220 LIFE, TIMES, AND SCIENTIFIC LABOURS [1658-9. 



ciations with others than his countrymen. The com 

 munication can only be read as alluding to one subject, 

 and not as introducing anything forced and irrelevant. 

 It can only be reconciled as being wholly political, or 

 wholly affecting his special scientific engagements. 

 Besides, had it been otherwise, it would not have 

 escaped the historian, or some court spy to record the 

 wonderful discovery of a plot of frightful magnitude, 

 with all particulars. But no plot ever came to light ; 

 and the Marquis never did Cromwell or the Common 

 wealth any sendee beyond anything accomplished by 

 the humblest citizen. We must, therefore, for ever 

 abandon the opinion of there being any political cha 

 racter attached to this supposed mysterious communi 

 cation. 



The Marquis of Worcester s son and heir, Lord Her 

 bert, married Mary, Lady Beauchamp, on the 17th of 

 August, 1657. The following certificate on a small 

 square piece of parchment is preserved among other 

 family documents at Badminton House : 



&quot; These are to certifie : It being desired by the p ties 

 concerned, that, Henry Somerset Lord Herbert and 

 Mary Lady Bochampp, both of the parish of St. Cle 

 ments Danes, Middlesex, were Legally married before 

 me Eichard Powell of Clerkenwell, Middle Sq : one of 

 the Justices for the said County, authorized soe to doe 

 by vertue of an Act of Parliam t bearing date the ffower 

 and twentieth day of August 1653. There then being 

 pre te Charles Price and Edward Gibbes, dated this 

 Seaven tenth day of August 1657. 



&quot; EICHARD POWELL.&quot; 



The Marquis of Worcester s private affairs were year 

 by year growing more and more desperate, we contimi- 



