1666-7.] OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 293 



could not procure the book itself to send you, I have 

 here enclosed, which if it should chance to perform but 

 the least part of what is therein specified, my Lord 

 Brereton is likely to pay 5 towards the revenue, that 

 is to accrue thereby to the Marquis, he having wagered 

 so much against him. I was since my return to London to 

 see this engine, where I found Caltrop his chief engi 

 neer, to laugh at it ; and as far as I was able to see it, 

 it seemed one of the perpetual motion fallacies. Of which 

 kind Caltrop himself, and two or three others, that I 

 know, are labouring at this time in vain, to make, but 

 after several ways; and nothing but costly experience 

 will make them desist.&quot; 



The prejudices created against monopolists in the 

 reign of Queen Elizabeth, were not without foundation, 

 in consequence of the absurd rights conceded to paten 

 tees of imaginary inventions 5 amounting to the legal 

 izing of extortion of the most unquestionable and ag 

 gravating kind, without any chance of remedy. Eeal 

 inventions were few, and impositions were everywhere 

 practised with bold effrontery. There was nothing in 

 the public character of the Marquis of Worcester to 

 bespeak public favour. Who could ever dream that 

 the Earl of Glamorgan was suddenly to assume a new 

 character? The few inventions that were regarded as 

 wonders of art were of ancient origin, slowly perfected, 

 and in 1663 were considered to have reached almost 

 the acme of perfection. Yet here was a nobleman, 

 unheard of, except for his share in Charles the First s 

 design to punish his rebellious subjects with the aid of 

 an Irish army, suddenly proposing to supersede all 

 ancient approved and improved methods of elevating 

 water ; and to perform many other surprising me 

 chanical feats. And not only was he an inventor, but 

 an innovator on old custom and a monopolist, not by 



