The life, times, and scientific labours of the second Marquis of Worcester : to which is added a reprint of his Century of inventions, 1663, with a commentary thereon

Front matter

s

THE

LIFE, TIMES,

Dedication

all wlio were conspicuous for tlieir loyalty, the ]\Iarquis of AVorcester, in common with tlie Eoyalist party, had to succumb to intolerant rulers. For while Cromwell enjoyed an income of £2,500 per annum, derived from a portion of his Lordship's princely estates, the Protector proudly granted to The Inventor of the Steam Engine, a weekly stipend of Three pounds !

Unfortunately, the Restoration of the monarchy contributed but little to ameliorate his Lordship's sad condition ; while his enthusiasm led him to sacrifice those personal comforts which his declining years would seem to have absolutely required ; rather than jeopardize operations depending on his great invention.

Li offering for your Grace's approval this first effort to realize a connected memoir of your Grace's immortal ancestor, it is unnecessary to dwell on the fact of its matter being chiefly derived from very scattered sources, and often fr-om but fr-agmentary materials, though in every instance the very best available authorities have been consulted ; among which, the unique collection of Manusci-ipts, so freely and obligingly submitted for the present purpose by your Grace, being given entire, forms the most valuable and interesting portion. I sincerely regret my own insufficiency to do complete justice to this comprehensive labour. The result of my researches, however, may gratify your Grace's curiosity, and prove interesting in respect to many early family details. And if my own earnestness of purpose, in prosecuting this attempt, does not mislead me, I may venture to hope, that the Memoir will not only meet with your Grace's favourable reception, but prove, at the same time, acceptable to the general public.

Preface

That a Memoir of the Inventor of tlie Steam Engine, sliould appear for the first thne two hundred years after his decease, is an occurrence in our litei'ature, which, of itself, might ahnost be considered sufficient to arouse public inquiry in respect to such a production. But far more solid ground exists for believing that the great countiy which gave birth to the Inventor, and his Invention of one of man's noblest productions in art, will peruse it with true national pride, Avhen assured of the amount and strength of the evidence now first adduced to establish those claims which, although never entirely doubted, yet have hitherto borne too misty and mythical a character to satisfy common comprehension. The labour encountered in carrying out the required desigii may be appreciated from the fact, that the present work has been to a great extent the study of thirty years, although literally completed within only the last few years. This field of inquiry has been, consequently, long open to more ambitious pens, and sooner or later would, no doubt, have received, as it demands — the attention of men of letters and of science. Probably no other country furnishes so singular a fact, as that of being for two centuries without infoimation much better than tradition, and accumulated diversities of opinions freely indulged in, respecting the political and private character, and inventive talent of one of its most remarkable, interesting, and glorious benefactors. And, during so long a period, in conseciuencc viii PREFACE.

of such defective and conflicting information, producing tlie most absurd and unreliable statements, even on the most ordinary points of individual history. In the whole range of English biography, within the same period of time, no important memoir has ever been so mythical as that of Edward Somerset, second Marquis of Worcester.

So entirely unacquainted are his countrymen with the history of his life, that a very plausible work might be written to disprove both his authorship of the '^ Century," and his invention of the steam-engine. Indeed Scotland has already contributed materials for the former, and M. Arago, late Astronomer Eoyal of France, has all but made out the latter ! And such a production would excite little suspicion and probably no hostility of feeling. But this need not cause much surprise when it is mentioned, that it has not yet been the good fortune of any writer, touching on the Life of the Marquis of Worcester, to escape recording a mass of errors, such as occur in no other biography in our language ; although the period usually selected seldom exceeds four or five years, out of a life of sixty-six. The reader, therefore, who takes up the present volume, under impressions derived from such dubious sources of information as those indicated, will find little to confirm his preconceived opinions. The histories of men as of nations require facts for their basis, judgment to guide in their arrangement, discretion to direct a wise selection, and a knowledge of the whole to perfect the desired work. The mixed character of the Marquis of Worcester has ever been a stumbling-block to the purely classical scholar, the divine, the politician, and the lawyer ; while, on the other hand, the rapid advances in science during the last fifty years, have deprived " The Century" of more than half its interest. Science cannot

