And, while thou rests thy wearied limbs, look back
Upon this Pageant, th’ Emblem of his mind,
Whose Art and skill hath this our Age refin’d.
Small drops of Rain contend with Noah’s Flood;
One weighs a thousand coming down apace,
Weighs but himself when he hath run his race.
To see such Streams by so small Forces rais’d.
Great is the Work, but greater is the Fame
Of that great Peer who did invent the same.
His long Experience, Cost and Charges, teach;
What Greeks, nor Romans e’re could do, this day,
Our Noble Britain here hath found the way.
Your Glories current run a bigger stream;
But Art and Envy meeting face to face,
Like France and Spain, dispute who shall take place.
From th’ Honour due to such a noble Act:
On then, that after-ages may relate
Your Service done to Country, King and State.
Your noble Deeds are so well known to all,
As if their malice should take from your praise,
Your own deserts will crown your head with Bays.
By your Lordships
most humble and faithful Servant,
James Rollock.
APPENDIX D.
[Among the Family Papers in the possession of His Grace the Duke of Beaufort is the following:—Letter from Walter Travers, a Roman Catholic Priest, to the Dowager Marchioness of Worcester.]
Jesus + Mīa, September 6, 1670.
Noble Madam—
The Grace of the Holy-ghost bee with you.
The greate esteeme and honour wch I have euer had for your Ladysp hath allwaise made mee prompt, and willing to serue you to the best of my power, without the bias of selfe interest, as your selfe can witnesse; And because I feare that at present, your Honour hath noe one, that in the greate concernes, which you have in hand, will tell you the truth, as it often happens to persons of greate quality: I have thought it the part of my Priestly function and fidelity towards yor Hor: (haveing first in my poore prayers, humbly commended it to Alm: God) to represent unto you, that wch all your friends know to bee true, as well as my selfe, and would bee willing that your Ladysp should know it likewise.
Alm: God hath Madam put you into a happey, and florishing condition, fitt and able to serue God, and to doe much good to your selfe and others; and your Ladysp makes your selfe unhappey, by seeming not to bee contented with your condition but troubling your spiritts with many thoughts of attayning to greater dignityes and riches.
Madam all those that wish you well, are greeued to see your Ladysp to bee allready soe much disturbed, and weakened in your iudgment and in danger to loose the right use of your reason, if you doe not tymely endeauor to preuent it, by ceasing to goe one with such high designes, as you are vppon, which I declare to you, in the faith of a Priest to bee true: The cause of your present distemper, and of the aforesayed danger, is doubtlesse, that your thoughts and imagination are very much fixed on the title of Plantaginet, and of disposing your selfe for that greate dignity by getting of greate sums of money from the King, to pay your deceased Lords debts, and enriching your selfe by the great Mashine, and the like. Now Madam how vnproper such undertakeings are for your L. and how vnpossible for you to effect them, or any one of them, all your friends can tell you if the please to discover the trueth to you.
The ill effects that flow from hence are many: as the danger of looseing your health and iudgment by such violent application of your fancies in such high designes and ambitious desires; the probability of offending Alm. God and preiudising your owne soule thereby: the advantage you may thereby give to those who desire to make a pray of your fortune, and to rayse themselues by ruening you: the spending greate sums of money in rich and sumptuous things, whch are not suteable to the gravity of your Ladysp and present condition of Widdow-hoode and mourning for your deceased Lord.
Although it bee certine, that it is a greate temptation which you are now vnder, and very dangerous and hurtfull both to your temporall and eternall happynesse; yett I confisse that the Divel, to make his suggestion the more preualent, doth make vse of some motives that seeme plausible, as of paying your Lords debs, of founding monasteryes, and the like, and that your Ladysp hath the Kings favour to carry one your designes. But Madam it is certine that the King is offended with your comeing to the Court, and much more with your pretention to the title of Plantaginet; and it is dangerous to provoke him any farther: And for paying of debts, and founding of Monasteryes, wee all know that your L. can neuer bee in a better condition to doe it, then now you are; and as you are not bound to doe such things, soe they are not expected from you; but wee all applaud your pious inclinations herein, of wch you will not loose the merit with Alm: God but our apprehensions are, least you should by your Ladysps inordinate designes, bring your selfe into such a condition, as not to bee able to helpe your friends nor your selfe.
Bee pleased Madam now to give mee leave to suggest some waie how the approching dangers may bee prevented, by changing the object of your affections, and insteede of temporall, to seeke after eternall riches, and honors, which your age doth assure you are not far off; for wch you may dispose yourselfe, before death comes, by retiring into the countrey for some tyme, from the distractions of the Court, where you may have the advice and directions of some learned Priest, in whose vertue you may wholey confide, and bee guided by him, for your internall quiet and security. Many places may soone be found out, that are fitt for that purpose: At Hammersmith Mrs. Bedingfield a very vertuous and discreete person, and of your Ladysps acquaintance, hath lately taken a faire house and garden, & hath but a small family. In some such place your Hor might likewise haue the aduice of some well experienced Doctor, for the health of your person, and the benefitt of good ayre and of quietness, would much conduce to your health: And soe by Alm. Gods blessing, you may recover from that most pernicious distemper of bodey and mind, vnto wch euery one seese you to bee very neere approaching, and may live many yeares with your owne fortune and dignity in greate honour, and happynesse and be the author of many good workes of piety and Charity to the glorey of God and eternall saluation of your owne soule. Thus dear Madam I have ventured to declare a greate trueth to you, wch was before a secrett only to your selfe; I know that I run the hazard of incurring your displeasure, if your Ladysp should not reade the candor of my intentions, wch in my Letter I intend towards you: but my assurance of haveing herein performed a duty wch I owe to my God, and the hope I have that you will take it well as I intend it, have encouraged mee to doe it, and to subscribe myselfe
Honored Madam
Your humb. Ser. in C. J.
