as james ii adopted increasingly forceful pro-catholic policies, many tories found themselves forced to choose between support for the court and support for the established church. abingdon sided with the church: in particular, he took the side of the fellows of magdalen college in their quarrel with the king, which began in the spring of 1687. his division from the court signaled his rapprochement with the borough of oxford: on 16 september 1687, he was unanimously elected high steward of oxford by the corporation, succeeding the duke of buckingham. in october 1687, james ii issued the "three questions" to his lord lieutenants, intended to identify supporters of his programme to remove the legal disabilities against catholics. the lord lieutenants were to address these questions to members of the commission of the peace in their respective counties and remove those hostile to catholic tolerance. abingdon, in a candid exchange with the king, refused to take part in this program. he further offended his master by his continued support for the fellows of magdalen. when they were ejected on 16 november by the ecclesiastical commission, he offered them his hospitality at rycote. this act of defiance was not to be borne, and abingdon was dismissed from the lord-lieutenancy and replaced by his wife's first cousin, the earl of lichfield.