This Declaration was eagerly adopted, and received in a few hours the signatures of six peers, of five baronets, of six knights, and of many gentlemen of high consideration.

[535] Devonshire meantime, at the head of a great body of friends and dependents, quitted the palace which he was rearing at Chatsworth, and appeared in arms at Derby.

There he formally delivered to the municipal authorities a paper setting forth the reasons which had moved him to this enterprise.

He then proceeded to Nottingham, which soon became the head quarters of the Northern insurrection.

Here a proclamation was put forth couched in bold and severe terms.