TREFACE. ix hope to be advanced by discussing the automata of the 17th century, its fountains, improvements in fire-anns, bows, keys, stairs, boats, fortifications, and many other promising mventions. But a Life of the Marquis of Worcester, without the " Century," woukl be a drama without its most important character. It is, therefore, no act of supererogation to give a commentary on that little, but perplexing book ; it is something more than a mere amusement, it is a necessary adjunct, and is not wholly useless considered as a matter connected with the history of science. The commentator on the "Century" may hope to render the biography of its noble author interesting from another and most important point of view, which would be wholly lost by its omission, or by treating it as secondary or unimportant. The " Century" is the exponent of the man ; the author without his pocket-journal of his life -longlabours is reduced to a nonentity, with nothing higher left to him to boast of than his descent from royal blood, the unimpeachable character of his noble line of ancestry, and his own spotless rectitude of character — an amiable, unintellectual man !

The " Century," the only work he is kno^^^i to have left to posterity, sorely perplexed the fastidious Horace AYalpole, was too much of a mechanical production for the astute David Hume, and has thoroughly bewildered the legal acumen of Mr. ]\Iuirliead, the biographer of James Watt. It has challenged the skill of critics of every degree, from contributors to the Gentleman's Magazine to those of the Harleian Miscellany, and even in all sketches of the history of the steam-engine, percolating thence through biographies, and popular accounts of Eaglan Castle, to the latest and best illustrated works on our castles and abbeys. So many writers, so many minds, whose judgments in a collected form, would aft'ord

h

PREFACE.

a very discordant and uninviting miscellany, a sad satire on the material and style of a certain class of criticism, too much encouraged in our current literature. It is painful to observe its constant want of sympathy with the pains and penalties which unhappily are the too frequent lot of lofty, original, inventive genius. The case might fairly be paralleled by supposing Voltaire and others to have successfully established a clique against Shakespeare, to misrepresent and malign the great dramatist up to the present time; when, suddenly should appear, the first work, to settle his literary claims ! Of course it is declared impossible ; and so it is, with a literary work ; but it is not so with Inventions. The fame of the Marquis of Worcester rests less on his book than on his Water-commanding Engine. The book we see and read, but probably not one man in ten thousand knows anything about the Engine. Here is the weak point when the tide turns against the Inventor, against the man, a man politically and religiously proscribed. A great man for his Engine but hated by those politicians who side with the Stuart djaiasty, for his luckless association with Charles the First. And misunderstood by the dilettanti Walpole, a connoissem- in paintings and works of ve7iu^ but in matters of science more ignorant of the Marquis of Worcester's worth, than Voltaire was of Shakespeare's genius. But we regret there is a thu'd conspicuous offender in the field, and as he is the latest, so we hope he is the last of the clan of vituperative critics.

Our largely gifted historian. Lord Macaulay, never wrote such feeble lines as those in which he attempted to depict the Marquis of Worcester ; but the historian is a tower of strength, and his words may here be quoted without a fear of our object being either mistaken, or open to misrepresentation. Depreciation is not

TREFACE. xi

our object, and nothing could be a greater folly than to attempt it on such ground ; we give them in evidence, to prove how little really is known, even in well-informed circles, respecting this extraordinary inventor, when so brilliant a writer as Macaulay could be at fault, from no other cause than defective information. Speaking of Charles the Second's reign, he says : — " The Marquess of Worcester had recently ['?] observed the expansive power of moisture rarified by heat. After many experiments he had succeeded in constructing a rude steam engine, [?] which he called a fire water-work, and which he pronounced to be an admirable and most forcible instrument of propulsion. [?] But the Marquess was suspected to be a madman [?] and known to be a Papist. His inventions, therefore^ found no favourable reception. [?] His fire water-work mighty yerliaps^ furnish matter for conversation at a meeting of the Eoyal Society, [?] but was not applied to any practical purpose, ['?]" These few lines suggest seven inquiries, but we are satisfied Macaulay could never have written thus upon the life of any great man of that period, much less on this illustrious inventor, had the proper materials been at command. This example is valuable, in as much as it is well known that Lord ]\Iacaulay was master of much curious reading, particularly of the class referring to that interesting period of our country's history, and also that he possessed a remarkably retentive memory. But he was here dealing with a shattered monument ; its goodly form wholly gone, and its fragments scattered in every direction ; here ground to dust, there altogether buried, and so disfigured and dishonoured that he made the most he could of the faint traces within his immediate reach, and unquestionably felt satisfied that, considering the limit of these few lines, he had boldly, graphically, and truthfully pour tray ed the character xii TREFACE.

he had designed to delineate. How infinitely sux^erior to this rougii draught would have been the sketch, had Macaulay possessed proper documentary evidence. A more striking or satisfactory instance than is here adduced could not be presented for showing the paucity of infoi-mation hitherto existing in a collected form ; and those readers who might otherwise have doubted the fact, will readily gather from what is here brought forward, that the story of this singular man's life has hitherto remained untold.

