❧ Die Mercurii 5 Maii 1641.

IT is this day Ordered by the House of Commons now assembled in Parliament, That the Preamble, together with the Pro­testation, which the Members of this House made the third of May, shall be forthwith Printed, and the Copies Printed brought to the Clark of the said House, to attest under his hand, to the end that the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses may send them down to the Sheriffs and Justices of Peace of the severall Shires, and to the Citizens and Burgesses of the severall Cities, Boroughs, and Cinque Ports, respectively. And the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, are to intimate unto the Shires, Cities, Bo­roughs, and Cinque Ports, with what willingnesse all the Members of this House made this Protestation: And further to signi­fie, that as they justifie the taking of it in themselves, so they cannot but approve it in all such as shall take it.

WE the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the Commons house in Parliament, finding, to the great grief of our hearts, that the designes of the Priests and Jesuites, and other Adherents to the See of Rome, have of late been more boldly and frequently put in practice then formerly, to the undermining and danger of the ruine of the true reformed Protestant Religion in His Majesties Dominions established: And finding also that there have been, and having just cause to suspect that there still are, even during this sitting in Parliament, indeavours to subvert the fundamentall Laws of England and Ireland, and to introduce the exercise of an Arbitrary and Tyrannicall Government, by most pernicious and wicked Councels, Practises, Plots, and Conspiracies: And that the long intermission, and unhappy breach of Parliaments, hath occasioned many illegall Tax­ations, whereupon the Subject hath been prosecuted and grieved: And that divers Innovations and Superstitions have been brought into the Church; multitudes driven out of His Majesties Dominions; Jealousies raised and fomented betwixt the King and His People; a Popish Army leavied in Ireland, and two Armies brought into the bowels of this Kingdome, to the hazard of His Majesties Royall Person, the consumption of the Revenues of the Crown, and Treasure of this Kingdome: And lastly, find­ing great cause of Jealousie, that indeavours have been, and are used to bring the English Army into a misunderstanding of this Parliament, thereby to incline that Army, with force to bring to passe those wicked Councels, Have therefore thought good to joyn our selves in a Declaration of our united Affections and Resolutions, and to make this ensuing Protestation.

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 Royall Person, Honour, and Estate; As also the Power and Priviledges of Parliament; The lawfull Rights and Liberties of the Subject, and every person that maketh this Protestation, in what­soever he shall do in the lawfull pursuance of the same. And to my power, and as far as lawfully I may, I will oppose, and by all good wayes and means indeavour to bring to condigne punishment, all such as shall either by Force, Practise, Councels, Plots, Conspiracies or otherwise, do any thing to the contrary of any thing in this present Protestation contai­ned. And further, that I shall in all just and Honourable wayes indeavour to preserve the Vnion and Peace between the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland; And neither for hope, fear, nor other respect, shall relinquish this Promise, Vow, and Protestation.

WHereas some doubts have been raised by severall persons out of this House, concerning the meaning of these words contained in the Protestation lately made by the Members of this House, (viz.) 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; This House doth declare, That by those words, was and is meant, only the publike Doctrine professed in the said Church, so farre as it is opposite to Popery and Popish Innovations; And that the said words are not to be extended to the maintaining of any form of Worship, Discipline, or Government, nor of any Rites or Ceremonies of the said Church of England.

Die Veneris 30. Iulii: 1641.

Resolved upon the Question.
THat this House doth conceive that the Protestation made by them, is fit to be taken by every person that is well affected in Religion, and to the good of the Common-wealth; And therefore doth declare, That what person soever shall not take the Protestation, is unfit to beare Office in the Church or Common-wealth.

Resolved upon the Question.
THat the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, and Barons of the Cinque-Ports respectively, shall forthwith send down to the seve­rall places for which they serve, Copies of this Vote of the House, concerning the Protestation.

Resolved upon the Question.
That these Votes shall be Printed and Attested under the Clerks hand.

Die Sabbati 8. Ianuarii. 1641.
At the Committee of the House of Commons appointed to sit in London to consider of the safety of the Kingdome, and of the City of London, and of vindicating the Priviledges of Parliament.

Resolved upon the Question.
THat the actions of the Citizens of London, or of any other person whatsoever, for the defence of the Parliament, or the Priviledges thereof, or the preservation of the Members thereof, are according to their duty, and to their late Protestation, and the Lawes of this Kingdome. And if any person shall arrest or trouble any of them, for so doing, he is declared to be a publike enemy of the Common-wealth.

Resolved upon the Question.
That this Vote shalbe made known to the Common Councell of the City of London.

Iohn Wilde Sergeant at Law sitting in the Chaire of that Committee.

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