A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE 



kin'^."* From the first James showed very clearly that he intended to restore 

 the Roman Catholic rehgion in England, and in 1687 gave an earnest of 

 his intentions by removing William, the ninth earl of Derby (grand- 

 son of the great Cavalier earl) from the lord-lieutenancy of Lancashire and 

 appointing Lord Molyneux, ' a Popish Recusant Convict,' to that great office. 

 Lord Molyneux made twelve deputy-lieutenants, gentlemen of his own 

 religion, with the exceptions of Lord Brandon (also styled Lord Gerard of 

 Brandon), Mr. Spencer, Mr. Girlington, Mr. Banaster, and Mr. Warren, who 

 had the late king's approbation.'" 



In September, 1688, upon the reported landing of the prince of Orange, 

 the earl of Derby offered his services to the king, who, perhaps touched by 

 gratitude, or fearing the earl's great influence in the county, graciously 

 accepted them and bid him hasten back to Lancashire, whither his com- 

 mission should immediately follow him."* The earl's bearing towards the 

 king was dutiful but outspoken. He taxed his majesty with the manner 

 in which he had aggrieved his Protestant subjects in the county, particu- 

 larly in the illegal return of members for Wigan, Liverpool, and Preston."^ 



On 5 November the prince of Orange landed at Dartmouth, and on 

 the 8th arrived Lord Derby's commission of lieutenancy. On the 9th he 

 was sworn and the militia commissions were made out. But here was an 

 issue King James had not contemplated. It appears from the evidence that 

 the earl of Derby had re-accepted his commission from the king merely to 

 serve and further privately the interests of the prince of Orange should he 

 arrive. He and Lord Delamere "' had indeed arranged to raise the forces of 

 the county for the prince. But whether Lord Derby was jealous of the 

 influence of one whom he may have regarded as an upstart peer, or whether 

 he was somewhat touched by a feeling of regret at betraying his king, can- 

 not now be determined. At least he did not move as quickly as Lord Dela- 

 mere impetuously demanded, and so lost the thanks of both masters. On 

 27 November the earl commissioned Protestant deputies, and besides raising 

 the militia of Chester had four good and great regiments of foot and five 

 troops of horse, all which in convenient time did declare for His Highness 

 the prince of Orange."' Yet notwithstanding these efforts of the earl. Lord 

 Delamere wrote a harsh and insulting letter to him, remarking that ' Your 

 Lordship must not think that you can be esteemed by the Prince or those 

 with him as a man that has given any assistance to the cause, and I believe 

 the nation will have the same opinion of you.'"" 



In December Lord Delamere was made lord-lieutenant of Cheshire in 

 place of Lord Derby, and this touching the earl in his family honour, the 

 Stanleys having held the lieutenancy there for above two hundred years, he 

 resigned that of Lancashire early in the following year ; and in June, 1689, 

 the office was given to Lord Brandon, son of the earl of Macclesfield.'" 



'" Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. xiv, App. iv, No. 597. For copious details as to the internal administration 

 of the county from 1660-85, see 'Orders &c. from the Privy Council to the Magistrates of Lancashire 

 1660-85' (in the possession of Mr. W. Farrer). Exigencies of space preclude the use of the mass of deuil 

 there available. 



■" Ibid. No. 611. '« Ibid. No. 63+A, 635. '" Hist. MSS. Cm. Rip. iv, App. iv, No. 635. 



'" The second of that barony and son to the Sir George Booth, aftenvards first Lord Delamere, who had 

 fought for Chas. II just before the Restoration. 



'" Hist. MSS. Com. loc. cit. No. 642, i. "• Ibid. No. 642, 16 Dec. 1688. 



Ibid. May, 1 689, No. 659. 



in 



242 



