Career
In 1689, Bertie did not choose to stand, and Sir William Yorke, a Whig, was returned alongside Lord Willoughby. In 1690, when Lord Willoughby was called to the House of Lords by writ of acceleration, Peregrine was returned at the ensuing by-election. However, he now showed leanings towards the Whigs, and solicited his half-uncle"s brother-in-law, Honorary
Thomas Wharton, to rally Nonconformists on his behalf.
Peregrine did not obtain his brother"s commission, but was rewarded with a Court appointment in 1692 as Vice-Chamberlain to Queen Mary, after Jack Howe was turned out of office. Despite this, he regularly opposed the administration in Parliament.
He was appointed Vice-Chamberlain of the Household in 1694, perhaps to encourage his loyalty to the Court. Over the next few years, he continued to slowly move into the Whig orbit, and was made a Privy Counsellor in 1695.
The attainder of Sir John Fenwick in 1697 placed Bertie under severe political strain.
Most of the Bertie family opposed the attainder. While it is unclear exactly what role Peregrine took, his conduct was sufficiently lukewarm to earn the severe displeasure of King William. His office as Vice-Chamberlain was saved through the intercession of Sunderland, the Chamberlain, but the incident appears to have stimulated him to complete his transition from Tory to Whig.
He did not stand for re-election in Boston in 1698, perhaps partly due to tensions with his father, who remained a Tory.
(Lindsey remained a Tory, however)
In 1706, he exchanged offices with Thomas Coke, receiving the sinecure of a Teller of the Exchequer. Bertie died of apoplexy in 1711.