The life of the ]\Iarquis of Worcester affords a tissue of the most violent contrasts, romantic in many incidents, exceeding any that have ever been experienced by any other descendant of our ancient nobility. He was a man of rigid honour and probity, remarkable too for his modesty, virtue, and genius, in an age distinguished for few excellencies, and notorious for many vices. He was the favourite of his Sovereign, although in but little favom* at Court, and the very esteem which raises most men was his certain rum ; obliged to flee his country, he returned only to be imprisoned ; and on his release, was allowed £156 per anniun out of his own princely but confiscated estates ! As the subject of Charles the Second, he received back his demolished castle, without the means to re-establish himself; and, steeped in debt, he sought royal patronage in vain, although his genius was perhaps of gi'eater value to the state, than all the revenues of the Crown ! Neglected by contemporaries, his memory has been preserved rather traditionally than by any literary effort (beyond fitful glimpses of doubtful praise), to raise a monument to the indisputable inventor of the Steam Engine — that greatest source of our country's commercial and manufacturing greatness ; and universal, moral and intellectual progress. Lord Macaulay has tersely and justly

PUEFACE. xiii

remarked that: — "The chief cause which made the fusion of the different elements of society (in the 17th century) so imperfect, was the extreme difficulty which our ancestors found in passing from place to place. Of all inventions, the alphabet and the printing press alone excepted, those inventions which abridge distance have done most for the civilization of our species." He then adds, speaking of steam, that it has — "in our day, jDroduced an unprecedented revolution in human affairs, which has enabled navies to advance in the face of wind and tide, and battalions, attended by all their baggage and artillery, to traverse kingdoms at a pace equal to that of the fleetest race-horse."

The general reader will be very likely to overlook one important fact, a golden hinge on which more rests than at first appears in the following narrative ; and, therefore, a word of remark may not be altogether thrown away, in calling attention to the circumstance. There are very many persons, most intelligent and well informed on other matters, who have yet to learn that all invention is progressive in a regular series. There may be a long series of elementary principles developed without the occurrence of a single practical result, practical as regards any useful application to supply man's wants. Then may arise a series combining these elements, so to speak, and for the first time producing a new instrument, machine, or engine. When a new machine is produced, we do not say. Why it only consists of a number of wheels and cylinders, therefore, surely there is nothing new in it ! All the parts may be old, and yet the combination be quite new. To analyse an invention into its several parts, would be equivalent to finding that a poem was only composed of the letters of the alphabet, or the words in a dictionary. But there is another point of view not lightly to be passed xiv PREFACE.

over. Take this instance of the steam engine. We find a talented Scotch writer wondenng that Englishmen take the trouble to claim the invention of the steam engine for the Marquis of Worcester, because of the " doubtfulness" existing respecting it, at the same time that he accompanies this statement with a large amomit of evidence^ but evidence which he does not fully admit. He thus places himself very much in the position of a philosopher, who should adopt as his theory some peculiar notion to the effect that the letter A, or the numeral 1, could be dispensed with, in consequence of some " doubtfulness existing" in respect to its value ; and that, indeed, to retain either any longer would only be evidence of a " little national rivalry." Although this may appear too absurd in this light, something very similar has been proposed as a kind of compromise in the contest between England and France, the " little national rivalry" between which countries might be settled, would Englishmen but give up all further advocacy of the Marquis of Worcester's claim. This is not the reason given, but it is the happy result which would follow ; and it is urged against the invention, that there is so much '' doubtfulness existing" about it, that it is a wonder any one takes further trouble in the matter. So far as we can see, its value is A, or 1, it is the first of a series, it is the golden hinge, or link, on which all hangs; take this away, and we sever the head from the main body. Will any one in future be found to take up and maintain so foolish a line of argument ? The Marquis of Worcester was unquestionably the Inventor of the Steam Engine in the first of its three stages, as a fire engine. Previous to the Marquis of Worcester, all that had been done, was solely in the series developing a principle, a mere idea, but still no invention, in the proper sense of such a term, as applied

PKEFACE. XV

to works of practical utility. All other early efforts were purely elementary or experimental.

