Transcript: Lancashire Protestation Returns, 1642

Transcripts by W.A. Shaw from copies by John Eglington Bailey of the Lancashire Protestation Returns, 1642. The transcripts relate to places near Manchester, and are arranged by hundred and parish. There is a list of contents at the beginning. With two letters from John Cree to W.A. Shaw, October 1889, with a list of lists of protesters 'in the custody of Mr Christie' [presumably Richard Copley Christie (1830-1901), a mutual friend of Bailey, Cree and Shaw, and chairman of the Chetham Society].

In May 1641 the House of Commons drew up a Protestation Oath, and in July of that year passed a resolution that anyone who refused to sign the Oath was unfit for secular or religious office. In early 1642 the oath was distributed to the counties to be signed by all the inhabitants. Names of those who signed and those who refused were returned to the House of Commons. The Protestation Returns survive in the House of Lords Parliamentary Archive. In the nineteenth century the returns relating to Lancashire were transcribed by the noted antiquary, John Eglington Bailey (1840-1888). Bailey was honorary secretary to the Chetham Society, Manchester; his collection of transcripts is now in Chetham's Library.

The original Protestation Returns form part of the Sessional papers (unprinted) in the House of Lords Parliamentary Archive. The transcripts by John Eglington Bailey are part of the Bailey Collection held by Chetham's Library, Manchester (ref.: GB 0418 C.7.9-43 ), which includes an index by John Cree.