I remember my best love and service to yr lop. and my good lady.* I am London, June 25, 1621. Ever at your lop's comaund George, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, ob. 1590. Gilbert, 7th Earl of Shr. K. G. 1. Jac. 1. (1603) ob. 1616. Walter, 1st Lord Aston, K. B. appointed 15 Jac. 1. (1617) William, Earl of Pembroke 5. Car. 1. (1630) Walter, 1st Lord Aston, 2d time 7. Car. 1. (1632) 3d., 12. Car. 1. (1636) ob. 1639. Walter, 2d Lord Aston, appointed on his father's death, 15. Car. 1. (1689) grants the deputation to his son, 12 Car. 2. 1660. Duke of Monmouth, succeeded by Philip, Earl of Chesterfield, (1669) in which year he appointed Walter Aston, Esq. his deputy. * Lady Aston appears to have followed Sir Walter to Madrid, with her family. Among the poems of Drayton, there is one "On the noble Lady Aston's Departure for Spain." Sir Richard Weston, Knt. was descended of an ancient family, in the county of Stafford, and was at this time member of parliament for the city of Lichfield. In the year 1619, he had been sent ambassador with Sir Edward Conway, into Bohemia, to close up the breach between the emperor and the elector palatine; and the ensuing year he was dispatched to Brussels, there to treat with the ambassadors of the emperor, and the king of Spain, touching the restitution of the palatinate. He was soon after appointed chancellor, and under-treasurer of the exchequer; and discharged this office with so much ability and integrity, that on the 25th May, 22 Jac. 1. he had a commission to execute the office of Treasurer of the Exchequer during the king's pleasure. In 4 Char. 5. he was advanced to the dignity of a baron, by the title of Lord Weston, of Neyland, in Suffolk; and the same year was appointed Lord High Treasurer. In 6 Car. 1. he was elected knight of the most noble order of the Garter, and made Captain of the Isle of Wight. Two years after, he was created Earl of Portland, and died in 1634, at Wallingford House, in Westminster, but was buried at Winchester. ners. Pennant's character of him is worth transcribing. "This nobleman," says he, " is a proof how honours change manHe set out with a great character for prudence, spirit, and abilities; and discharged his duty as ambassador, and on his return, as chancellor of the exchequer, with much credit. Under the ministry of the Duke of Buckingham, he was appointed Lord High Treasurer, on which he suddenly became so elated, that he lost all disposition to please; and soon after the duke's death, became his successor in the public hatred, without succeeding him in his credit at court. His lust after power, and his rapacity to raise a great fortune, were unmeasurable; yet the jealousy of his temper frustrated the one, and the greatness of his expences the other. His imperious nature led him to give frequent offence, yet his timidity obliged him to make hu miliating concessions to the very people he had offended." (Journ. from Chest. to London, p. 240.) The Earl of Portland was twice married, 1. To Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Wm. Pincheon, Esq. of Writtle, in Essex, by whom he had one son, who died unmarried before his father, and two daughters; 1. Elizabeth, married Sir John Netterville, son and heir of Nicholas Visct Netterville, in Ireland; and 2. Mary, married Walter, second Lord Aston. LETTER VII. To the Right Honoble Sr Walter Aston, Knight, Lord Embassador, resident in Spayne, for his Matie of Great Bretayne. My very good Lord, I return you many thankes for the favor you have done me, in sendinge me the relation of the discovery made by the twoe brethren of the newe straight of St Vincent. I confesse I am much transported with a desire to understand newe discoveries, and therefore I beseech yr lop. if any other of the like nature shall happen to passe the presse during yor imployment there, that you would be pleased to bestowe them uppon me; which I shall acknowledge for a great favor. If there be any bookes that have been printed of the story of Barbary since the death of Muley Mahomet, whoe was the first esta *The Strait of St Vincent is in the Pacific Ocean, near the coast of South America. blisher of the Kinges of Fez and Morocco, in the familie of the Xariffes, and whose posteritie now reigns, I beseech yor lop. to comand one of yor servants to make search for them for the variety and changes that have been in those partes, exceeds any modern storie. Yor lop. may see howe bold I am with : * Muli Mahomet, the first Sharif or Shiref of Morocco, seized the sceptre of that empire, about the year 1500. The following remarkable story of one of his successors, who died in the year 1575, is related in the Spectator, No. 349. "I shall conclude this paper with the instance of a person who seems to me to have shown more intrepidity and greatness of soul in his dying moments than what we meet with among any of the most celebrated Greeks and Romans. I met with this instance in the History of the Revolutions of Portugal, by the Abbe de Vertot. "When Don Sebastian, King of Portugal, had invaded the territories of Muli Moluc, Emperor of Morrocco, in order to dethrone him, and set the crown upon the head of his nephew, Moluc was wearing away with a distemper which he himself knew was incurable. However he prepared for the reception of so formidable an enemy. He was indeed so far spent with his sickness that he did not expect to live out the whole day, when the last decisive battle was given: but knowing the fatal consequences that would happen to his children and people, in case he should die before he put an end to that war, he commanded his principal officers, that if he died during the engagement, they |