HONI SOIT x MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
❧ Die Mercurii: 5ᵒ 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 clerk of the said House, to attest under his hand, to the end that the Knights, Citizens, & Burgesses may send them down to the Sheriffs and Justices of Peace of the several Shires, and to the Citizens and Burgesses of the several 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 willingness all the Members of this House made this Protestation: And further to signify, that as they justify 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 designs 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 ruin of the true reformed Protestant Religion in His majesty's 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, endeavours to subvert the fundamental laws of England and Ireland, and to introduce the exercise of an Arbitrary and tyrannical Government, by most pernicious and wicked Counsels, Practices, Plots, and Conspiracies: And that the long intermission, and unhappy breach of Parliaments, hath occasioned many illegal 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 majesty's Dominions, jealousies raised and fomented betwixt the King and His people, a Popish Army levied in Ireland, and two Armies brought into the bowels of t●is kingdom, to the hazard of his majesty's royal Person, the consumption of the Revenues of the Crown, and Treasure of this Kingdom: And lastly finding great cause of jealousy, that endeavours 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 pass those wicked Counsels, Have therefore thought good to join ourselves 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 majesty's royal Person, Honour, and Estate; As also the Power and privileges of Parliament; The lawful Rights and Liberties of the Subject, and every person that maketh this Protestation, in whatsoever he shall do in the lawful pursuance of the same. And to my power, and as far as lawfully I may, I will oppose, and by all good ways and means endeavour to bring to condign punishment, all such as shall either by Force, Practice, Counsels, 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 ways endeavour to preserve the Union 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 several 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 public Doctrine professed in the said Church, so far 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.    

❧ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty: And by the assigns of John Bill. 1641.