INTRODUCTION.

It was not, however, until the 20th of the following January that the Protestation was printed and sent down to the country with definite instructions for the people to take it. On that day it was resolved that the following letter should be signed by the Speaker and sent to the Sheriffs of the several counties:

"Gentlemen,

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8

It is now some Months since that the Protestation taken by the Lords and House of Commons was sent down into the country, with an Expectation, that it should be generally taken throughout the Kingdom, for a Testimony of their good Concurrence with the Parliament; but, through the Remissness of some of those that had the Care of recommending it to others, very many there be that have nor hitherto taken it; Now the House of Commons, having discovered many dangerous Designs plotted against the Parliament, and especially that of the Fourth of this Instant January, which, had it taken Effect, would have strucken not only at the Priveleges, but the very Being of Parliament (as will more appear by the Declaration herewith sent unto you, which the House desires you to publish throughout all Parts of the County) have thought fit once again to recommend the Taking of this Protestation; and have therefore commanded me, in their Name, to desire you the High Sheriff and the Justices of the Peace of that County to meet together in One Place, as soon as possible you may, and there to take the Protestation yourselves; and then, despersing yourselves into your several Divisions, that you will call together the Minister, the Constables, Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of every Parish, and tender unto them the Protestation, to be taken in your Presence, and to desire of them, that they will very speedily call together the Inhabitants of their several Parishes, both Householders and others, being of Eighteen Years of Age and upwards, into One or more Places, according to the Largeness of their Parishes, and to tender unto them the same Protestation, to be taken in their Presence; and to take their Names, both of those, that do take it, and do refuse to take the same Protestation; and to return them to yourselves, at such time as you shall appoint; which the House desires may be so speedily, as that you likewise may return such

Ibid., page 389.

'By a vaguely worded resolution of the 30th July, 1641, the members were instructed to "send down to the Places for which they serve Copies of the Vote of the House upon the Protestation," Journal, page 230.

8 The attempt of King Charles in person to arrest Sir Arthur Hesilrige, Hollis, Pym, Strode, and Hamden.

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Certificate, as you receive from them, to the Knights and Burgesses serving for that County, before the (blank) Day of (Blank); Wherein the House desires your greatest Care and Diligence, as a Matter very much importing the Good both of the King and Kingdom; which being all I have in Command, I rest,

Your very loving Friend.

London, January 19th, 1641."

On the 16th of April9 following the Commons appointed a Committee which included Cromwell, Sir Henry Vane and Sir Gilbert Green, to consider of the Number and Quality of the Persons in all Counties, that have refused the Protestation; and what Course is fit to be held towards them." At the same time the members of the House were instructed that "after they had viewed the Protestations themselves they were to return the Refusers to this Committee." It does not appear that any further proceedings were taken, the cause probably being the rapid march of subsequent events.

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It only remains to be added that some years ago the records of the two Houses of Parliament-the Lords and the Commons-were consolidated and classified. They are now preserved in the Victoria Tower. The extant returns of the Protestation are unfortunately imperfect for Northumberland, only those for Berwick and Morpeth remaining. The returns for the Palatinate of Durham are practically complete1o the lists of parochial officials for the Wards of Easington, and Stockton being the only missing documents, and their names are to be found in the parish lists. The returns are made on many and various sizes and qualities of paper, and in many and various styles of writing.

The official classification has been retained in printing so that the original M.S. of any document can be immediately and easily referred to.

The whole subject has been considered by Dr. S. R. Gardiner in Decline and Fall of the Monarchy of Charles I., Vol. II., p.p. 159, 160, 229, 323, 352.

The Society is indebted to the late Duke of Northumberland for his having obtained permission for a transcript to be made, and thanks are due to the Librarian of the House of Lords for allowing this to form the contents of one of the Society's Volumes. The Editor wishes to express his gratitude to Mr. J. C. Hodgson, and the Rev. D. S. Boutflower, for reading the proofs.

91642, Journal, page 530.

10 With the exception of Staindrop.

The protestatione for the County Palatine of Durham are complete.

They are classified as :

Durham, Chester Ward, Nos. 1-21 D.M.

Darlington Ward, Nos. 1-23

D.N.

Easington Ward, Nos. 1-19

D.O.

Stockton Ward, Nos. 1-20 D.P.

The cover for the first of these is endorsed in modern pencil, "co. Durham-Chester Ward," and in contemporary ink, "The whole Returne wth in the warde of Chester in the County of Durham, as wth in written."

CHESTER WARDE.

(Return of parochial officials in Chester Ward.) (D.M.3.) (This record is written upon eight narrow foolscap pages, one column to the page.) (D.M.3.)

Com Dunell.

CHESTER WARD.

A returne of the names of all the sevrall Inhabitants att or above the age of 18 yeares wth in the warde aforesaid who have taken ye protestacon as alsoe who have refused as wth in written.

Com Dunell.

Chester Fabruary 16th 1641. Accordinge to the purportt of the letter from Mr. Speaker of the honoble the house of

Comons we here returne the names of all the Ministers, Highe Constables, pettye Constables, Churchwardens and Overseers for the poore wth in the severall parishes wth in Chester Ward who have appeared this day accordinge to there sumons, and in our prsence taken the protestacon, as alsoe such as were then absent ut sequitr.

