276 LIFE, TIMES, AND SCIENTIFIC LABOURS [1665. 



therein at stake, I value at ten times as much. And 

 this will enable me to place my Water-commanding 

 Engine, where I am a certained [assured ?] an hundred 

 pounds a day profit, without further troubling the King 

 or any body. And that done the greatest of my am 

 bition will be to show my gratitude and pay my debts ; 

 confessing not to owe to any person living more real 

 acknowledgment of thankfulness than to her Grace, 

 who hath been pleased, in my absence and my wife s, 

 to be a champion for us, which draws upon herself in 

 part this trouble, with more than confidence to receive 

 from her more than gracious hands and princess-like 

 disposition this further favour, which my wife and I 

 shall never forget, and thankfully to acknowledge to 

 her Grace, and your most worthy self, whose further 

 trouble it is time to prevent in subscribing myself as 

 you shall ever find me, 



&quot; Sir, your most real affectionate friend, 

 &quot; and humble servant, 



&quot; WORCESTER. 



&quot; Christmas Day, 25th of Dec. 1665. 



&quot; Because the profit accruing from my Water-com 

 manding Engine may seem uncertain, I humbly offer in 

 lieu thereof and in token of my gratitude, a judgment 

 of ten thousand pounds for the payment of one thousand 

 pounds a year for four years, at the disposal of her 

 Grace, and two hundred pounds per annum at yours ; 

 so their Graces be pleased cheerfully to sign the letter, 

 and positively to own them and me to be their perpe 

 tual servant, not doubting then to find ways more 

 efficaciously to testify my reality and devotion to them 

 if accepted of, and thus obliged to them and you. 



&quot; WORCESTER.&quot; 



Whether the following is the draft of a letter, pro 

 posed in the preceding communication, is uncertain ; it 



