1659-60.] OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 221 



ally find him and the Marchioness petitioning the Parlia 

 ment for pecuniary assistance out of the confiscated 

 estates. He seems to have been on friendly terms with 

 John Lenthall, Speaker of the House of Commons, from 

 whom we find the following letter : * 



44 MY LORD, 



&quot; I will ever acknowledge that your Lordship 

 hath dealt most honourably with me, and with all 

 hearti[ness] I will profess that to all ; and will endea 

 vour to show my thankfulness to your Lordship, and to 

 your honourable Lady ; and do assure you both that, if 

 I may do you any service to my brother speaker, about 

 your business in Parliament, I will endeavour my utter 

 most to act for you. My wife takes your promise of 

 half a buck exceeding thankfully, and also some great 

 belles here. We shall all endeavour to make a requital ; 

 and I shall ever acknowledge myself to be 



44 Your Honour s most humble Servant, 



&quot;JOHN LENTHALL. 



&quot; 8th July, 1659. 



44 1 have received from your Lordship 20 marks in full 

 of all your Lordship s fees, which I hereby acknowledge, 

 and acquit your Lordship of that and all other demands 

 at this day. 



&quot; To the Right Honourable the 



LORD MARQUIS OF WORCESTER these presents.&quot; 



His manuscript of his wonderful 44 Century&quot; had been 

 four years written, copies passing probably from hand to 

 hand, and himself urging the great and noble of the 

 land to patronise his efforts. In the British Museum is 

 the only MS. of the Century extant, having on the top 

 of its title page the dates u From August y e 29th to Sep. 

 y e 21st, 1659,&quot; which may, however, merely refer to the 



* From MSS. Badminton. 