Walt. Travers.
[On the back of this letter is the address:]
For ye Right Honble,
the Lady markes of wossester,
at her howes in Link[olns]
ins fields.
APPENDIX E.
COLONEL CHRISTOPHER COPLEY.
Sufficient has been said respecting Copley in the “Life, Times, &c.,” pages 214, 215, to give interest to any matter that can afford information respecting him.
We here supply his autograph, from MSS. in the British Museum, which may be useful to collectors; and have also to offer the account he gives of himself and his affairs during the Commonwealth, derived from Cole’s MSS. also in the British Museum, No. 5832, volume 31, page 209, as follows:—
I. (The following Case, wrote on half a sheet of paper, and was the first draught as seems to me, by the alterations and scratchings out of several words, and additions over them. I know not how I came by it.)
Col. Christopher Copley his Case.
Humbly sheweth,
That the said Colonel Copley did, in the year 1642, at his own charge raise a troop, and in 1644, a regiment of Horse, and supplied the Parliament with Bar-iron and Bullets, which with other things due amounted to the value of £1,843, whereof £1,500 was granted unto him as by an order of the 19th of July 1656, may at large appear; but is still unpaid.
That during the greatest part of the years 1644, and 1645, he had the command and care of several regiments of Horse, and by the blessing of God upon his conduct and resolution, several pieces of service were done, and victories obtained, whereby diverse of the counties of England were settled in peace, to the great advantage of the nation.
That the Committees of all ridings of the county of York did, in approbation of his service and fidelity, elect him to be Colonel of the West-riding Regiment of Horse in 1645; and the Parliament, by their letter, under the hand of the Rt honble. Mr. Speaker, did also assure him, that they would be ready upon all occasions to testify their sense of his service; and did after, in 1647, appoint him to be one of the nine, who by their vote, were to command the nine regiments of Horse then only to be continued for the defence of this nation.
That by reason of the premisses the Earl of Newcastle caused his wife and children to be turned out of doors, and his house, lands, goods, and stock at four Iron Works to be taken from him, to the value of £2,000; for which he never had any recompense.
That Lieutt.-Genl. Cromwell finding the said Colonel Copley would not become subservient to his ambitious ends (which then were under the curtain, but since discovered) caused him to be undeservedly questioned upon articles (which before he had waived), and after he had fully cleared himself, did, notwithstanding his said service, contributions and sufferings, cause him to be put out of the Catalogue presented to be continued in 1647; whereby his regiment was taken from him, and given to Colonel Lambert, contrary to the said vote; the Parliament, as is conceived, not then remembering it, nor their engagement by their letter afore-mentioned.
That though he thus lost his command, yet he did not resist (as others of late) but acquiesced in the pleasure of the house, and submitted shortly after to a Commonwealth Government set up; yet hath been kept out of all employment, both civil and military ever since; to his reproach and the ruin of his estate, contrary to the declaration of the 20th January 1643, while he hath seen many others (who never at all, or not considerably, either served or contributed to, or suffered for the Parliament) from mean conditions, preferred to, and continued in great commands and employments by their compliances with the many changes of this evil age, and the lusts of ambitious men, to the hazard of the ruin of this Commonwealth.
That he did disapprove of the usurpations of the Protectoral, and the longings after the regal power; but when the Parliament was invited to return to the discharge of their trust, and were about the restitution of the commands to such, as by the usurpations were dispossessed, he tendered his service. And after the late interruption, he declared his readiness to raise a regiment, and to run the hazard of his life and fortune, to reduce the army to the Parliament’s obedience; and received a Commission to that end.
His humble request, therefore, is, that your Honours will be pleased upon due consideration of the premisses to confer upon him his own regiment of Horse, late under the command of the said Colonel Lambert, and now about 12 years withheld from him, according to the justice of his case above-mentioned, or some other command or civil employment in England or Ireland, suitable to his former, and to the merit of his fidelity and affections to the Parliament, expressed in the premisses.
This is a true copy of the last:
That since the good Providence hath put the power into your hand, your Excy. will be pleased upon due consideration of the Premisses, to confer upon him a command in England or Ireland, suitable to his former, and to the merit of his fidelity and affections to the Parliament expressed in the Premisses.
II. In the 4th Volume of the Journals of the House of Commons for 1644 to 1646, on the 20th October, 1645, is reported—“A letter from * * 18th October, 1645— * * relating the great success of the Parliament’s forces (about 1,200), under the command of Colonel Copley, near Ferrybriggs, over near 2,000 of the enemy, under the command of Digby.”
And in the 5th Volume, 1646 to 1648, on the 18th May, 1647, was read—“A Certificate from the Earl of Manchester, of the 20th February, 1646, concerning iron belonging to Mr. Copley and his Partners, made use of by the forces under his command.”
