Certainly her ladyship had “an eye to the main chance,” nor did she wish her husband to lose credit for one penny that he had sacrificed in the loyalist cause; but even if we allow for considerable exaggeration in her statement and object to six per cent. at “use upon use,” his sacrifices must still have been enormous.
To descend from very great matters to very small, it may be remembered that we found Newcastle having a quiet pipe immediately before the battle of Marston Moor; and, from the following extract from a letter, he evidently intended to solace his retirement at Welbeck by the use of tobacco.[147]
[147] Welbeck MSS., p. 143.
“Francis Topp to the Marquis of Newcastle, at Welbeck.
“1661, November 16. Bristol.
“I send some wine, tobacco, and other commodities, the best that can be had. I shall soon have some excellent tobacco, as many ships are expected every hour from Spain.”
An important post was given by the King to Newcastle, namely, that of Chief Justice in Eyre north of the Trent. Originally Justices in Eyre, or in itinere, were delegated with power from the King’s great Court to visit the counties assigned to them and hear all pleas. Their functions were to protect the King’s interests and to try law-suits and indictments. But the trial of law-suits and criminals by Justices in Eyre had become practically obsolete before Newcastle’s time, and what his duties may have been is somewhat doubtful; very likely they may have been principally honorary or even nominal. They would appear, however, to have included the defence of his large district; for, in 1662 and 1663, there were rumours of disaffection north of the Trent, as the following extracts from letters to Newcastle, among the Welbeck MSS., will show.
“Letter to the Marquis of Newcastle.
“1662, August 6. Tormarton. Every day there is preaching and rumour of rebellion,”—preaching and rebellion seem to have been synonymous at that time—“and until that be over, which I hope will be soon after the dismantling of our neighbour, the city of Gloucester, and others in the west that withstood the late King, then men will buy land, which they will not do now.”