BERKELEY, Maurice, 3rd Visct. Fitzhardinge [I] (1628-90), of Bruton, Som. and Pall Mall, Westminster

A Court Tory with strong Irish attachments, Berkeley had been a sympathizer of the Duke of Monmouth and had taken a stand against James II’s religious policies early in 1688. Later in the year he attended William of Orange during his progress through the West Country and entertained him at his seat at Bruton. He was rewarded with the lord lieutenancy of the county in 1689 and re-elected for Bath. On the eve of the 1690 session he was classed by Lord Carmarthen (Sir Thomas Osborne†) as a Tory, but made no mark in proceedings. He died on 13 June 1690 and was buried at St Mary’s, Bruton. In his will he decreed that his estate, excluding his family seat, was to be sold off in order to raise cash for a series of bequests including £500 to his mistress Mary Rutley, and £500 to each of their two sons who also inherited his land in co. Westmeath in Ireland.PCC 213 Dyke.