On referring to the Journals of the House of Lords, we find that on the 8th of July, 1648, there was a message from the House of Commons, and an order desiring their Lordships’ concurrence; being among other matters—“An Ordinance for £4,324. 9s.—to Colonel Christopher Copley,” which was entered and agreed to. (See Vol. X., 1647 to 1648, pages 369 and 371.)
APPENDIX F.
Copy of Cromwell’s Warrant, and Inventory of eight copies of Papers relating to the Marquis of Worcester, in the possession of Bennet Woodcroft, Esq. F.R.S.
1655. A Warrant to pay Three pounds a week to Edward Earl of Worcester, for his better maintenance, &c. Given by the Lord Protector, as follows:—[See page 213.]
A Warrant to pay Three pounds a week to Ye Earl of Worcester.
Lord Protector, &c. To the Comrs of our Treasury Greetinge our will and pleasure is and wee doe hereby require and comand you or any Two or more of you That out of such our Treasure as is or shalbe remayninge in the reciept of our Excheqr you pay or cause to bee paid vnto Edward Earle of Worcester or his Assignes thee weekly allowance of Three pounds (heretofore charged on the Treāry att Goldsmiths Hall) for his better maintenance the said weekly allowance to bee continued vntil wee shall give other order to the contrary And our further will and pleasure is that you also pay or cause to bee paid forthwith vnto the said Earle or his Assignes out of our Treasure remayninge in or said reciepts the arreares of the said allowance of Three pounds by the weeke from the eight day of January last past vntill which dayes the Treārs of Goldsmiths hall have certified the same to have been satisfied out of the Treāry there And theis presents or the inrollemt thereof shalbe a sufficient Warrant and discharge aswell to you the said Comrs of our Treāry as to all others our Officers and Ministers of the Receipt of or Excheq. to whome it doth or shall any wayes apperteine for paymt of the said weekly Allowance and the arreares thereof as aforesaid Witnes the Lord Protector the six and twentith of June.
[1655 Pat. Roll, part 4, No. 30.]
1660. A Pardon granted to Edward Marquesse of Worcester of all such offences, &c. &c. as are expressed in the form of a pardon prepared for that purpose and remaining with His Majesty’s Attorney General. Dated August, 1660.
1664–5. Grant to Edward Marquesse and Earle of Worcester of all sums of money, jewels, goods, and other matters and things of value concealed or accounted for and arising out of the real and personal estate of the said Edward Earl and Marquesse of Worcester and of his Father Henry late Marquiss of Worcester or belonging to the same and which by the laws of the kingdom are forfeited and belong to the Crown.
1664–5. Grant and release to Edward Marquis of Worcester of the tenth part of the benefits accruing from his Water-commanding engine settled upon the Crown, such Grant or release being in consideration of the surrender of the Warrant of Charles I. dated at Oxford, 5th January, 1644, made unto said Edward Marquis of Worcester by the name of Lord Herbert for the grant of lands to the value of £40,000, &c. &c.
1670–71. Letters Patent to Henry Marquis of Worcester, remitting payment of certain sums due to the Crown at the time of the death of his Father Edward Marquis of Worcester.
1673. Letters Patent relating to constitution of Peverill Court and appointing Henry Marquis of Worcester and Charles Lord Herbert and Arthur Lord Somerset (sons of the Marquis) Chief Seneschals and Simon Degge Seneschal of said Court.
1675–6. Letters Patent to Henry Marquis of Worcester, granting to him the Manor of Wondey in the County of Monmouth.
1675–6. Letters Patent to Henry Marquis of Worcester conceding the advowson &c. of the Rectory of Sapworth or Sopworth in Wiltshire in exchange for that of Blendworth in the County of Southampton.
1678. Commission of Lunacy to inquire whether Margaret Dowager Marchioness of Worcester is a Lunatic, &c.
APPENDIX G.
VAUXHALL WORKS, AND CASPAR KALTOFF.
I.
The Honourable Robert Boyle, corresponding with Samuel Hartlib, the latter, under date “Duke’s Place, July 24th, 1649,” writes—“As for Vauxhall, there is a proviso put into the Act, that it shall not be sold.”
And in another letter, dated “May 8th, 1654,” Hartlib says—“The Earl of Worcester is buying Vaux-hall from Mr. Trenchard, to bestow the use of that house upon Gaspar Calehof and his son, as long as they shall live.” [Works, fol. 1744, Vol. V., pp. 257 and 264.]
II.
The annexed particulars of the premises at Vauxhall, where the Marquis of Worcester erected one of his Water-commanding Engines, and of Kalthoff and his family, are derived from the Books of the Duchy of Cornwall Office.
1.—Duchy of Cornwall Office.
From Index to Reports—1660–1684. A to P. 1. Kennington* (Surry).
Peter Jacobson.
*Kennington (Foxhall House) 26th Oct., 1666. His Majesty’s Warrant directed to Lord Treasurer Southampton and Lord Ashley, to grant Mr. Jacobson a Lease for his life at a moderate rent, he having expended the sum of £700. on the Premises in making them convenient for the Trade of a Sugar Baker.—
Fo. 218.
Surveyor General’s Constat [or Direction] on the Warrant of Lord Ashley, Chancellor of Exchequer, enters minutely into every particular of the premises, showing in what manner the whole has been occupied, and reports the value per annum, and the value for a fine, &c.
Fo. 219.
[***Jacobson married Kaltoff’s daughter.]
2.—Martha Calthoff.
