A PREAMBLE With the Protestation made by the whole House of Commons the 3. of May. 1641. and Assented unto by the Lords of the Vpper House the 4. of May
WEE the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, of the Commons House in Parliament, finding to the griefe of our Hearts, that the Designes of the Priests and Jesuites, and other Adherents to the Sea of Rome have of late more boldly, and frequently put in practice, then formerly, to the undermining and danger of the Ruine of the true Reformed Religion, in his Majesties Dominions established, and finding also, that there hath beene, and having cause to suspect there still are, even during the Sitting in Parliament, Endeavours to subvert the Fundamentall Lawes of England, and Ireland, and to introduce the Exercise of an Arbitrary, and Tyrannicall Government; by most pernitious and wicked Councells, Plots, and Conspiracies, and that the long Intermition, and unhappier breach of Parliaments, hath occasioned many illegall Taxations, whereupon the Subjects have beene prosecuted and grieved, and that divers Innovations and Superstitions have beene brought into the Church, Multitudes driven out of his Majesties Dominions, Jealousies raised and Fomented, betweene the King and his People, a Popish Army leavyed in [...]reland, and two Armies brought into the Bowels of this Kingdome, to the hazard of his Majesties Royall Person, the Consumption of the Revenue of the Crowne, and the Treasure of this Realme. And lastly, finding the great Causes of Jealousie, endeavours have beene and are used to bring the English Army into misunderstanding of this Parliament; thereby to incline that Army by force, to bring to passe, those wicked Councels; have therefore thought good to joyne out selves in a Declaration of our united affections, and Resolutions, and to make this ensuing Protestation.
THE PROTESTATION.
I A. B. Doe in the presence of Almighty God promise, vow, and protest, to maintaine and defend, as farre 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. And According to the dutie of my Allegiance to his Majesties Royall Person, Honour and Estate.
As also the power and Priviledge of Parliament, the lawfull Rights and liberties of the Subjects. And every person that maketh this Protestation in whatsoever he shall do in the lawfull pursuance of the same, and to my power as farre as lawfully I may, I will oppose and by good wayes and meanes endevour to bring to condigne punishment all such as shall by Force, Practice, Counsell, Plots Conspiracies, or otherwise doe any thing to the contrary in this present Protestation contained, and further I shall in all Just and Honourable wayes, endeavour to preserve the Union, and Peace betwixt the three Kingdomes of England, Scotland and Ireland. And neither for hope, feare, nor other respects shall relinquish this Promise, Vow and Protestation.