1688 WILLIAM BENTLEY, (Mercer).

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At a Common Hall held 20 October 1688 AId. Thomas Ludlam is styled mayor, the names of many aldermen being changed. AId. William Bentley was then chosen mayor for the year ensuing. The latter took the usual oaths, the oath of allegiance and supremacy, the oath mentioned in the Act for regulating corporations, and subscribed the declaration for the renouncing of the Covenants, (Hall Book, V 01. 3). This incident has refer, ence to the unsettled state of national affairs at the date under notice, and the fact that the king was not rever, enced by the Leic. corporation, some of whose members had, by an order in council, been previously suspended. In the same Hall Book, under date 18 October 1688, we learn that His Majesty's proclamation was published in the London Gazette, for restoring to Corporations their ancient liberties, rights and franchises. Under this charter such members as had been suspended were restored. AId. Thomas Ludlam, who had previously filled the mayoral chair, held the office on this occasion for less than four weeks. The actual date of his election, however, is not recorded, but AId. Bentley, who was chosen mayor for the official year, 21 September 1688, received confirmation of his appointment and resumed office 20 October following.

AId. William Bentley appears to have belonged to an old Leic. family, but his parentage has not been clearly established. He was probably a son of William Bentley of Leic. living 1650; was born about 1638, admitted a freeman as the late apprentice of Mr. Wanley, mercer, 5 November 1659, elected a councillor 1664, was one of the chamberlains in 1669, later an alderman, a churchwarden of St. Martin's 1674 and one of the borough bailiffs in 1684. In December 1688 as mayor, he, with thirty~seven members of the corporate body, signed the pledge of adhersion to the cause of the Prince of Orange. He married at St. Martin's 4 February 1663~4 Dorcas, youngest daughter of AId. William Stanley, mayor in 1640, by whom, who was buried there 18 January 1708~9, aged sixty~three, he had eight sons and one daughter. His son Joseph, was the ancestor of the Bentleys, of the firm of Bentley & Buxton, bankers of Leic., and whose descendants became the owners of the Dannett's Hall estate in the eighteenth century.

AId. Bentley was buried at St. Martin's 2 April 1696.

Will not found.

Arms of Bentley of Dannett's Hall as used by the descendants of AId. William Bentley and recorded by Throsby :-Azure, three bends argent. Plate 4.

(King James II abdicated the throne in December 1688.

William and Mary proclaimed king and queen of England13 February 1689 and crowned 11 April following).