The Widow of Gaspar Calthoff (a native of Holland, who had settled in this House by his Attorney, and employed in making Guns and divers Engines and works for the King’s service). Her Petition and case at large. Here Sir Charles Harbard also enters into a very minute detail of the premises in question.
Fo. 326.
3.—Duchy of Cornwall Office.
Report H. 1.1665–1668.
(Signed)Charles R.
Vauxhall, Peter Jacobson.
[By his Petition—has been at a Charge of £700. in repairing and building a part of Vauxhall, which was waste, and made the same convenient for a Sugar Baker, the said J.’s profession—in con. of his charges—and losses by the late fire at London—desires some certainty of the Premises.—Our pleasure to grant a Lease to P. J. of that part of Vauxhall which he hath repaired and built for his trade of a Sugar Baker—for the term of his life—at some moderate Rental. Whitehall, 26th Oct. 1666. 18th year of reign.]
4.—Duchy of Cornwall Office.
Report H. 1.1665–68.
[Report of the Surveyors General C. Harbard and Hugh May, dated 25th and 27th April, 1668, respecting Foxhall House, parcel of the Manor of Kennington and Duchy of Cornwall.]
*** This is already quoted in the “Life, Times, &c.,” page 239.
5.—Duchy of Cornwall Office.
Particulars of a Lease in the form of Letters Patent.
22nd March, 1667–68. Letters Patent whereby the King demised unto Peter Jacobson—
All that part of our Mansion House called Vauxhall or Ffoxhall, part of the Manor of Kennington, in the County of Surrey, extending in length next the River Thames 186 feet, or thereabout, and in width 22 feet, or thereabout; and all that other part of the same Mansion House adjoining the premises, and from thence extending towards the S.E. 47 feet, and in width N.W. 33½; feet, or thereabout, and in other parts 24¼ feet, or thereabout; together with all that area or place adjoining and fenced in, extending in length 141½ feet, or thereabout, and in width to the W. end 40 feet, and to the S. end 47 feet, or thereabout, together with free ingress and egress in and through the steps and doors existing at the N. end of the aforesaid house, and through and over the area there, called the Court-yard, appertaining to the aforesaid House, and all that Stable lately built upon part of the said place or area last mentioned, consisting in length 28½ feet, or thereabout, and in width 17 feet, or thereabout; also that shed 26 by 10 feet—premises in or near the Parish of Lambeth, and now in the tenure or occupation of Peter Jacobson * *.
This Lease granted in consideration of the expense incurred in repairing and amending the buildings for and during his natural life, at a Rental of only £5.
6.—Duchy of Cornwall Office.
Mem. from various Drafts.
12th January, 1659–60.—Ch. II.
Indenture of Lease between the King’s Majesty and Henry Lord Moore.
22nd March, 1667–8.—19th Ch. II.
Letters Patent—The King unto Peter Jacobson. To hold during the natural life of P. J. Rent £5.
1st Aug. 1672.—24th Ch. II.
Letters Patent whereby the King from grace and favour towards Jasper Calthoff and Martha Calthoff lately deceased, and their children, devised unto Herbert Price, Knight and Baronet, James Read, Esq., and John Renny, Gentleman, at the nomination and appointment of Claude Denis and Catherine his wife, one of the daughters of the said Jasper Calthoff and Martha his wife.
Jasper Calthoff and Isabel Calthoff, others of the sons and daughters of the said Jasper and Martha Calthoff.
*** Then there would be also Peter Jacobson, the son-in-law, who married a daughter.
7. The following particulars are derived from the Records of the State Paper Office:—
State Papers. Vol. 142, No. 134.
Martha Kalthof and Peter Jacobson’s Petition.
To the King’s most excellent Majesty.
The Humble Petition of Martha, widow of Caspar Kalthof, and Peter Jacobson, her son-in-law.
Showeth,
That the said Martha is the distressed widow of the said Caspar, your Majesty’s and your Royal father’s old servant. That he was planted by your Majesty’s most gracious father in Vauxhall, and had building therein erected for the exercise of his art and feat as Ingineur [engineer].
That your Majesty upon your happy Restoration resettled him in the said house, after he had been long turned out of doors by the great Traitor and Usurper.
That in this ejection her husband was plundered and bereaved of an estate near £3,000. sterling, and left with 4 children, some whereof were infants.
That being reinstated by your Majesty as aforesaid, he was naked and without means to prefer his daughter grown up, but upon the trust of your Majesty’s grace, did dispose of one of his daughters to the Petitioner, Peter Jacobson, but without any other portion than the firm hopes of your Majesty’s continued grace and Royal goodness.
That in consideration the Petitioner, Peter Jacobson, did bestow in making the building of that house for his calling of sugar-baking near the sum of £700. sterling.
That now, on the death of his said father-in-law, he is left at your Majesty’s mercy for his continuance in this house to the Petitioner Martha’s subsistence and her other two daughters preferment, [which] depends wholly upon the said Peter Jacobson his enjoyment of the said house for perfecting his work, and refunding his said great expences. And although your Majesty hath been graciously pleased to design the son of the said Caspar to succeed this office and service, yet forasmuch as he is held up by the Emperor of Russia, the Petitioners are both under great fears without your Majesty’s special grace and clemency.
