[948]Edward Ford[949], esquire, printed 5 or 6 sheetes in 4to—Mr. Edmund Wyld haz it—
'A designe for bringing a river from Rickmansworth in Hartfordshire to St. Gyles in the fields, the benefits of it declared and the objections against it answered, by Edward Ford of Harting in Sussex, esq., London, printed for John Clarke, 1641.' Memorandum that now (1681/2) London is growne so populous and big that the new river of Middleton can serve the pipes to private houses but twice a weeke, quod N. B.
I beleeve this was afterwards Sir Edward Ford, quondam a gentleman commoner of Trinity College, Oxon: de quo vide in prima parte A. W.
Vide in my trunke of papers a printed sheet of his of....
['Twas[950]he built the high water-house over against Somerset howse, pulled downe since the restauration because a nusance.]
[951]'Experimental proposalls how the king may have money to pay and maintaine his fleetes with ease to the people, London may be re-built and all proprietors satisfied, money be lent at 6li.per cent on pawnes, and the fishing trade sett-up; and all without strayning or thwarting any of our lawes or customes,' by Sir Edward Forde, London, printed by W. Godbid, 1666—a 4to pamphlet.
[952]Sir Edward Ford's body was brought over into England, and buried at Harting Church in Sussex with his ancestors—obiit Sept. 3.
His brother tells me that this August he is 65 years old and that Sir Edward was borne in Aprill and one yeare and a half older then he.
Sir Edward Ford first proposed his invention, the way of farthings for this nation, and was opposed. He could not gett a patent here: prince Rupert would have it, if he could. So then he went into Ireland and dyed fortnight before he had effected the getting of his patent.
[953]Sir Edward Ford writt no books, but two or three pamphletts of a sheet or so, which I have some where, and have informed you of. One was an ingeniose proposall of a publique banke, as I remember, for the easy raysing of money and to avoyd the griping usurers and to promote trade.