1642.] OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 55 



CHAPTER V. 



LORD HERBERT IN HIS MILITARY CAPACITY. 



THE sad necessities of the times and the perilous posi 

 tion in which his tortuous policy had placed him, 

 obliged Charles the First to court the assistance and 

 presence of the wealthiest among the nobility, than 

 whom none then ranked higher than the Marquis of 

 Worcester, who, as we have seen, his Majesty pressingly 

 sues, through bis son, Lord Herbert, at Nottingham, for 

 still further monetary supplies. 



It is not surprising then to find Lord Herbert, even 

 against his better judgment, considering his tastes, 

 habits and experience, taking an active part in military 

 affairs, and the mailed philosopher actually setting 

 forth as an enthusiastic Cavalier. 



In one of the political tracts of the day, published 

 at Oxford in 1642, the writer gives as a reason for the 

 Marquis of Hertford declining the service in which the 

 King had employed him : &quot; For that the King hath 

 not only given way to the raising of a popish army in 

 the North, but hath granted commission to the Marquis 

 of Worcester, a known papist, to be general of the 

 forces in those parts, where he is ; whose army consists 

 of profest papists.&quot; 90 



As early as 1640, rumours had been falsely circu 

 lated against the Marquis of Worcester, charging him 

 with being concerned in a design to raise a large popish 

 army in Lancashire, as also another in Ireland. In 



90 Somcrs Tracts, vol. iv. p. 459. 



