Concordat cum originali,

Exv.

E. NICHOLAS.*

* For Lord Cottington see above, Letter VIII. Note (†). Windebank was secretary of state.

Sir Edward Nicholas, afterwards so celebrated, and so well known as the friend of Lord Clarendon, was at this time secretary to the Admiralty.

LETTER XVI.*

MY DEARE FREND,

Whereas there hath been much friendship and kindnes betwixt us for so long a time, I

* On the establishment of the church of England, during the reigns of Edward VI. and of Queen Elizabeth, it ap pears probable, that Sir Walter Aston, grandfather of the ambassador, conformed, together with the government, and the majority of the nation, to the new religion. But his grandson, during his residence in Spain, returned to the ancient faith; which he seems to have embraced with a full conviction of its truth, and with the greatest sincerity; for he taught it to all his family, and also suffered considerable disadvantage by the change. During the usurpation of Cromwell, Walter, second Lord Aston, who had been a great sufferer in the cause of Charles I. went over to Spain, in the hope of procuring some employment under the Spanish government, in consideration of the long residence of his father at Madrid, and of the services which during his two embassies he had rendered to the Spanish monarchy. In a petition which he presented to the King of Spain, (a copy of which has been preserved) he attributes many of his father's misfortunes, and in particular the loss of the usual salary of an ambassador, to the circumstance of his

hope it shall not break of upon this occasion of my changing my religion. Howsoever, I am, I thank God, so resolved that I had rather loose the best worldly friends that ever I had then change againe from what I am. Now, because I esteeme somewhat more of you then of an ordinary friend, I have thought good to say a little more to you of this matter then I would to every one.

First, then, I would have you to think that I did not rashly make this change, nor upon a suddaine, but upon the best consideration and iudgment that my wit could reach unto. And although I was at first very fearful and loath to forsake that religion in which I was brought up, and had lived so long, yet, when I found so many reasons for it, I resolved, without any conversion to the Roman catholic faith: " y juntamente por averse reducido a la fee catholica Romana, padecio muchos danos yrremediables, no solamente de frustraçion de los condignos premios por sus calificados serviçios; pero tam bien, de la solucion de vida del salario ordinario de embaxador, que hasta el dia deoy, esta por cobrar."

With respect to this letter, in which Lord Aston details the motives of his conversion, whatever may be thought of the arguments adduced, it must be allowed that they are expressed with great perspicuity, precision, and force.

further delayes, to betake myself to that faith and belief wherein I am now determined to live and dye. And if you desire to know some of those reasons which did so much prevaile with me, in brief I will tell you.

First, then, I had read in holy scripture of a church that was begunne by Christ and his apostles, which was built upon a rock;(a) and so strong that the gates of hell should not prevaile against it. Againe, that the Holy Ghost was promised (b) unto his church to teache and guide her in all truthe (c): and that this church was therefore called the pillar (d) and foundation of truthe. Againe, that those who would not heare this church were to be accompted as heathens and publicans. (e) I found also in the same holy scripture, that in this church, Christ had left a continuall succession of pastors and doctours; (f) which succession should last to the world's end, that those that would be saved might not be carryed away with every blast of vaine doctrine, but remaine stedfast in truthe. I remembred, also, that the scripture said there should be heresies (g); to the end that those

(a) Matt. xvi. (b) Jo. xiv. (c) Jo. xvi. (d) 1 Tim. iii, (e) Matt. xviii. (f) Ephes. iv. (g) Cor. xi.

that were approved might be made manifest by resisting, condemning, and overthrowing those heresies.

These, and many other things, I remembred to be in holy scripture, which did no way agree to that religion whereof I was.

Then calling to minde that which I had often heard, to witt, that Martin Luther and his followers were the first beginners of that religion, I knew that many denyed it; but meethought it was plaine enough, because no books or histories did ever make mention of such a religion till now, since Luther's time, which was but little more than a hundred yeeres agoe: Yea, I remembred, that in our owne cronicles (that speak of the most memorable things that have been done in this realme since Christ's time till now) there is mention of many religions that have been heere professed; but no mention at all of such a religion as that which the Protestants now professe. Therefore, I thought surely, that either the true religion was never in England, or els that the Protestant's could not be it.

After this, I considered the former places of scripture, examining to what religion they did most fitly agree.