Evelyn's Diary. 29 Jan 1689. The votes of the House of Commons being carried up by Mr. Hampden (age 36), their chairman, to the Lords, I got a station by the Prince's (age 55) lodgings at the door of the lobby to the House, and heard much of the debate, which lasted very long. Lord Derby (age 34) was in the chair (for the House was resolved into a grand committee of the whole House); after all had spoken, it came to the question, which was carried by three voices against a Regency, which 51 were for, 54 against; the minority alleging the danger of dethroning Kings, and scrupling many passages and expressions in the vote of the Commons, too long to set down particularly. Some were for sending to his Majesty with conditions: others that the King (age 55) could do no wrong, and that the maladministration was chargeable on his ministers. There were not more than eight or nine bishops, and but two against the Regency; the archbishop (age 71) was absent, and the clergy now began to change their note, both in pulpit and discourse, on their old passive obedience, so as people began to talk of the bishops being cast out of the House. In short, things tended to dissatisfaction on both sides; add to this, the morose temper of the Prince of Orange (age 38), who showed little countenance to the noblemen and others, who expected a more gracious and cheerful reception when they made their court. The English army also was not so in order, and firm to his interest, nor so weakened but that it might give interruption. Ireland was in an ill posture as well as Scotland. Nothing was yet done toward a settlement. God of his infinite mercy compose these things, that we may be at last a Nation and a Church under some fixed and sober establishment!

Evelyn's Diary. 21 Feb 1689. Innumerable were the crowds, who solicited for, and expected offices; most of the old ones were turned out. Two or three white staves were disposed of some days before, as Lord Steward, to the Earl of Devonshire (age 49); Treasurer of the household, to Lord Newport; Lord Chamberlain to the King, to my Lord of Dorset (age 46); but there were as yet none in offices of the civil government save the Marquis of Halifax (age 55) as Privy Seal. A council of thirty was chosen, Lord Derby (age 34) president, but neither Chancellor nor Judges were yet declared, the new Great Seal not yet finished.

Calendars. 01 Mar 1693. Whitehall. The Earl of Nottingham to the Commissioners of the Treasury. The Earl of Derby (age 38) has represented to the King the great want of all sorts of coin in the Isle of Man, whereby the trade thereof is wholly lost, to the great prejudice of his lordship as well as the inhabitants; and the Karl designing to set up a linen manufactory there, which may be very advantageous to England, and which cannot be carried on without "such a current cash as may be sufficient to pay the workmen for their labour," has prayed that he may have leave to coin "abase metal not exceeding the value of 10,000l.," for the support of the island and of the linen manufactory, which moneys so coined should be current only in the Isle of Man. The King is willing to gratify the Earl of Derby (age 38) and promote the welfare of that island, and has commanded me to acquaint you with this matter, that you may report your opinion thereon. [H.O. Letter Book (Secretary's) 2, p. 624.]

Calendars. There is little reference to the Channel Islands, yet their importance as ports of observation must have been considerable, and we find the Governors of Jersey and Guernsey directed to dispatch a yacht "once in five or six weeks, or to Southampton, which should carry any news of importance (pp. 217-218). 'The Isle of Man finds mention in reference to a petition—submitted on the 1st of March, by the Earl of Nottingham to the Treasury, and which the King was disposed to grant—from the Earl of Derby, to be allowed to establish on the island a mint at which he should coin "a base metal" not exceeding the value of £10,000. The Harl designed the setting up of a linen manufactory there (p. 54).