1657.] OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 195 



only Worcester House unsold, and in pursuit to discover 

 some other little thing. 



u Your Petitioner humbly prayeth your Honours, to 

 grant her the benefit of the said House, and such 

 other things as may be discovered. 



&quot; And your Petitioner shall ever pray, &c.&quot; 



Every circumstance connected with this petition 

 acquires interest from the peculiar position of the times, 

 and of all parties interested. The Marquis of Worces 

 ter had rendered himself highly obnoxious to the domi 

 nant party, he was beyond their power, a recusant and a 

 papist, and here was his noble Lady petitioning the 

 Cromwellian Parliament in respect to her rights, a 

 papist demanding her fifths at the hands of her hus 

 band s bitterest enemies. We need, therefore, offer 

 no apology for tracing rather more particularly than 

 might otherwise seem requisite, the course pursued in 

 this simple affair. 



On Monday, the 30th of March, 1657, Mr. Burton 22 

 reports from the Committee, to whom the Petition of 

 Margaret Countess of Worcester was referred ; 



&quot; A Bill for settling the messuage in the Strand, called 

 Worcester House, on Trustees, for the life of Edward, 

 Earl of Worcester, in trust, for Margaret, Countess of 

 Worcester, in lieu and satisfaction of the arrears of her 

 fifths, was this day read the first time ; and, upon the 

 question, ordered to be read the second time, on Thurs 

 day morning next.&quot; 



On Saturday, the 2nd of May, 1657. 



&quot; The Bill for settling Worcester House upon Margaret 

 Countess of Worcester, and some discoveries, in lieu of 

 the arrears of her fifths, was this day read the second 



22 Burton. 



o 2 



