Die Mercurii: 5⁰ Maii. 1641. It is this day ordered by the House of Commons now assembled in Parliament ...

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CR

DIEV ET MON DROIT

HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE

❧ Die Mercurii: 5^o Maii. 1641.

IT is this day ••••dered by the House of Commons now assembled in Parliament, That the Preamble, together with the Prot••••ation, which the Members of this House made the third of May, shall be forthwith Printed▪ and the Copie•• Printed brought to the Clark of the said House, to attest under his hand, to the end that the Knights▪ Citiz••s, and Burgesses may send them down to the Sheriffs and Justices of Peace of the severall Shi••s, and to the Citizs and Burgesses of the severall Cities, Boroughs, and Cinque Ports, respectively. And 〈…〉〈…〉 Knights, Citiz••••s, and Burgesses, are to intimate unto the Shires, Cities, Boroughs, and Cinque Ports, with what willingne•••• all the Members of this House made this Protestation: And further to signifie, that as they justifie the taking of it in themse••••s, so they cannot but approve it in all such as shall take it.

WE the Knight Citizens, and Burgesses of the Commons house in Parliament, finding, to the great grief of our ••earts, that the designes of the Priests and Iesuites, and other Adherents to the See of Rome, have 〈◊〉〈◊〉 late been more boldly and frequently put in practice then formerly, to the undermining and danger 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the ruine of the true reformed Protestant Religion in His Majesties Dominions esta∣blished: A•••• ••inding also that there have been, and having just cause to suspect that there still are, even during this 〈…〉〈…〉ting in Parliament, indeavours to subvert the fundamentall Lawes of England and Ireland, a•••• to introduce the exercise of an Arbitrary and Tyrannicall Government, by most per∣nicious and wicked Coun••••s, Practices, Plots, and Conspiracies: And that the long intermission▪ and unhappy breach of Parliaments, h••••h occasioned many illegall Taxations, whereupon the Subject hath been prosecuted and grieved: And that di••••rs Innovations and Superstitions have been brought into the Church; multitudes driven out of His Majesti Dominions, Iealousies raised and fomented betwixt the King and His people, a Popish Army leavied in Ireland, ••••d two Armies brought into the bowels of this Kingdom, to the hazard of His Maje∣sties Royall Person, the co••umption of the Revenues of the Crown, and Treasure of this Kingdom: And lastly, finding great cause of Ielousie, that indeavours have been, and are used to bring the English Army into a misun∣derstanding of this Parl••••ment, thereby to incline that Army, with force to bring to passe those wicked Councels, Have therefore thought ••••od to joyn our selves in a Declaration of our united Affections and Resolutions, and to make this ensuin•• Protestation.

I A. B. do ••n 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 ••n the Doctrine of the Church of England, against all Popery and Popish Innovations within th••s Realm, contrary to the same Doctrine, and according to the duty of my Allegiance, His Maj••••ties Royall Person, Honour, and Estate; As also the Power and Priviledges of Parlia∣ment; The lawfull Rights and Liberties of the Subject, and every person that maketh this Protestation, in what∣soever he shall do in the ••awfull 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, Counc••••s, 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 Union and Peace between the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland; And neither for hope, fear, nor other respect, ••hall relinquish this Promise, Vow, and Protestation.