1641-1642.] OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 37 



CHAPTER IV. 



HENRY, EARL OF WORCESTER. CREATED MARQUIS OF 



WORCESTER. RAGLAN CASTLE. 



THE general aspect of public affairs in 1641, fore 

 shadowed the coming storm. Charles the First had 

 departed from Whitehall ; civil war raged through the 

 length and breadth of the land, terminating in fearful 

 consequences to the monarch and all his wealthiest 

 loyal supporters. 



On the 2nd of November, 1642, 88 Henry was created 

 Marquis of Worcester, being the first of his family 

 raised to that dignity. He would then be 65 years of 

 age, but does not appear to have enjoyed uniform good 

 health ; he was corpulent in body, possessed a vigorous 

 intellect, and was remarkable for his flow of humour. 

 It is recorded of him, but without reference to any 

 authority for the statement, 4 that he was singular 

 for the custom of wearing a coat of frieze, a coarse 

 narrow cloth much in use ; the term being applied to 

 garments having long wool, then said to be friezed. 

 Sanderson speaks of him as a plain man, especially in 

 his apparel. 



His great wealth enabled him to afford Charles the 

 First early important pecuniary assistance, which, to 

 gether with his great loyalty, although a papist, secured 

 him all that esteem and favour, which the peculiar 

 mental constitution of his royal master, alone best knew 



88 Sandford. 4 Annual Register, 1769. 



