POLITICAL HISTORY 



helped their numbers. The rising, though promptly suppressed by Lambert, 

 indicated the general reaction that had come about, and the spread of the 

 desire for the king's return, which was accordingly achieved in May, 1660."* 

 Among other loyal addresses was that of the Lancashire gentry."' And now 

 came the turn of the High Church party and even the Papists to triumph 

 over the Presbyterians, who were made sensible of the reverse of Fortune's 

 wheel. Many ministers in Lancashire submitted and testified their abhor- 

 rence of the late king's murder, and their loyalty to the restored monarch."* 

 The obstinate remainder were to be dealt with later by subsequent severe 

 legislation. 



Charles, earl of Derby, was made lord-lieutenant of the county,"^ and 

 the militia was put in the hands of Royalists again, and the sole power of 

 ordering and disposing of it was by Act of Parliament, now solely vested in 

 the crown."* It was scarcely to be expected that all would go perfectly 

 smoothly in a county so recently filled and ruled by those hostile to the 

 restored monarch, and various plots and risings were alleged to have been 

 discovered."' A significant entry occurs in September, 1666, notifying that 

 the Lancashire gentry are fallen in pieces, the Roman Catholics ' stomaching ' 

 that some of their houses should have been searched for arms ; and ' both 

 parties ' have addressed the king and council."" Something in the nature 

 of disaffection was certainly abroad, and in February of the following year it 

 was revealed as a plot of the old Cromwellian soldiers to support Cromwell's 

 son Richard."^ Owing to the vigilance of the lieutenancy this came to nothing, 

 nor was Lancashire at any time a favourable ground for successful conspiracy, 

 the sturdy, fearless character of the inhabitants lending itself rather to overt 

 hostility than to secret feud. 



In 1672 the Declaration of Indulgence was an attempt on the part of 

 the crown to bribe the Presbyterians to tolerate the Roman Catholics. It 

 appears to have been gratefully received in Lancashire, judging from the 

 number of ministers and congregations who applied for the renewal of 

 licences to preach and worship in the Presbyterian chapels and meeting- 

 houses of Lancashire."' This measure of toleration was designed to prepare 

 the public mind for the succession of the duke of York, who, as is well 

 known, was a Roman Catholic. 



The accession of James II early in 1685 was doubtless received with 

 very mixed feelings in Lancashire, where the population was so strongly 

 divided into opposite and hostile religious camps. Loyal addresses were, 

 however, paid to him,"^ and upon the insurrection of Monmouth in the 

 early part of June of that year, volunteers from Lancashire offered to serve 

 against the duke, and a loyal address was presented from Manchester to the 



'" Cal. S.P. Dom. 1659-60, pp. 393-4, +28. '" Ibid. 1660-1, p. 4. 



'« Ibid. 422. 



"' Ibid. 1 66 1-2, p. 519. For the particular details of the lieutenancy and minute military orders of the 

 earl of Derby and his deputies, see the Bradshaigh MS. (in the possession of Mr. W. Farrer) containing 

 copies of letters (1662-76) from Chas. II, Lord Arlington, the duke of Albemarle, the earl of Derby, 

 the duke of Buckingham, and many other great men of the day. Exigencies of space preclude more than a 

 reference to its multifarious details. 



"' Stat, of the Realm, v, chap, vi, 308. '" Cal. S.P. Dom. 1663-4, P- ==87 ; 1665-6, p. 107. 



'"Ibid. 1666-7, p. 128. 



■•' Ibid. 495, 584. 



'^^ Particular lists of these are given in the Cal. S.P. Dom. 167 1-2, pp. 272, 422, &c. 



■^ Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. xiv, App. iv, No. 591. 



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