Let us take an illustration from another branch of science. It is not unreasonable to suppose that Electricity, using the term in its most extended sense, will some day or other supersede steam. We probably only require to be able to collect it cheaply and to control it effectually, to employ the artillery of heaven on the Avide ocean, on our network of iron rails, and throughout all our manufacturing establishments. A, we will suppose, invents the first efficient Electric Engine, which with fifty horse power is fully at work ; and in the course of a few years we sit down to write the history of this engine invented by A. AVhere shall we start in our history ? Did not Faraday years ago produce an electro-magnetic engine ; then of course Faraday invented A.'s engine ! But we need not stop here ; we have the whole history of electricity before us. There is no end of machines and engines 5 and a patent specification may come to light, the nearest possible thing to A. But we have not done yet, we have to consider France, &c., wdiere we may find some more elementary electrical models before Faraday, and then of course before A. So that, on this system, as hitherto adopted, in attempting to settle a claim for De Caus, and depreciating the claim of the ]\Iarcpiis of AYorcester, we may venture to predict an analogous fate for the Electric Engine, hereafter to be invented by some inventor, A. Here we must plainly see that all that has hitherto been invented in this electrical line, docs not go beyond model or elementary apparatus, and that however nearly some of these may a})proacli any plan hereafter to be invented, it would be ridiculous and highly reprehensible to set up claims based on 7io practical value, and oidy colourably similar in some siiujlc particulars but otherwise of no greater concern than as

XVI PREFACE.

amusing ^ or illustrative scientific toys. De Caus' fountain was one of tliese pleasing toys, and De Caus^ himself could never have thought otherwise of it, taking his own large book and his own few lines of description ; although it served the purpose of M. Arago to assume for it a pre-eminence over the Marquis of Worcester's invention, merely because the latter came half a century later.

The author is not aware of any portion of his work that is open to controversy, unless it be that relating to a second visit to Ireland, asserted to have been made by the Earl of Glamorgan. However, should it be contended, or proved, that his negotiations refer to a single visit there, tb.; circumstance would not affect the main story. The <iuthor has, however, had one essential difficulty to deal with, arising from the quantity of correspondence and docmnentary evidence, which, under the circumstances, he was obliged to introduce, thus materially affecting the text. It certainly was open to him to throw the greater part into the Appendix, but with considerable drawbacks to all readers really interested in such a work. The course adopted has been to introduce documents, of whatever kind, in their order of date, and to modennse the orthography (and that alone) to render them generally readable. The few pieces admitted in their original style will satisfy any one how thoroughly unreadable the work Avould have become, if largely occupied with such orthography. The prayer (for example) is a strict copy of the original, which appears to be in the handwriting of the ]\Iarchioness, with several interlinear corrections made by the Marquis himself, which certify to its genuineness.* Every document is given with its own

* I am happy in being able to afford this testimony, were it only to dissipate the inucndocs of Mr. Muirlicad.

PREFACE. xvii

date, and no deviations occur beyond tlie modem spelling of words. The " Century," however, being- printed matter, has been re-produced verbatim, with scrupulous accuracy.

The general reader will find that the really scientific portion of this memoir, is restricted to the " Century," which has relieved the biographical portion of much technical detail : no more reference to inventions occurring therein than appeared absolutely necessary to preserve uniformity in the narrative.

It was very desirable in such a work as the present to steer clear of a controversial strain, whether in reference to the past or the present. This has been eftected in a great measure, as regards the numerous detractors that might be cited, who have given false views, both of the personal character of the IMarquis, and the merit of some or most of his inventions, until we find the admiring biographer of the celebrated James AV'att, as if blinded by too much light, speaking of the i\Iarquis in the most disparaging terms. And lastly, it was impossible to escape recurring to the charge against Savery ; the dates and facts, now for the first time supplied, going far to strengthen the belief, that the engine reputed to be Savery's, is identical with that invented by the Marquis of Worcester.