Their most humble Petition therefore and only hope is that your Majesty will be graciously pleased in contemplation of both their desolate otherwise, and truly sad condition, to grant them such terms of years in the said house, as may in some measure repair the estate of the said widow to provide of the maintenance of herself and preferment of her two orphan daughters, and enable the Petitioner Peter, her son-in-law, by holding the said Sugar-house some certain term of years to have recompense of his said expense of £700. bestowed upon your Majesty’s grounds, which he will leave after in good repair to the improvement of your Majesty’s interest.
And your Petitioners as in duty bound shall ever with theirs pray, &c.
[See Col. State Papers, Dom. Series, 1665–66, edited by Mrs. M. A. E. Green. 8vo. 1864. p. 153, No. 134.]
[Vol. 102, No. 13. Sept. 5. Whitehall. Warrant from Secretary Bennet. (Ent. Book 16, p. 220.)]
It is his Majesty’s pleasure that Sir Herbert Price, Sir Paul Neal, and Sir Robert Murray, being attended by Mr. Gervase Price, his Majesty’s Serjeant Trumpeter, do visit Foxhall, and there enquire by whom the several rooms in it are possessed, and particularly what belongs to the Marquis of Worcester, what to Gaspar Collthoffe, late deceased, and what their respective interests in the Engines, Tools, &c. remaining in that place are, hearing on the one part the Lord John Somerset; and on the other the widow of the said Colthoff, and his son-in-law, and any persons relating to them, of all which the said persons above mentioned are to give an account to his Majesty in writing. Whitehall, September 5, 1664.
Henry Bennet.
[See Cal. State Papers, Dom. Series, 1664–65. Edited by Mrs. M. A. E. Green. 8vo. 1863. p. 2. No. 13.]
APPENDIX H.
APOCRYPHAL PASSAGES.
Statements that have at various times been published as matters of fact relating to the personal history of the Marquis of Worcester.
1. The Pot-lid Story.—No account of the Marquis’s great discovery has hitherto been considered complete without relating what is usually offered as a traditional anecdote of its origin. The latest publication, in a popular form, occurs in “A History of Wonderful Inventions,” where its interest is enhanced by a neatly executed engraving. It relates that, at the conclusion of the Civil War, the Marquis “hastened over to France, where, after spending some time at the court of the exiled royal family of England, he returned to this country as their secret agent, but being detected, was confined a prisoner in the Tower.” It is said that during this imprisonment, “while he was engaged one day in cooking his own dinner, he observed the lid of the pot was continually being forced upwards by the vapour of the boiling water contained in the vessel. Being a man of thoughtful disposition, and having, moreover, a taste for scientific investigation, he began to reflect on the circumstance, when it occurred to him that the same power which was capable of raising the iron cover of the pot might be applied to a variety of useful purposes; and on obtaining his liberty, he set to work to produce a practical exposition of his ideas on the subject in the shape of an acting machine, which he described in his work”—the “Century.”
Every writer varies this story in its details. Here the compiler, drawing on his imagination, certifies to the Marquis being his own cook, providing his own dinner, and verifies the pot-lid being of iron. Disraeli and others vaguely state it to have been his meal that was being prepared in his presence, saying nothing whether the pot was brass, copper, or iron. The Tower must have had a large supply of these cooking utensils to meet the wants of its prisoners!
The story reminds one of that of the Three Black Crows related by Addison in The Spectator, for like it this “pot-lid” story may after all have originated in some lecture or conversation, in which the speaker indulged his fancy by venturing the statement as what might appear to him a feasible suggestion, and one calculated to render the matter interesting and impressive. Had it happened at all it must have occurred from 1652 to 1654; but the “pot-lid” story, in another form, was current in 1597, when Lord Bacon, in his Essays, alluding to the origin of Inventions, remarks:—“It should seem, that hitherto men are rather beholding to a wild goat for surgerie, or to a nightingale for music, or to the ibis for some part of physic, or to the pot-lid that flew open for artillery, or generally to chance, or anything else, than to logic for the invention of Arts and Sciences.” The third edition of these Essays was published at Oxford in 1633, and from so popular a source it was natural for the vulgar to take the suggestive idea of the “pot-lid” to account for the origin of the steam engine, rather than to assign the birth of that gigantic production to a natural process of inductive reasoning.
2. Unfounded Charge of Forgery.—Thomas Carte, son of the Rev. Samuel Carte, born in Warwickshire, was baptized there by immersion, 23rd of April, 1686. In 1722, being accused of high treason, he fled to France, but returning in 1728–30, he, in 1735, published the third volume of his “Life of the Duke of Ormonde.” Among other matters, Nichols, in his “Literary Anecdotes,” Vol. IX., 1815, observes: “In an unpublished letter to Dr. Z. Grey, dated May 14, 1736, he says—‘I suppose you have read that volume [the 3rd], and seen there the letters relating to the Earl of Glamorgan, who certainly forged every commission he pretended to from the King.[D] I give you his character in the History very justly, but yet too tenderly drawn, because I am naturally unwilling to lay a load on any man’s memory, except I am absolutely forced to it. I intimate (so strongly that nobody of common sense can mistake the thing) that he forged letters and commissions without number; and I could have produced the compiler of the Nuncio’s memoirs in evidence (who had all those commissions before his eyes, and all the papers signed by Glamorgan to the Nuncio), to prove the commissions and letters he pretended to from King Charles absolutely forged; for he says he was perfectly acquainted with Glamorgan’s secretary, and knew his handwriting as well as his own; and all those commissions and letters were wrote in the hand of an Irish priest, who was Glamorgan’s secretary.’”
