1644.] OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 79 



Yet he was not so insufficient in &quot;judgment,&quot; but 

 that the royal adept in deception could purpose his 

 eventually superseding the Lord Lieutenant, whom he 

 was thus cajoling meanwhile. 



On the 12th of January, 1644, his Lordship received 

 a Commission under the Great Seal from the King, 

 empowering him to levy any number of men in Ireland 

 and elsewhere, with other considerable powers, requir 

 ing for their exercise a man of 110 ordinary u judgment. &quot; 

 So that when the King wrote one thing, he meant ano 

 ther, for his acts reversed his own statement, and offer 

 -the best proofs of the want of truth, although he might 

 consider himself obliged to adopt this shallow species 

 of subterfuge, in such an emergency. 



The Commission is as follows : 13 



&quot; CHARLES R. 



&quot;Whereas we have had sufficient and ample 

 testimony of your approved wisdom and fidelity, so 

 great is the confidence we repose in you, as that what 

 soever you shall perform, as warranted under our sign- 

 manual, pocket signet, or private mark, or even by 

 word of mouth, without further ceremony, we do on the 

 word of a King and a Christian, promise to make good 

 to all intents and purposes, as effectually as if your 

 authority from us had been under the Great Seal of 

 England, with this advantage, that we shall esteem 

 ourself the more obliged to you for your gallantry, 

 in not standing upon such nice terms to do us service, 

 which we shall, God willing, reward. And although 

 you exceed what law can warrant, or any powers of 

 ours reach unto, as not knowing what you have need 

 of; yet it being for our service, we oblige ourself, not 

 only to give you our pardon, but to maintain the same 



13 Birch and others. 