Lamesley Chappelry-Minister: Thomas Douckett; Churchwardens and Overseers: John Lowther, Ralphe Hopper; Constables: Willm. Auckland, Ralphe Suerties, Willm. Smith, Cuthbertt Smith, Henry Sotheren, George Grundye* (capt).

Lainchester parishe-Minister: Roger Willis; Churchwardens: John Anderson, Symond Jackeson, Edward Raisbecke (ab), Thomas Rawe; Overseers: Thomas Atkinson, Josias Laburne (ab); Constables: Thomas Rippon, Michaell Joblinge, Willm. Ferrye, Thomas Rippon, John Porter, Nicholas Fletcher, Willm. Rippon.

Whicham parishe-Parson: Mr. Thomas Woode1 (ab) apud Londin; Minister: Bartholomew Pescott; Churchwardens: John Maiott, John Daglesse, Robert Wilson* (capt), John Sanders; Overseere: Richard Jackson; Constables: Edward Newbye, Willm. Carr, Mathew Carr, Georg Lumley, Robertt Applebyt.

Muglewicke parishe Parson : Richard Churchwarden: Thomas March.

Braidley;

Ryton parish-Parson: Mr. Willm. James2; Minister: Robertt Cowper; Churchwardens: Willim Dodd, Willm. French, Richard Lavericke, Bartram Dodd; Constables: Willim Jolley, Christo. Greenhaughe, Edward Anderson, Thomas Pickeringe* (capt), Thomas Greene, James Greenhaughe (ab), Rowland Collingwoode (ab), George Ferrowe, Thomas Gillerye, Thomas Procter, John Joblinge, Robertt Turner; Overseeres: John Todd, Anthonye Steaphenson (ab).

Of Christ Church, Oxford, B.A., 1631; M.A., 1634; B.D., 1641; D.D., 1641/2; Rector of Whickham, 1635, during his ejection he travelled to Rome, until he was restored in 1660; Bishop of Lichfield, 1671, until his death, which took place at Astrop Wells, Co. Northants. on the 18th April, 1692; he was interred at Ufford in Suffolk.

2 The Rev. William James of Christ Church, Oxford, appointed Rector of Crayke, Yorks, 1614; Rector of Washington, 1616; of Ryton, April, 1617; Vicar of Merrington, 1629; died in the College, Durham, 11 Jan., 1659/60, aged 79, buried in Durham Cathedral. Nephew of William James, Bishop of Durham, he was installed in the twelfth stall, 6 Oct., 1620.

*"Egreat et ab" struck out in MS.

Gateside parishe Parson: Mr. Josephe Browne'; Minister: Mr. John Jackson; Churchwardens: John London, Thomas Potts, Nicholas Wilkinson* (capt), Willim Swinburne; Constables: Nicholas Watson, Ralphe Rutter, Robertt Browne, Willim Swalwell; Overseeres: Edward Knowells (ab), James Watson, Steaphen French, Thomas Browne.

Tanfeilde Chappelry-Minister: Allexander Lamson; Churchwardens and Overseeres: John Stobbes, James Blairton (ab); Constable: Thomas Tweddall.

Wittongilbertt Parishe Minister: Mr. Henry Hutton'; Churchwardens: George Snaith, Symond Aire, Georg Robinson (ab); Overseeres: Thomas Horne, Robertt Watson; Constables: Miles Shipperdson, Michaell Taylor (ab).

Boulden Parishe Parson: Mr. Robert Chapman'; Churchwardens: John Sharppe, Thomas Plumpton (ab); Overseeres: Willm. Fenwicke (ab), Christo. Trewhett; Constables: Clement Dodgson, Willm. Atkinson.

Edmondbyers Parishe Minister: Mr. Francis Foster**; Churchwarden: Richard Parker; Constable: Mr. Clemond Richardson.

Esh Chappelrye-Minister: Mr. Tymothy Barnes'; Churchwardens: John Smith*, Robertt Comeinge; Constables: Willim Taylor, Robertt Smith (ab).

Munckwarmouth Parishe—Minister : Mr. Richard Hickes; Churchwardens: Thomas Collyer, Thomas Rockwood; Overseeres: John Fawsett*, Michaell Symy (ab); Constables: Christo. Shippdson, Robertt Rockwood, Thomas Waike, John Younge*.

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Appointed Rector of Gateshead, 18 July, 1620.

* Son of Edward Hutton, by his wife Anne, dau. of Francis Lascelles of Allerthorpe, Co. York; appointed 4 Aug., 1635; married Margery [ ] and had issue four sons and three daughters,

buried 24 April, 1671, at Witton Gilbert.

5 Robert Chapman, M.A., appointed 25 March, 1630.

Son of John Hickes, Rector of Whitburn, of University College, Oxford, licensed to Monkwearmouth 13 Sept., 1638; an intruder in Whitburn on the deprivation of Dr. Triplett; conformed and abjured the Solemn League and Covenant, 17 Aug., 1662; Rector of Whitburn, bur. there, 25 Aug., 1667.

*"Ab" struck out in MS.