The materials of the present work are principally derived from original sources with respect to Maiuiscripts ; and from the highest published authorities. All printed materials are scrupulously acknowledged in two catalogues, one historical and literary, the other wholly scientific. Through the kindness and liberality of His Grace the Duke of Beaufort, the entire collection of Manuscripts in his Grace's possession, relative to the Manpiis of Worcester, are here given at large. AVhile at Kaglan, on visiting Troy, Osmond A. AVyatt, Esq., xviii PREFACE.

was especially obliging in affording information ; as well as John Ciixson, Esq., of Raglan ; and at Badminton, John Thompson, Esq., materially assisted in procuring the required manuscripts, and affording facilities for copying them, for which kindly aid the author can but insufficiently here express his obligations. The author is likewise greatly indebted generally to the rich stores of the British Museum, and the obliging attentions of its principal officers ; to the State Paper Office, where he was especially assisted through the kindness of Mrs. M. A. E. Green, with the uncalendered papers given at pages 249, 270, 286, and 287, and to John Bruce, Esq. Also to the excellent Libraries of the Eoyal Society ; the London Listitution ; and the particularly valuable scientific collection of the Patent Office. At Oxford, the privilege of consulting works and manuscripts at the Bodleian Library, was freely granted, and every facility afforded. The author would especially notice among other contributions of information, the able assistance of Bennet Woodcroft, Esq., F.E.S., &c. To the Eev. John Webb, of Play, he is particularly indebted for the papers at pages 64, 88, and 142, to which that gentleman directed his attention, and which he might otherwise have overlooked. He has also received assistance from the collections of Piobert Cole, Esq., and of the late Dawson Turner, Esq., which are noted where they occur. AVlien inquiring for the autograph of " Glamorgan," every possible effort to trace it, although unavailing, was kindly employed by the Librarian of St. Cuthbert's College, Durham, and by the Rev. Dr. Grant, the Roman Catholic Bishop of South wark.

During the author's visit to Dublin, Sir Bernard Burke, Ulster King at Arms, very obligingly searched for any documents referring to the Earl of Glamorgan, that might be in Dublin Castle, but without success ;

TEEFACE. xix i and the author is also much indebted for general I infoiination most courteously given by the Eev. Dr. Todd, of Trinity College, Dr. R. G. Travers, Marsh's Library, and the Eev. C. P. Meehan; and likewise, through correspondence, by the Rev. James Graves, of Stonyford.

It now only remains for the author to say, that in the event of any of our nobility or gentiy, or other collectors, possessing any manuscript whatever, even although only a copy of matter here produced, he would esteem it a very particular favour to be informed of it (through his publisher), and to be permitted to examine any record, bearing either directly or indirectly on this subject.

H. D.

Contents

Dedication ....... Page iii

Pbeface ....... vii — xxi

1599—1628.

Chap. 1. — Marriage of Henry Somerset, Lord Herbert of Eaglan 1 — 9 1601—1639

Chap. II. — Birth, home, education, early career, times, and first marriage of Edward Somerset, Lord Herbert . . . 10 — 29

1639—1642.

Chap. III. — Edward, Lord Herbert's second marriage . 30—30 1011-1642

Chap. I^'". — Henry, Earl of Worcester — created !Marqnis of "Worcester— Eaglan Castle ..... 37 — 54

1642—1644.

Chap, Y. — Lord Herbert in his military capacity . . 55 — 68

Chap, YI. — Lord Herbert created Earl of Glamorgan — Irish affairs

69-94

1640—1645.

Chap. YIL— Eaglan Castle— Eoyal visits . . . 95 — 111

1645—1646.

Chap. YIII. — The Earl of Glamorgan's second visit to Ireland

112—139

1646—1647.

Chap. IX.— Eaglan Castle; its defence and surrender — Death of Henr}', Marquis of Worcester .... 140—156

1645—1647.

Chap, X.— The Earl of Glamorgan's transactions in Ireland, concluded

157—185 xxii CONTENTS.

1646—1650.

Chap. XI.— Tlie Marquis of Worcester in e$;ile ; resides in France

1643—1659.

Chap. XII.— Affairs affecting tlie Marquis of Worcester's family, in respect to Worcester House and otlier property in and near London 192-200

Chap. XIII. — The Marquis of Worcester's son, and two daughters

201—208

1651—1661.

