A HISTORY OF NORFOLK could not possibly out of his own patrimony and his wife's fortune alone have built the enormous pile at Houghton, made his priceless collection of pictures, and kept up the state which he did. His weekly expendi- ture when at Houghton was calculated to be no less than ^(^ 1,500.^ From 1708 to 1742 he took a great part in public affairs, being for the greater part of that time in office and almost indispensable to the country. In 1742 he was created earl of Orford and died in 1745 ; neither his public nor private life can be described as irreproachable, but both were very charac- teristic of his time. The election of 17 14 was stubbornly fought, the winners being Sir Jacob Astley and Thomas de Grey, who polled 3,059 and 3,183 against Sir Ralph Hare and Erasmus Earle, who had 2,840 and 2,635 votes. In October, 1 7 14, the letters patent constituting the duke of Ormonde lord-lieutenant of Norfolk and Norwich were cancelled, and Charles Viscount Townshend was again appointed to that position. At this time, with a Norfolk member for prime minister, and Townshend, a Norfolk peer, the next chief minister, the representatives of the county enjoyed many advantageous and lucrative appointments in the royal and public service.* The rising in 171 5 does not appear to have affected the county, but in 1722 there is some slight evidence that there was a stir among the Jacobites in Norfolk. A letter is printed by Mason ^ in enigmatic language to the effect that the ' Tanners ' (Tories) of Norfolk would stand by the party and offer to bear expenses. Whigs were called ' Waggs,' the duke of Norfolk ' Mrs. Jones,' and letters are said to have been sent by the aid of Mrs. George Jerningham. The only man in Norfolk who had the courage of his opinions and suffered for the Jacobite cause was Christopher Layer, a man of good family at Aylsham, though he was a Londoner by birth. In a manuscript in Mr. Rye's possession called ' Acta Norvicensia,' and compiled by W. Massey, it is said that he was brought up by his uncle and was ' in his temper splenetic malicious and vengeful.' It seems he was drawn into y« conspiracy for which he suffered, by his going into Italy in 1 72 1 about some affairs in his way of Business and his Curiosity leading him to Rome he became acquainted with and had several interviews with ye Pretender. On 24 August being returned again into England at a meeting at Leyton House in Essex, Mr. Layer with other of his accomplices enlisted several persons for the service of the Pretender, and a few days after was apprehended and committed to the Tower. He was tried on 31 October* and found guilty, but not executed until 17 May, 1723, dying very courageously, and avowing that he was 'certain the nation can never be happy nor easy until the lawful king is placed upon the throne.' There is no doubt a good deal of cautious treason had been going on for some time, for the same MS. says under the date 10 June, 1720, 'this being the anniversary of the Pretender's Birthday it was observed here by the Jacobites as openly as they durst by wearing the White Rose and clean White Gloves.' The Whigs on the other hand showed their sentiments by burning effigies of the pope and the Pretender in Norwich market-place on 5 November, 1725, 1726, and 1728. ' M.ison, op. cit. 447. ' Ibid. 440 gives a list of them. • Ibid. 441.
- Howell, Stale Trials, xvi. No. 463.
520
