'Protestation, Vow, Covenant and Engagement: Swearing Allegiance in the English Civil War'

TY - JOUR

T1 - 'Protestation, Vow, Covenant and Engagement: Swearing Allegiance in the English Civil War'

AU - Vallance, Edward

PY - 2002

Y1 - 2002

N2 - This article discusses four political tests imposed between 1641 and 1649. Using printed pamphlets and manuscript oath rolls, the article explores both the guidelines established by casuists and pamphleteers for swearing lawfully, and the responses of individual subscribers when confronted with conflicting demands for their political allegiance. In this way, the article demonstrates the importance of subscription returns as a source for political historians, as well as genealogists and demographic researchers. The article concludes that individuals often chose to equivocate or to refuse oaths, not because they found them politically unacceptable, but because they were afraid of forswearing themselves.

AB - This article discusses four political tests imposed between 1641 and 1649. Using printed pamphlets and manuscript oath rolls, the article explores both the guidelines established by casuists and pamphleteers for swearing lawfully, and the responses of individual subscribers when confronted with conflicting demands for their political allegiance. In this way, the article demonstrates the importance of subscription returns as a source for political historians, as well as genealogists and demographic researchers. The article concludes that individuals often chose to equivocate or to refuse oaths, not because they found them politically unacceptable, but because they were afraid of forswearing themselves.

M3 - Article

SN - 1468-2281

SP - 408

EP - 424

JO - Historical Research

JF - Historical Research

ER -