After further remarks to the same effect, he concludes, “In fine, I have not the least doubt but that Glamorgan forged every pretended power or commission he had; and all of them so fully express his vanity, and are so adapted to his present views (which in most cases could not arise till after he was in Ireland), that they could have no other author but himself. I must observe to you that this letter, being directed to the Nuncio, is the only original of the King’s writing among his papers (for Glamorgan only gave him copies translated of the others); and whatever commission, or other power, instructions, or letters, Glamorgan pretended to the Nuncio to have from the King, must be in a hand agreeable to that which the Nuncio had as an original.”
The Editor properly notes here: “If Glamorgan only gave copies translated of the other commissions, it is no great wonder that they should be written in his secretary’s hand.”
In the same work is the following inquiry from a correspondent: “I never met with anybody but Mr. Thomas Carte who talked of Impartiality and Mr. Thomas Carte in the same breath. But, waiving that question, I cannot help asking—If the Irish Rebellion, and all the mischiefs of that period, are to be attributed to commissions and powers forged by the soi-disant Earl of Glamorgan, what pretence is there for laying all the load and odium thereof upon the Parliament?”
A thin quarto volume of MSS., in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, entitled “Notes on Carte’s History,” contains a note from Mr. Birch, dated 2nd February, 1742–3, to Rev. Mr. Thomas Carte; also, “The full answer to the Bystander, compared with the History of the Life of James Duke of Ormonde, written by the same author, September, 1742;” likewise several letters from Rev. J. Boswell, Taunton; and lastly, the following MS. letter:—
“Sir,—I am very much concerned to find by your last letter that you have received such a message from Mrs. Carte. I persuade myself she would think me entitled to the greatest civility from her, if she was apprised of the friendship which subsisted between me and her late husband. I took no small pains for several years to serve poor Mr. Carte, and had the satisfaction of such a valuable correspondence with him as entitled him to every good office that I could do him. In 1748 I laid before him The Case of the Royal Martyr considered with candour, and he was so good as to approve of it, and earnestly pressed me to print it. In the course of our correspondence I mentioned some difficulties which I had met with in that work, and particularly in relation to some facts which had been misrepresented in a book entitled An Enquiry into the share which King Charles, &c. Mr. Carte, in a series of letters which he favoured me with on that subject, gave me many valuable Notices, which were of great use to me in clearing up those difficulties, and which I have occasionally availed myself of in many parts of my work. It is likely Mrs. Carte may have found copies of those letters, some of which were very long. But as Mr. Carte first sent them to me professedly with design that I should make what use of them I thought proper, I leave Mrs. Carte to consider, whether her finding such copies of letters in her late husband’s own handwriting will give her a claim to any part of my work which you have printed. If Mrs. Carte shall choose to write to me on this affair, I shall be glad to receive a letter from her directed under cover to you.
I am, yours &c.,
The Author of The Case of the Royal Martyr, &.”
July 25th, 1754.
(It has no direction, and the writing is evidently not that of the Rev. J. Boswell, of Taunton.)
Dr. Birch was at variance with Mr. Carte on historical points relating to Charles the First and the Earl of Glamorgan; but in his “Inquiry,” 1756, he never touches on the subject of this pretended forgery of commissions. The charge is every way discreditable to Carte, being a mere theory of his own to give colour to the King’s representations made in public, although well known to have had no effect to alienate old friendship between the King and the Earl.
3. Fanshawe’s story of £8,000. raised in Ireland. Lady Fanshawe’s Memoirs, 1665, written by herself, were printed in London, 1829. In an introductory memoir we are informed:—
“On receiving orders from his Majesty [Charles II.] to deliver the seals to Lord Inchiquin, Mr. Fanshawe proceeded on his mission, and embarked with his wife at Galway, in February, 1650, on board a Dutch ship for Malaga. Their entry into Galway, (which had been devastated by the plague), is deserving of attention, and an anecdote, which is related of the conduct of the Marquis of Worcester to the merchants of that town, if true, reflects equal disgrace on the cause which he espoused and on his memory.”
Writing in Ireland, about 1650, as appears from the context, Lady Fanshawe says:—“Our house was very clean, only one maid in it besides the master; we had a very good supper provided and being very weary went early to bed. The owner of this house entertained us with the story of the last Marquis of Worcester, who had been there sometime the year before: he had of his own and other friends’ jewels to the value of £8,000, which some merchants had lent upon them. My Lord appointed a day for receiving the money upon them and delivering the jewels; being met, he shows them all to these persons, then seals them up in a box, and delivered them to one of these merchants, by consent of the rest, to be kept for one year, and upon the payment of the £8,000 by my Lord Marquis to be delivered him.
“After my Lord had received the money, he was entertained at all these persons’ houses, and nobly feasted with them near a month: he went from thence to France. When the year was expired, they, by letters into France, pressed the payment of this borrowed money several times, alleging they had great necessity of their money to drive their trade with, to which my Lord Marquis made no answer, which did at last so exasperate these men, that they broke open the seals, and opening the box found nothing but rags and stones for their £8,000, at which they were highly enraged, and in this case I left them.”
