Two - 1695 Election

Summary

James II and the Glorious Revolution, 1685–94

The next surviving poll book for the County seat dates from 1695. In the intervening years James II squandered his all-powerful position of 1685 by quarrelling with his natural supporters, the Tories. He also failed to win over nonconformists to his attempts to abolish the Test Act, principally in favour of his fellow Roman Catholics. With singular maladroitness, he managed to unite all parties behind William of Orange, who landed at Torbay on 5 November 1688.

The Effect of National Events on Bedfordshire 1685–95

The four newly elected MPs – Boteler, Chernocke, Chester and Christie – were summoned to appear at the new Parliament, which met on 12 March 1684/5. The first session saw James obtain the money he needed to run the government but he faced an initial skirmish over the Church of England, a foretaste of things to come.

Loyalty to the King was strengthened in summer 1685 by the Monmouth and Argyll rebellion, which gave the King the chance to enlarge the army considerably. He used this as an excuse to introduce a number of Roman Catholic officers in defiance of the Test Act. He even had the support of William of Orange, who was husband to Mary, heiress to the throne as James's eldest child. A Monmouth victory would have ended William's hopes.

Monmouth's demise would have been of great interest to people in the Toddington area, because he had hidden at the manor during the aftermath of the Rye House Plot. The daughter of the house, Lady Henrietta Wentworth, was his lover and they behaved as if they were married, despite Monmouth having a wife who was alive. Also of local interest was the death of Lieutenant Monoux of the Wootton family, killed in the fighting with the rebels.

The Tory Parliament, including the Bedfordshire members, would have looked with foreboding at the subsequent Bloody Assize that saw the execution of numerous Protestants.

On 30 July 1685 Lord Ailesbury, Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, was made James II's Lord Chamberlain, as an important sign of the King's appreciation of his unswerving loyalty to the Stuart dynasty. He did not live long to enjoy his position, however, as he died on 20 October, aged 59. Bedfordshire lost a highly experienced leader, who had run the county since his appointment as Lord Lieutenant in 1660.