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Blackeburne Hundred— 407 harnessed men, 406 unharnessed men. Amoundernes Hundred— 213 harnessed men, 369 unharnessed men. Londesdall Hundred— 356 harnessed men, 114 unharnessed men. Leylonde Hundred— 80 harnessed men, 22 unharnessed men. Saleforde Hundred— 394 harnessed men, 649 unharnessed men. West Derby Hundred— 459 harnessed men, 413 unharnessed men. Sum Total of harnessed men 1919. Sum Total of unharnessed men 2073.[31]

An epidemic, described by Hollinworth as a “sore sicknesse,” prevailed in this county during some months of 1565, and carried off many of the inhabitants.

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:—