Queen Elizabeth on her accession wrought another change in the national religion, but taking warning from the outcries and disturbances produced by the sudden and sweeping policies of Henry VIII. and Mary, proceeded to affect her purpose in a more deliberate manner. She retained some of her Catholic ministers, taking care, however, to have sufficient of the reformed faith to outvote them when occasion required, and appointed a commission to inquire into the persecutions of the last reign, with orders to liberate from prison all those who had been confined on account of their attachment to Protestant principles. In her own chapel she forbade several Popish practices, and commanded that certain portions of the services should be read in the English tongue. Shortly afterwards a proclamation was issued, ordering that all chantries should conduct their services after the model of her own chapel. This comparative moderation was succeeded at a later period of her sovereignty by sterner measures, and many Catholic recusants were placed in confinement, being subjected to heavy penalties and degradations. During the same reign the military strength of the nation was again ascertained by a general muster. The gathering took place in 1574, when six gentlemen of our neighbourhood were thus rated:—
Cuthbert Clifton, esq., to furnish:—Light horse 1, Plate-coate 1, Pyke 1, Long bows 2, Sheaves of arrows 2, Steel caps 2, Caliver 1, Morion 1.
James Massey, George Alane to furnish:—Plate-coat 1, Long bow 1, Sheaf of arrows 1, Steel cap 1, Caliver 1, Morion 1, Bill 1.
William Hesketh to furnish of good will:—Caliver 1, Morion 1.
William Singleton, John Veale to furnish:—The same as William Hesketh doth.
The whole complement raised in the Hundred of Amounderness consisted of—5 Light horse, 1 Demi-lance, 2 Corslets, 17 Plate-coats, 11 Pykes, 22 Long bows, 22 Sheaves of arrows, 27 Steel caps, 15 Calivers, 20 Morions, and 10 Bills.
Father Edmund Campion, the notorious Jesuit, was apprehended in 1581, immediately after travelling through Lancashire endeavouring to spread the doctrines of his faith, and imprisoned in the Tower. Under the cruel influence of the rack he divulged the names of several persons by whom he had been received and entertained whilst on his journey, and amongst them were Mrs.
