On the 3rd of May 1641, immediately prior to the eventful years of the struggle between the English Parliament and Charles I, it was agreed and ordered that every member of the House of Commons should make a protestation. Why this was brought about is implied in the protestation itself which took the following form –

“ I, 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 Property 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 Parliaments, the lawful Rights and Liberties of the Subjects, 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 appose 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 betwixt the Three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland: and neither for Hope, Fear, nor other Respect, shall relinquish this Promise, Vow and Protestation.”

The Lords also agreed to it and it was ordered that every member of their House should make it the following day.

On the 5th of May 1641, the Commons ordered the printing of the protestation and preamble. After being attested by the Clerk, copies were sent by the Members to their several counties with an intimation that as they had made their protestation so they would approve of those who likewise took it.

It was also resolved that it should be made by everyone, and that any person refusing was not thought fit to hold office in the Church or Commonwealth.

In January 1642, the Speaker recommended the making of the Protestation by Sheriffs, Mayors and others in general. After this it would appear that the returns were received by the House of Commons very quickly as on the 8th of March 1642 they were referred to a Committee to receive them to consider what was to be done with those persons who refused the Protestation.

The Minister, churchwardens and overseers of the poor appeared before the Justices, generally in one place in each Hundred or Wapentake, to make their protestations, such names being shown collectively on one Certificate.

Returning to their own parish, any two of them were to witness the taking of it by all males over the age of 18 years.

The following Brumby males are listed on the returns, it shows their names, where they made the protestation (the village closest to their place of residence), the Wapentake the village is in and on what date the protestation was made –