A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE 



He did not sign the letters patent of 1 6 June, 1553, 

 whereby the succession of Mary was put aside in favour 

 of Lady Jane Grey, though his eldest son Lord Strange 

 signed ; and on Edward's death three weeks later, he 

 assisted in securing the crown for Mary, who showed 

 her gratitude by several favours. In the religious con- 

 troversies of the time it is obvious that he was hostile 

 to Protestantism. 1 On the accession of Elizabeth 

 when Edward's church discipline was re-enacted, the 

 earl of Derby was continued upon the Privy Council, 

 made chamberlain of Chester in 1559 and lord-lieu- 

 tenant of Lancashire and Cheshire in 1569,' but his 

 known opposition to the change of religion cost him 

 the queen's favour. 3 In 1562 he with the bishop of 

 Chester and others was appointed on a commission to 

 enforce the royal supremacy and the use of the Common 

 Prayer Book in Lancashire and Cheshire, but nothing 

 much appears to have been done. Five years later, 

 the earl and bishop were again urged to exert them- 

 selves to secure some degree of conformity to the new 

 order, and the earl, ' upon small motion made to him, 

 caused all such persons as have been required to be 

 apprehended," and showed himself ' very faithful and 

 careful.' * 



He was celebrated for the great retinue he main- 

 tained, and the splendour of his living. 5 He took 

 care to entail Lathom, Knowsley, and others of the 

 ancient possessions of the house upon the heirs male. 6 

 He died on 24 October, 1572, at Lathom, and was 

 buried with great pomp six weeks later at Ormskirk. 7 



The earl was thrice married ; his successor was 

 the eldest son Henry, by his first wife, born in 

 1531. The new earl appears to have spent a large 

 part of his life at court, and had from time to time 

 various public appointments. 8 



The view of the county written in 1590 states 

 that 'Henry earl of Derby hath in that hundred 

 (West Derby) three of his chief houses, Lathom 

 and New Park in Ormskirk parish, Knowsley in 

 Huyton parish. He hath preaching in his house 

 sabbathly by the best preachers in the county, 

 and he giveth honourable countenance to all the pro- 

 fessors of religion, and is very forward in the 

 public actions to religion,' and his son ' Ferdinando, 

 Lord Strange, giveth good countenance to religion, 

 when he is with us.' 9 The household record bears 

 this out. He added Burscough to the family inheri- 

 tance by a grant from Queen Elizabeth. His wife 

 was Margaret Clifford, granddaughter of Mary, the 

 younger sister of Henry VIII. He had by her 

 Ferdinando and William, successively earls of Derby, 

 and three other children who died young. 10 He died 

 on 25 September, 1593, and was buried at Ormskirk. 11 



His son Ferdinando, who had already (1589) been 

 summoned to Parliament as Lord Strange, succeeded 

 his father in his titles and property, and in the 

 lord-lieutenancy of Lancashire and Cheshire. He 

 had been mayor of Liverpool in 1588. He was a 

 friend and patron of literature, being praised by 

 Spenser among others. 18 He married Alice, daughter 



