[324] Rochester was Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire.

All his little stock of virtue had been expended in his struggle against the strong temptation to sell his religion for lucre.

He was still bound to the court by a pension of four thousand pounds a year; and in return for this pension he was willing to perform any service, however illegal or degrading, provided only that he were not required to go through the forms of a reconciliation with Rome.

He had readily undertaken to manage his county; and he exerted himself, as usual, with indiscreet heat and violence.

But his anger was thrown away on the sturdy squires to whom he addressed himself.