1656.] OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 215 



I have, at the instance of a powerful friend, endeavoured 

 now, in the year 1655, to set these down, in such a way 

 as may sufficiently instruct me to put any of them in 

 practice.&quot; That small book, then only in manuscript, 

 and not published until eight years afterwards, has 

 sealed his fame ; for through all time the u Century&quot; 

 will be regarded as a great curiosity in scientific litera 

 ture, for its variety of subjects, and its author s versatility 

 of genius in pursuits then but little cultivated. 



The first year of his release, appears, therefore, to 

 have been mainly distinguished by this valuable con 

 tribution, as he says, &quot; at the instance of a powerful 

 friend.&quot; We think that ih&t friend was no other than 

 Colonel Christopher Coppley, or Copley,* who had 

 served in the Parliamentary army of the North, under 

 the command of General Fairfax ; a sufficient reason 

 for the author omitting to particularize him by name. 

 That he and the Marquis were, however, on terms of 

 close friendship, is evident from the annexed letter ; 98 

 alluding to previous kind offices accorded by his 

 44 powerful&quot; now his &quot; dear&quot; and his &quot; honoured friend.&quot; 



FRIEND, 



&quot; I know not with what face to desire a courtesy 

 from you, since I have not yet paid you the five pounds, 

 and the main business so long protracted, whereby my 

 reality and kindness should with thankfulness appear ; 

 for though the least I intend you is to make up the 

 sum already promised, to a thousand pounds yearly, 

 or a share amounting to far more, which to nominate, 

 before the perfection of the work, were but an indi- 

 viduum vagum ; and, therefore, I defer it, and upon no 



* See Appendix E. 



98 Walpole. Mr. Bliss states that he discovered the MS. among the papers of 

 Wni. Wilcox of St. John s College, Oxford. 



