1665.] OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 275 



obtain some protective influence over his property, then 

 much jeopardized : * 



&quot; HONOURED SIR, 



a You have by God s infinite providence not 

 only befriended my wife and me in Cromwell s time, 

 but likewise by his great mercy and goodness, I think, 

 reserved to do the like in his now Majesty s reign in 

 whose happy memory [he] was pleased to say, even to 

 his Queen, now dowager, that next to his own children 

 and her, he was obliged to take care and recompense 

 me ; so can you not do now a greater act of charity, 

 nor loyalty, than to set your concurring hand to procure 

 from her Grace, and her unparalleled deserving husband, 

 the favour of setting their hands each to a letter I shall 

 be bold to present to your perusal first, and then your 

 favour to their Graces ; which done, my Lord Arlington 

 and my Lady Castlemaine undertake to perfect my most 

 humble request to his Majesty; so that they shall incur 

 no risk of denial, and yet by the same obliging hand of 

 yours which promotes my most humble suit, I shall 

 present a thousand pieces to the Duchess, to buy her a 

 little jewel to what she deserves to wear every day of 

 the week. And if it please God I live but two years, I 

 will, out of the profits of my Water-commanding Engine, 

 appropriate five hundred pounds yearly, for ever, to her 

 Grace s, and two hundred pounds yearly, likewise, to 

 your disposal ; and in present forty pieces to buy you a 

 Nogge ; all which, as I am a gentleman and a Christian, 

 shall be faithfully and most thankfully performed, 

 though the benefit I pretend to by my petition, will 

 not amount to what my gratitude obliges; yet the 

 satisfaction which it will be to my mind, and my credit 



From MSS. Badminton. 



T 2 



