

In 1641, Parliament requested all males aged over 18 to take an oath in support of the Crown, Parliament and the Protestant religion. This show of loyalty was intended to oppose the ‘plots and conspiracies of priests and Jesuits’ that were allegedly subverting the kingdom. Lists of those taking the oath in each parish were prepared by the parish incumbent or clerk, and sent to Parliament in 1642. The Protestation reads:

“I……. doe, in the presence of Almightie God, promise, vow, and protest to maintaine and defend, so farre as lawfullie I may, with my life, power, and estate, the true Reformed Protestant Religion expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England, against all Poperie and Popish Innovations within this Realme contrarie to the same Doctrine and according to the dutie of my Allegiance [to] his Ma’ties Royall person, honor, and estate. As also the Power and Privileges of Parliament, the lawfull rights and Liberties of the subject, and every person that maketh this Protestation in whatsoever hee shall doe in the lawfull pursuance of ye same. And to my power, and as farre as Lawfullie I may, I will oppose, and by all good waies and meanes indeavor to bring to condigne punishment all such as shall either by Force, Practise, Counsells, Plotts, Conspiracies, or otherwise do anie thing in this present Protestation contained. And further, that I shall in all Just and honourable waies endeavour to preserve ye Union and Peace between the three Kingdomes of England, Scotland, and Ireland. And neither for hope, feare, nor other respect, reliquish this promise, vow, and Protestation.”

This transcription was taken from ‘The Dorset Protestation Returns Preserved in the House of Lords 1641-2’, Edited by Edward Alexander Fry 1912 and available at the Dorset History Centre.

Protestation Return for Est Orchard, as part of Ewerne Minster

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