r Maurice of Nassau and
Gustavus Adolphus, and held the rank of colonel in the Royalist
army. He closely attached himself to Prince Rupert, and was an
active agent in affecting the reconciliation between that prince and
his uncle Charles I. Colonel Legge distinguished himself in several
actions, and was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of
Worcester; it was said that he would have "been executed if his wife
had not contrived his escape from Coventry gaol in her own clothes."
He was Groom of the Bedchamber to Charles I., and also to Charles
II.; he held the offices of Master of the Armories and Lieutenant-
General of the Ordnance. He refused honours (a knighthood from
Charles I. and an earldom from Charles II.), but his eldest son
George was created Baron Dartmouth in 1682. He died October 13th,
1672, at his house in the Minories, and was buried in]

and have got an order that no Treasurer after him shall ever sit at the
Board; and it is a good one: that no master of the Ordnance here shall
ever sell a place. He tells me they have not paid any increase of price
for any thing during this war, but in most have paid less; and at this
day have greater stores than they know where to lay, if there should be
peace, and than ever was any time this war. That they pay every man in
course, and have notice of the disposal of every farthing. Every man
that they owe money to has his share of every sum they receive; never
borrowed all this war but L30,000 by the King's express command, but do
usually stay till their assignments become payable in their own course,
which is the whole mystery, that they have had assignments for a fifth
part of whatever was assigned to the Navy. They have power of putting
out and in of all officers; are going upon a building that will cost
them L12,000; that they out of their stock of tallies have been forced
to help the Treasurer of the Navy at this great pinch. Then to talk of
newes: that he thinks the want of money hath undone the King, for the
Parliament will never give the King more money without calling all
people to account, nor, as he believes, will ever make war again, but
they will manage it themselves: unless, which I proposed, he would
visibly become a severer inspector into his own business and accounts,
and that would gain upon the Parliament yet: which he confesses and
confirms as the only lift to set him upon his leg