(2.) I find no reason to suppose, that Sir Walter Aston's son and heir, the second Lord Aston, had any particular turn for literature, and poetry. I have found a letter of consolation from him, to his brother Herbert, on the death of his wife, in 1658, which is tender, and affectionate; and also, three very interesting letters to his wife, Lady Aston, dated from Lichfield; of which he was governor, when it was besieged by the parliamentary forces, in 1646. These letters prove him to have been a man of high honour, magnanimity, and courage.
(3.) I now proceed therefore to Herbert Aston, Sir Walter's third son. Herbert Aston was horn at Chelsea, in the year 1614.[1] In 1635, he accompanied his father, on his second embassy to Madrid; before which time, he appears to have formed a strong attachment for Catherine Thimelby, sister of Sir John Thimelby, of Irnham, whom he afterwards married. During his absence from England, his youngest sister, Constantia, or Constance Aston, (Mrs Fowler,) who was tenderly attached to him, did all in her power to promote this union. Herbert Aston seems to have felt, very early, the inspirations of the muse. Perhaps, the passion of love, as has happened to many other poets, first warmed his breast to poetic raptures; and he might say with Propertius,
Non hoc Calliope, non hoc mihi cantat Apollo,
Ingenium nobis ipsa puella facit.[2]
I shall now produce some extracts from his sister's letters, in
confirmation of these remarks. In a letter, dated 1636, she says,
