1589. £ _s._ _d._ Paid for erecting a beacon 20 0 0 „ „ powder at Ormskirk for the trayninge 4 0 0 „ „ two days trayninge of 300 soldiers 20 0 0 „ „ 18 rowles of matches 0 10 8 „ to Robert Pilkington at two severall tymes for repayringe and kepinge the beacon at Ryvington Pyke 5 7 4 „ for 210 pounds of powder for the saide two dayes trayninge 14 0 0 Notwithstanding the wars and rumours of wars which were then so common, and notwithstanding the religious excitement created by the persecution, first of the Roman Catholics and then of the Puritans, people seem to have prospered in the county. The towns and villages greatly increased in number, size and importance, and the time of Elizabeth especially witnessed the erection and rebuilding of some of Lancashire's finest halls. The ancient domestic houses which had been the residences of the old feudal lords were now remodelled or entirely swept away, and the subdivision of the land brought out a new class of proprietors, who, though not descended directly from the old owners of the soil, soon took up the rank of gentry, and built for themselves those smaller though not less interesting mansions which at one time were found all over the county. During the Tudor time were built such houses as Speke Hall, near Liverpool; Ordsall Hall, near Manchester; Little Mitton, the home of the Sherburns; Ince Hall, Cleworth Hall, Smithell's Hall, Lostock Hall, Lydiate Hall, Rufford Hall, Belfield Hall, Rawcliffe, Rossal Grange, and a host of others far too numerous to mention. Many of these date back to very early days, and were originally built with a view to make every man's house his castle; but with the end of the sixteenth century other views began to obtain, and an Englishman, for the first time probably in the country's history, commenced to feel that his house was really his castle, and that it was defended for him by the strong arm of the law.