upon the death of lord saye and sele in 1674, norreys replaced him as lord lieutenant of oxfordshire. he first took his seat in the house of lords on 13 april 1675. as befitted his royalist descent and connection with osborne, now earl of danby and lord high treasurer, norreys belonged to the court party, later the tories. it was danby who composed a quarrel between norreys and lord rochester in september 1678 and averted a duel.