The least acquaintance with the character of the Marquis must satisfy any one of the absurdity of this silly story, fastened on a man of stainless honour, by an obscure lodging-house keeper. The man who related it could never have imagined that Lady Fanshawe would place on record the story he was relating for her amusement, as an historical fact, or he might have shown more discretion than her Ladyship, by affording some authority for a statement of so scandalous a character.
4. Pretended interview between the Marquis of Worcester and De Caus in the Bicêtre, Paris.—This fiction was long supported by a forged letter, pretended to have been written in February, 1641, by Marion Delorme, addressed to M. de Cinq-Mars. An exposure of this fable is due to M. Figuier, in his “Principales Découvertes Scientifiques Modernes,” post octavo, 4 volumes, 1862. After quoting the fabricated document, he says:—“Cette pièce, fabriquée par un mystificateur hardi, eut un succès prodigieux, et l’on ne manqua pas de dire que le marquis de Worcester, à qui ses compatriotes attribuent la découverte de la machine à vapeur, en avait puisé l’idée dans sa conversation avec le fou de Bicêtre. On pouvait cependant élever contre l’authenticité de cet écrit quelques objections qui ne manquent pas de solidité. On pouvait faire remarquer, entre autres choses, que Salomon de Caus, mort en 1630, aurait pu difficilement être enfermé en 1641 dans un hôpital de fous; que Bicêtre était alors une commanderie de Saint-Louis, où l’on donnait asile à d’anciens militaires, et non un hôpital;—que Salomon de Caus n’avait jamais pensé à construire une machine utilisant les effets méchaniques de la vapeur;—enfin qu’il n’avait jamais reçu que de bons offices de la part de Richelieu puisque dans la dédicase de son livre, La practique et démonstration des horloges il exprime sa reconnaissance pour les bontés du cardinal. Mais le public n’y regarde pas de si près, et bien de gens ne renoncent pas sans douleur à la bonne fortune historique d’un homme de génie mourant à l’hôpital. Un sujet si bien trouvé revenait de droit aux ouvres de l’imagination et de l’art. On a vu, à l’une des expositions du Louvre, un tableau de l’un de nos peintres, M. Lecurieux, dans lequel Salomon de Caus, enfermé à Bicêtre, est représenté les yeux caves et la barbe hérissée, tendant les mains, à travers les barreux de sa prison, au couple brillant de Marion Delorme et du marquis. La lithographie et la gravure ont consacré à l’envi ce préjugé historique, le théâtre[E] et de roman l’ont exploité, de telle sorte que l’architecte normand tient aujourd’ hui sa place à côté de Galilée et de Christophe Colomb sur la liste des hommes de génie persécutés et méconnus. Jusques à quand cette légende de fabrication moderne usurpera-t-elle le titre de fait historique?” [Pages 32, 33.]
5. A Scotch view of the “Century.” In Blackwood’s Magazine, Vol. 6, 1820, p. 655, a correspondent, under the signature of J. C., in an article dated Manchester, February 8, 1820, “On Sir Thomas Urquhart’s Jewell,” declares:—“I have good reason [?] to believe, Sir Thomas was the real author of that singular production, ‘A century of names and scantlings of inventions,’ the credit or discredit of which was dishonestly [?] assumed by the Marquis of Worcester.”
Mr. Hugh Miller, in his “Scenes and Legends of the North of Scotland,” 12mo. Edin. 1835, has enlarged on this speculative view with amusing fervour. He says:—“If intrinsic evidence be allowed to weigh anything, either this little tract [the “Century”] was written by Sir Thomas; or, what is much less probable, the world, nay, the same age and island, have produced two Sir Thomases. Some little weight, too, may be attached to the fact, that many of his manuscripts were lost in the city of Worcester, near which place, judging from the Title, it is probable the Marquis resided [!]; and that the “Century of Names” was not published until 1663, two years after death had disarmed poor Sir Thomas of his sword and his pen, and rendered him insensible to both his country’s honour and his own. If in reality the author of this piece, he must be regarded, it is said, as the prime inventor of the steam engine.”
APPENDIX I.
PETITION.
[At page 284 of the “Life” is a copy of an undated letter, which may have been one addressed to the Duke of Albemarle. The Marquis speaks of the neglect of two petitions, which may be the one given at page 282, and the present petition, to the matter of both of which the annexed letter from the Duke of Albemarle may refer. It would thus appear that his petitions lay neglected for two months.]
State Papers.
Vol. 152, No. 82. Petition of the Marquis of Worcester.
To the King’s most excellent Majesty,
The Petition of Edward Earl and Marquis of Worcester.
That the Petitioner having with great loyalty expended and lost his whole fortune (being very considerable) for the interest of the Crown, and public services whereby he is reduced to that deplorable condition through his debts and wants, that he is not capable to eat bread of his own, or allow himself the freedom of the streets, being deprived hereof through the clamour of his creditors, whose moneys were really borrowed for the use, and on the desire of your Majesty’s royal father of blessed memory, your sacred Majesty [sic] and for advancing public services to the general good of the kingdom and security of your Royal person and dignity, of which the Petitioner hath paid above £35,000 since your Majesty’s happy restoration, besides many former sums lent and expended, for which it is humbly presumed your sacred Majesty (when rightly informed) will have particular regard to release and to pay such great acts of loyalty as the Petitioner can make appear, as well for justice as an encouragement for all loyal subjects hereafter to expose themselves and fortunes at any rate for your Royal interest, as the Petitioner hath without precedent, truly and really done in many eminent particular services, too tedious to trouble your Majesty with, being more fit to be heard and prepared by some of your Majesty’s most honourable privy Council, who are the most proper advisers in such cases, whose report and advice in this matter to your Majesty may prove a redemption to the Petitioner, a royal exoneration to your Majesty, and a great encouragement to all good subjects for the future, to expose themselves as the Petitioner hath done, for your Majesty’s less trouble and better understanding of the premisses, and what shall be made appear concerning the same.
