in Latin Wigornia, the capital of a county of England of the same name, stands on the river Severn, but so low that it can hardly be seen till one is close upon it. It is supposed to be the Brannium of Antoninus, the Branogenium of Ptolemy, and to have been built by the Romans to awe the Britons on the other side of the Severn. It was made an episcopal see about the year 680 by Sexulphus bishop of the Mercians; but the present cathedral was begun by Wulfston in the year 1084. The town hath been several times burnt down; first, in 1041, by Hardicanute, who also massacred the citizens; secondly, not long after William Rufus's time; and a third time, when King Stephen besieged and took it. Here, in latter times, Worcester was fought that battle, in which Charles II. with his Scots army, was defeated by Cromwell. In a garden near the south gate of the city, where the action was hottest, the bones of the slain are often dug up. It had formerly strong walls and a castle; but these have been demolished long ago. It is now a large city, the streets broad and well paved, and some of them very regular and well built, particularly Foregate-street; so that in general it is a very agreeable place. The cathedral is a finely edifice, and among other monuments in it are those of King John, of Arthur, elder brother to Henry VIII., and of the counts of Salisbury, who gave occasion to the institution of the order of the Garter. There are seven or eight hospitals in and about the city; of which that built and endowed by Robert Berkley of Spetchley, Esq. is a very noble one. There is a school founded by Henry VIII. three other schools, and six charity-schools. The churches, St Nicholas and All-Saints, have been lately rebuilt, and are handsome edifices. The city carries on a great trade; for which it is chiefly indebted to its situation upon the Severn. The population in 1801 was estimated at 11,000, a large proportion of which is employed in the manufacture of broad cloth and gloves. The Welch inhabit a part of it, and speak their own language. Its market is well supplied with provisions and cattle, and its quay is much frequented by ships. By a charter from James I. it is governed by a mayor, fix aldermen, who are justices of the peace, and chosen out of 24 capital citizens; a sheriff, the city being a county of itself; a common council, consisting of 48 other citizens, out of which two chamberlains are yearly chosen; a recorder, town-clerk, two coroners, a sword-bearer, 13 constables, and four serjeants at mace. Of the bishops of this see, there have been, it is said, one pope, four saints, seven lord high-chancellors, 11 archbishops, two lord treasurers, one chancellor to the queen, one lord president of Wales, and one vice-president. The city at present gives title of earl and marquis to the duke of Beaufort. W. Long. i. 55. N. Lat. 52. 10.

Edward Somerset, Marquis of, was a distinguished political character in the time of Charles I. by whom he was created earl of Glamorgan, while heir-apparent to the marquis of Worcester. This nobleman flourished chiefly in the reign of Charles I. and seems to have been a most zealous adherent to the cause of that unfortunate monarch, on whose account it is said that he and his father wasted an immense sum. Of this the king was so sensible, that he granted to the earl a most extraordinary patent, the chief powers of which were, to make him generalissimo of three armies, and admiral with nomination of his officers; to enable him to raise money by selling his majesty's woods, wardships, customs, and prerogatives; and to create by blank patents, to be filled up at Glamorgan's pleasure, from the rank of marquis to baronet. If any thing, says Lord Orford, could justify the delegation of such authority, besides his majesty having lost all authority, when he conferred it, it was the promise with which the king concluded of bestowing the princess Elizabeth on Glamorgan's son. This patent was given up by the marquis to the house of peers after the restoration. He died not long after that era, in 1667, after he had published what Lord Orford calls the following amazing piece of folly.

"A century of the names and scantlings of such inventions, as at present I can call to mind to have tried and perfected, which (my former notes being lost) I have, at the instance of a powerful friend, endeavoured now in the year 1655, to set these down in such a way as may sufficiently instruct me to put any of them in practice."

Some of the inventions referred to in this work are the following. A ship-destroying engine, a coach-stopping engine, a balance water-work, a bucket fountain, an ebbing and flowing castle clock, a tinder-box pistol, a pocket ladder, a most admirable way to raise weights, a stupendous water-work. For the last contrivance the marquis procured an act of parliament in 1663, for the sole benefit arising from it, one-tenth of it being appropriated to Charles II. and his successors.

In a manuscript addition to a copy of the Century of Inventions, the stupendous or water-commanding engine is described as boundless for height or quantity, requiring no external, or even additional help or force to be set or continued in motion, but what intrinsically is afforded from its own operation, nor yet the twentieth part thereof, and the engine consisteth of the following particulars. 1. A perfect counterpoise for what quantity ever of water. 2. A perfect countervail for what height ever it is to be brought unto. 3. A primum mobile, commanding both height and quantity, regulator-wife. 4. A vicegerent or countervail, supplying the place, and performing the full force of man, wind, beast, or mill. 5. A helm or stern, with bit and reins, wherewith any child may guide, order, and controul the whole operation. 6. A particular magazine for water, according to the intended quantity or height of water. 7. A place for the original fountain, or even river to run into, and naturally of its own accord incorporate itself with the rising water, and at the very bottom of the same aqueduct, though never so big or high.

Various and very opposite opinions have been held with regard to the title of this nobleman to be considered as a mechanical genius. Lord Orford has pronounced his work an amazing piece of folly; and Mr Hume, speaking of his political conduct, says, "that the king judged aright of this nobleman's character, appears from his Century of Arts, or Scantling of Inventions, which is a ridiculous compound of lies, chimeras, and impossibilities, and shows what might be expected from such a man." Hist. of England. It may be fairly presumed from the quotations now made, that neither Lord Orford nor Mr Hume was qualified to judge of the marquis's work, otherwise a more temperate or a more modified opinion would have been given. By others, the author of the inventions has been regarded as one of the greatest mechanical geniuses, and is to be considered as the inventor of the steam-engine, which he denominates a stupendous water-work. There seems to be no reason to suppose that any steam-engine was erected by the marquis himself; but it is said that Captain Savary, after reading the marquis's books, tried many experiments upon the power and force of steam, and at last fell upon a method of applying it to raise water; and having bought up and destroyed all the marquis's books that could be got, claimed the honour of the invention to himself, and obtained a patent for it. The marquis of Worcester is sometimes confounded with John Tiptoft, earl of Worcester, a very accomplished literary character, who lived in the times of Henry VI. and Edward IV. Being attached to Edward, he absconded during the short restoration of Henry, and being taken concealed in a tree in Waybridge forest in Huntingdonshire, he was brought to London, accused of cruelty in his administration of Ireland, and condemned and beheaded at the Tower in the year 1470. This nobleman translated Cicero de Amicitia, some parts of Caesar's Commentaries, and was the author of several other works.