194 LIFE, TIMES, AND SCIENTIFIC LABOURS [1656-7. 



night at Worcester House ; and four other of his sol 

 diers to lodge every night at Guildhall ; for the better 

 securing the treasuries there, from time to time, as the 

 Treasurers at War shall appoint.&quot; 



On the llth of February following, the House, 57 

 among other business 



44 Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, 

 to dispose of Worcester House, and the yards and gar 

 dens thereunto belonging, for the best carrying on of 

 the public service of the Commonwealth.&quot; 



The Marchioness of Worcester, being deprived of 

 other sources of property, petitioned the Parliament in 

 respect to the only likely means of obtaining pecuniary 

 consideration. A copy of her petition, being a printed 

 folio fly-leaf, probably as then in use for members 

 of the House, preserved in the Library of the British 

 Museum, has upon it the MS. date &quot; October 1654,&quot; 

 but it is more probable that it was not presented to 

 Parliament before the end of 1656 or early in 1657. 

 It is as follows : 



44 To the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Eng 

 land, Scotland, and Ireland. 



44 The humble Petition of Margare[t Somerset] 

 Countess of Worcester. 



44 Sheweth, 



44 That your Petitioner having been married to 

 Edward, now Earl of Worcester, in the year 1639, with 

 a considerable ..portion, to the value of twenty thousand 

 pounds, and not having received out of the whole estate 

 but four hundred pounds these nine neares [years], 

 in lieu of jointure, fifths, or thirds. Notwithstanding 

 her claim and four years attendance : and finding now 



47 Jo. II. C. Vol. vi. pp. 523, 533. 



