1670.] OF THE MARQUIS OF WORCESTER. 303 



Up to September next year we still find the u Water- 

 commanding Engine,&quot; engaging the attention of the 

 Dowager Marchioness, who was fully alive to the im 

 portance of so wonderful an invention ; not only as 

 enhancing her late husband s fame, but also as affect 

 ing her own interest, with that of the other parties 

 who had assisted in its promotion. She seems to have 

 acted with a persevering and noble spirit under all the 

 disadvantages of her situation, oppressed as she was 

 in fortune, her heart lacerated by the accumulated 

 wrongs she and her husband had through life en 

 dured, and now alone, neglected, and with but this 

 one hope left, of which his prophetic views must have 

 left a lively impression on her heart. 



But the Marquis s surprising invention was doomed 

 to another, and a more novel persecution than could 

 &quot;well be conceived possible, one which assuredly might 

 very justly be doubted, had we not the written record 

 before our eyes. Among the other manuscripts at 

 Badminton House is the letter of a Eoman Catholic 

 priest, dated 6th of September, 1670, addressed to the 

 Marchioness &quot; at her house in Lincoln s Inn Fields.&quot;* 



As her spiritual adviser, he says : &quot; Almighty God 

 hath, Madam, put you into a happy and flourishing 

 condition, fit and able to serve God, and to do much 

 good to yourself and others ; and your Ladyship makes 

 yourself unhappy, by seeming not to be contented with 

 your condition, but troubling your spirits with many 

 thoughts of attaining to greater dignities and riches.&quot; 



He next declares that she is in danger &quot; to lose the 

 right use of her reason,&quot; all arising from disposing her 

 self for great dignity and wealth &quot; by getting of great 



* Her being there 3^ years after the decease of the Marquis, makes it probable 

 she had removed from Lambeth, or wherever she had previously resided. 



