The Lord Bishop of Peterborough,[79] in his ecclesiastical and civil register and chronicle of the period, records the following particulars in reference to the order of proceedings at the Coronation of Charles the Second, April the 23rd, 1661: “The Marquis of Dorchester, the Marquis of Worcester, in their robes, with their coronets in their hands.”
Then as to the homage paid by the nobles; after the oath given by the Archbishop of Canterbury; and other Bishops, saluting the King; among others came up the Marquises of Worcester and Dorchester.
That even at the Restoration the Marquis’s religion presented some obstacles to his progress may be inferred from the resolution of the House of Lords, that the indulgence to be granted to the Roman Catholics should not be extended to the Jesuits. Whereupon that Society drew up a paper, entitled, “Reasons why the Jesuits hope that they should partake of the favours shown to other priests, in taking away the sanguinary laws.” And it is noticed that, “As for noble persons who lost great estates, and endured much hardship for his Majesty, the late Duchess of Buckingham, the late Marquis of Worcester,[O] and the late Earl of Shrewsbury were Penitents of the Society, as other prime nobility yet in being.”[79]
For some reason or other it now became the son’s lot to be committed to the Tower, of which, however, he makes very light, as will be seen by his letter to his Lady announcing his position; which, however, has no other immediate interest than as making us acquainted with the last occurrence of the kind affecting this noble family. He writes:—[P]
“My Dear,
“I have now sent according to your desire to let you know of my being safely arrived at London. I was last night examined, and am now in the Tower. I have already so well satisfied you of my innocence that I am sure my being lodged here cannot fright you, neither can I imagine my restraint should be long, for I think I only owe it to my Lordship. I desire you would not resolve upon your journey hither till you hear further from me, for I hope yet you may lie in, in the country, and not have the trouble of any journey to bring us together. If these hopes fail me, and that I see myself like to continue longer than I can yet fancy, I will let you know it, and send the coach down for your women, and (if you think fit) your children to come up in; to whom in the meantime I send my blessing, and remain
“Your most affectionate husband,
“Herbert.
“Aug. the 20th.
“For my dear wife the Lady Herbert.”
It does not fall within our province to enter particularly into any circumstances relating to Lord Herbert, but it may not be out of place to mention here that, he was then about 23 years of age, and had not long been constituted Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire.