To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
May it please your Grace,
I Have received so much comfort by the care which I see in your grace to take all occasions to honour, and favour me, that I should
be glad (if it were possible) in my affection to your person, and in my desire to serve you, that your grace might see something in me above what you cold find in any other servant. What an honest thank∣fulnesse can be. I am, and what an honest servant can yield you, shall be ever vigilant in me to serve you. Since the departure of the last post (by whom I wrote lately unto your Grace) my Lord of Bri∣stol hath had audience with this King (taking me along with him) to whom his Lordship represented the King our Masters desire con∣cerning the Palatinate in conformity to what his Majesty hath com∣manded by his late letters, we are now soliciting to hasten this kings answer, which we hope we shall shortly send unto his Majesty, and there is no diligence omitted by my Lord of Bristol, nor my self (that we can think on) to negotiate such an answer, as may be to his maje∣sties good liking. The Dispatches from Rome are not yet come, but by letters which they have lately received from the Duke of Pastrana; it is advertized, that all things are concluded, and that he would send them away within a few dayes. By my Lord of Bristols Letter to his Majesty, your grace will understand the resolution, which his Lordship hath taken concerning his proceedings upon the arival of of the dispaches from Rome: his Lordships hath communicated with me his Majesties Letter, and desired my opinion concerning the re∣solution, which he had taken, wherein I have concurred with his Lord∣ship, not understanding it any way to be differing in substance from his Majesties directions; the altering of the day mentioned in his Ma∣jesties letters being onely the changing it from a time when the pow∣ers are of no force, to a time when they may be of use: the putting of any thing in execution in the one time, or in the other, depend∣ing upon his Majesties, and his Highnesses further directions. I have hitherto understood, that his Majesty and his highnesse have really affected this match, and have laboured faithfully to second their desires with my utmost endeavours. There is none I am sure a bet∣ter witnesse then my self of the affection which your Grace hath born unto it, which I have seen remain constant through many tryals. And therefore until I understand the contrary from your self, I must believe that your desires are the same, which I have seen them. I must ever speak my heart freely unto your Grace, and confess that upon the letter which I received from his Highnesse, and upon the sight of his Majesties to my Lord of Bristol, I have been jealous of his Majesties heart and his Highnesse, that they are not that to the match which they have been; but these are but distrusts of my own, and not founda∣tion sufficient to slacken or cool those diligences which I daily per∣form
in conformity to his Majesties, and his Highnesse Commands, and to what remains apparent of their desires. I shall therefore hum∣bly desire your Lordship to open mine eyes, and if I am out of the way to let me straight, for I have no affections of mine own, but what agrees with my Masters, and will ever submit with all humility my self, and my judgment unto his Majesties wisedome, and faithfully labour to serve him accordingly to what I shall understand to be his will and pleasure. But untill I know by your Graces favour by what Compasse to guide my Course, I can onely follow his Majesties revealed will; and will once take the boldnesse to represent unto your Grace in discharge of what I owe you these Considerations, which my desire to serve you, forceth from me. I do look upon your Grace as a person infinitely provoked to be an enemy to this match, and believe, that you have had represented unto you many reasons, shewing how much it concerns you to seek to break it, with all the force you have: But I can neither believe, that the errour of one man can make you an enemy to that, which brings along with it so much happinesse and content unto his Majestie, and his Highnesse: nor that your Graces judgment can be led by those arguments, that under the colour of safety, would bring you into a dangerous laby∣rinth. Your Grace hath given noble testimonie, how little you have valued your own safety in respect of his Majesties service, and there∣fore I assure my self you would contemn all Considerations concern∣ing your self, that might hinder the advancement of his Majesties ends. In the proceeding to this Match, there is the same convenien∣cy to his Majestie, that ever hath been, there is the same Lady, the same portion, the same friendship desired, they professing here an exact complying with what is capitulated, and a resolution to give his Majestie satisfaction in whatsoever is in their power. From your Grace none can take away the honour of having been the principal means by which this great businesse hath been brought to a Conclu∣sion. And whatsoever others may suggest against your Grace, the Infanta truly informed, cannot but understand you the person to whom she owes most in this businesse. Your Grace, and the Conde Olivarez, have fallen upon different waies, that which concerns the honour of the King our Master, being different to that, which he un∣derstood concerned most his Master, your ends were both one for the effecting of the Match, and with the Conclusion of it, he cannot but better understand you. Would your Grace would commit it to my charge to inform the Infanta what you have merited, and to ac∣commodate all other mistakes here concerning the proceeding. If
your Grace would reconcile your heart, I would not doubt, but with the Conclusion of the Match to compose all things to your good sa∣tisfaction, and to bring them to a truer understanding of you, and of their obligation unto you. In what a Sea of Confusions the break∣ing of this alliance would ingage his Majestie, I will leave to your Lordships wisdom to consider of, it being too large a discourse for a Letter.
I will therefore onely desire your Lordship to consider, that even the most prosperous War hath misfortune enough in it to make the Authour of it unhappie: of which how innocent soever your Lord∣ship is, the occasions that have been given you, will ever make you liable to the aspersion of it. This I write not unto your Grace as thinking to divert you from what you are falling into; for I am con∣fident your heart runs a more peaceable way: but I am willing, that you should see, that howsoever others should be inclined to carrie you into this tempest, it concerns you, in your care of their happi∣nesse, and your own, to divert them from it. I humbly desire your Grace to pardon this errour of mine (if it be one) which I can ex∣cuse with the affection, and infinite desire, which I have to see you ever happie and flourish.
Concerning my self, your Grace knowes my wants, and I doubt not but your Care is what I could wish. I should be glad when you have done with Peter Wych to see him dispatched away with some sup∣plies unto me, which I shall be in extream want of by Christmasse, my debts besides in England being clamorous upon me for some satisfa∣ction. I leave all to your Graces care and favour, Ever resting
Your Graces humblest and most bound servant, Wa: Aston.
THe Condessa of Olivarez bids me tell you, that she kisses your Graces hands, and doth every day recommend you particularly by name in her prayers to God.