Being a minor at the time of his father's death, in 1597, he was given in wardship, by Queen Elizabeth, to the famous Sir Edward Coke, afterwards Lord Chief Justice of the court of King's Bench. Soon after he came of age, he was made a Knight of the Bath, at the coronation of King James I. He was created a Baronet in 1611, with the first who were promoted to that dignity; and in 1619, was sent joint-ambassador with Sir John Digby, Earl-of Bristol, into Spain, to manage the nice and difficult proposal of a marriage, between Charles, Prince of Wales, and the Infanta, daughter of Philip III. in which, says his grandson, "he proceeded with great prudence and warynesse, and with a sincere zeale to have served his prince, yet was a true and fast friend to the then Duke of Buckingham."[1] He returned to England, just after the death of King James, and
- ↑ Ex autogr. Dom. Gualt. Bar. de Aston, nepotis, penes me.
"To all the ancient Families of the Lucyes, and to all their Honourable Extractions.
Luci Quasi Luxi.
Lucy, bright morning-star, pure light divine,
Drawn from the Roman, and the Norman line!
In every revolution still the same,
Their countrey's honour and transcendent flame.
From this dear spring I am a little stream,
From this Apollo a derived beam.
In gratitude unto that root, and ground,
That noble being, I my being found,
Lamp of their countrey, to their endless praise
I dedicate these soft and humble layes."
I must not omit, that it was the threat of a prosecution for deer-stealing in his park, at Charlecote, by Sir Thomas Lucy, father of Lady Aston, which compelled Shakespeare to go to London, and to attach himself to the theatre.