Chap. XIV. — His return to England — Imprisonment, and liberation — his " Century" — pecuniary difficulties — petitions— at Charles the Second's Coronation— Lord Herbert . . . 209 — 233

1660—1662,

Chap. XV. — His prospects at the period of the Eestoration — Proceedings in Parliament respecting the Patent to create him Duke of Somerset — Estates restored, &c. — Parliamentary duties . 234 — 246

1660—1664.

Chap. XVI. — His Inventions— further Petitions — publication of his " Century'' — Charles II. visits Lord Herbert at Badminton — Worcester House, Strand ...... 247 — 261

1664—1670.

Chap. XVII. — His operations at VauxhaU— Petitions and decease — Caspar Kaltoff and family — M. Sorbiere — Cosmo, Grand Duke of Tuscany — The Dowager Marchioness of Worcester . 262— 30S

Chap, XVIII. — A brief retrospect of the Marquis of Worcester's Genealogy, and his private, political, and philosophical character ; ' including his own statement of expenditure during the Civil War |

309-342 xxm

LIST OF ENGEAVINGS.

Froni Drawings and Skctclies made, and Ciphers and Autographs traced, by the author.

Tlie steel engraved Portraits executed by Mr. J. Cochran, and the Wood Engravings by Mr. Stevens, and Mr. J. II. Rimbuult ; and Coats of Arms by Mr. Layton.

Steel Engravings.

A Family Group, being Portraits of the Makqcis of Worcester, with ]\Iargaret his second wife, and their infant daugliter Mary. From a i)ainting by Ilanncman. (See pages 30, 31.) To face title page.

Portrait of Elizabeth Lady Herbert, first wife of Edward Lord Herbert, afterwards ISIarquis of Worcester. From a painting by Vamlykc Page 16.

Wood Engkavixgs.

PAGE.

Armorial bearings of His Grace the

Duke of Beaufort . . iii

Plan of the Castle and Citadel of

Raglan, Monmouthshire . xxiv

Baynard's Castle, fi-om Ncwconrt's

ancient Map of London, 1058 . 1 Worcester House, 1658 . .8

H. Herbert (.autograph) Henry, 1st

Marquis of Worcester . . 10

E. Worcester (autograph) Edward,

4th Earl of Worcester . .12

Water-works side of the Citadel,

Eaglan Castle . . .20

Distant view of Raglan Castle . 49 Ed. L. Herbert (autograph) afterwards 2nd Marquis of Worcester 77 The Earl of Glamorgan's writing

in the address of a Cipher letter 179 The letter written in his Cipher.

[See also page 553.] . . 180

The Tower, Map of London, 1658. 211 Worcester [autograph, 1665-6, of

the Author of the " Century"] 283 St. Cadocus, Raglan Chmxh . 296

— // — cast end and plan . .297

Arms of the Marquis of Worcester,

and his two wives . . 298

C. Somerset (autograph) Charles

Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester 309 One line of the Marquis of Worcester's cipher writing . . 333

Portrait of Edward Lord Herbert, afterwards second Marquis of Worcester, from a painting l)y Vandyke, in the possession of his Grace, the Duke of Beaufort . 377 A Cipher Seal . . . 389

A one line Cipher . . 392

The Marquis's Cii)her . . 398

Ancient Paddle Boat . . 408

A Balance Water- work . .417

A Bucket-fountain . .418

A double-drawing Engine . 424

A to and fro Lever . .426

A most easy level Draught . 427

Tobacco-tongs . . . 44()

A weighted wheel . . 454

A water-flowing and ebbing motion 457 A musketeer, 1643 . . 405

De Cans' Fountain . .47 7

A forcer . . . .483

Savery's Engine, 1099 . .485

Engine to raise weights . . 532

Porta's steam apparatus . .541

A blowing iEolipile . . 542

A steam blow-ijipe . . 543

A fire-blowing ^olipile . . 543

A weather glass . . . 546

The Marquis of Worcester's Engine 551 — his Ci])hcr Alphabet . . 553

Construction of a water-screw . 554 Christopher Copley(autograph) , 570

XXIV

EEFEEENCES TO THE PLAN OP THE CASTLE AND CITADEL OF EAGLAN, MONMOUTHSHIEE.