The Petitioner’s most humble request is, that your Majesty will be graciously pleased to recommend and refer the Petitioner to be fully heard touching his services, loans, disbursements, losses, and sufferings to the Lord High Chancellor of England, and the Lord Privy Seal, the Duke of Albemarle, the Marquis of Dorchester, the Earl of Anglesey, the Earl of Loutherdale; the Lord Holles, the Lord Ashley, Lord Arlington and Mr. Secretary Morrice, or to such of them, or other, as your Majesty shall think fit. And that your Majesty will be pleased to order the said Lords to refer to reports to your Majesty with all convenient speed the Petitioner’s whole case, as they shall find it, with their opinions to your Majesty for such just and speedy satisfaction for the relief of the Petitioner, and encouragement for his long endeavouring for the public good, as shall be thought fit, whereby he may be enabled to stop the mouths of his numerous and clamorous creditors, and live himself without disgrace to nobility, or being further necessitated to importune your Majesty. And that, until the Petitioner’s case can be reported, and fitted for your Majesty’s royal pleasure, your Majesty will be pleased to order the Petitioner, some small sum out of the privy purse for the present support of his wife and family who exceedingly want the same.
And your Petitioner will ever pray, &c. &c.
[See Cal. State Papers, Dom. Series, 1665–66. Edited by Mrs. M. A. E. Green, 8vo. 1864. P. 330, No. 82.]
State Papers.
Vol. 144, No. 27. Duke of Albemarle to Lord Arlington.
My Lord,—At the request of my Lord Marquis of Worcester I make bold to write to your Lordship in his behalf, you know his Lordship’s business so well that I shall not need to state it to you. I desire your Lordship’s assistance to him in the dispatch of his Lordship’s concerns before you, whereby your Lordship will oblige my Lord of Worcester, and also him who is,
Your Lordships very humble servant,
ALBEMARLE.
Cockpit, 3 Jan. 1665.
Addressed at the back—“For the Right Honourable Henry Lord Arlington, Principal Secretary of State these, at Oxford.”
[*** Calendared under 1666.]
Vol. 142. No. 11, 2. Reference to the Lord Chancellor and others.
[See Cal. State Papers, Dom. Series, 1665–66. Edited by Mrs. M. A. E. Green, 8vo. 1864. P. 189, No. 27.]
State Papers. Vol. 152, No. 10.
Reference to Sir Thomas Ingram—[Ent. Book 18, page 200.]
Marquis of Worcester.
Upon the Petition of the Marquis of Worcester, who desiring to be heard in his suit about Mr. Hall, to be referred to the Chancellor of the Dutchy.
March 24, 1665–66.
His Majesty is graciously pleased to refer the suit of the honourable Petitioner unto the Rt. Honble. Sir Thomas Ingram, Knt., and to consider thereof, and to report his opinion thereupon to his Majesty, who will then declare his further pleasure, with a gracious regard to the Petitioner’s services and sufferings.
[See Cal. State Papers, Dom. Series, 1665–66. Edited by Mrs. M. A. E. Green, 8vo. 1864. page 316, No. 11, 3.]
State Papers. Vol. 152, No. 82.
[Reference thereon to the Lord Chancellor and others.]
At the Court of Whitehall, March the [March 24, 1665–6.]
His Majesty is graciously pleased to refer this honourable Petitioner, and his suit, to the Right Honourable the Lord High Chancellor of England, and the Lord Privy Seal, the Duke of Albemarle, the Marquis of Dorchester, the Earl of Anglesey, the Earl of Loutherdale, the Lord Holles, the Lord Ashley, myself, and Mr. Secretary Morrice, or to any three or more of them, who are hereby authorized to take special care to find out the truth of the whole particulars, which will be afforded by the Petitioner, and to report the same to his Majesty, their opinions of the most proper and expeditious way for his Majesty to answer the Petitioner’s desires, so far as the same shall be found just, upon whose report his Majesty will take a speedy course for the Petitioner’s satisfaction.
[No signature, date, or endorsement. But in Cal. State Papers, 1665–66, reference is made, p. 316, No. 11, to Ent. Book 18, p. 18, which supplies the date 24 March, 1665–6.]
[See Cal. State Papers, Dom. Series, 1665–66. Edited by Mrs. M. A. E. Green. 8vo. 1864, page 330, No. 82.]
APPENDIX K.
JOHN GOWER.
[In the “Life, Times, &c.,” page 108, a quotation is given from the poet Gower, as used by Henry Marquis of Worcester, in addressing Charles I. and is again alluded to at page 145. The author is indebted to a friend for taking the trouble to search the works of the poet, at the London Institution, and supplying, from Chalmers’ edition, 1810, page 218, the following reference and extract.
The lines occur in “Confessio Amantis,” Book VII. in a dialogue, the subject being: “Of the three, Wine, Women, or the King, which is the strongest?” Harpages says:—]