Prince Henry was created Prince of Wales, your grand-father was made a kt. of the Bath, which cost him at least a 1000l.; but wanting horses to performe those ceremonyes that attended that honor, he went downe to Mr Sadler at Standon, to borrow horses, which, by the earnest solicitation of your grand-mother, then a yong virgin lady; which service struck him wth such an affection to her, that when he returned with the horses he made his love knowne to her, which was soe kindly accepted, that they were soon after married. But the very tyme of this marriage I can give you noe accompt, but it was before he was of age, I presume, for he payd Sr Edward Coke 1000l. composicion for marrying without his consent.+

smooth and vigorous; but the writer ascribes virtues to Lord Coke which are not supported by authentic history: For though Lord Coke was one of the greatest lawyers which England has ever produced, his character was by no means free from stain and reproach.

Mr Sadler, grandson of Sir Ralph Sadler, who married one of Lord Coke's daughters, dying without issue, the Sadler estates devolved to the Aston family.

* "He obtained," or some such words, seem to have been omitted.

↑ In these times, if an heir to any landed property was

I have heard my lord say, that playing at the tenis with Prince Henry he strayned his back and fell downe, not able to rise agen, but was carryed to bed, and the kinges physicians and chirurgeon were called to him, and wrapt him

left a minor, his wardship and marriage, or, in other words, the management of his whole property, and the disposal of his person as to education and marriage, fell to the king; who generally bestowed it upon some favourite, who made the heir an allowance for maintenance and education, and kept the rest of the revenues to himself, of which he was not obliged at any time to give any account. He also generally contrived to force the young man to marry his daughter, or some near relation, or else obliged him to pay a heavy fine for marrying without his consent. This oppressive grievance, with many others arising from the feudal system, was not abolished till after the Restoration.

*Prince Henry, eldest son of King James, died at the age of eighteen, in 1612, to the great grief of the nation, which had formed the highest expectations of him. He was a most amiable and accomplished prince, and a great patron of learning and science. All historians agree in giving him an excellent and exalted character. He was certainly a most hopeful prince, and he died in a lucky hour for his fame, and happiness, while his laurels were fresh, and long before they could be blasted by envy, malice, or revenge. The few letters remaining of him, joined to the several anecdotes of his short life, show him to have been of a most noble, sincere, and generous disposition.

in a hot weather's skin, which speedily restored him. In the 5th yeare of King James, your

* With respect to this curious piece of medical practice, I have found the following extraordinary account, in Aubrey's MSS. lately published:

"Wm. Butler of Clare Hall, Cambridge, never took the degree of Doctor, though he was the greatest physician of his time. The occasion of his first being taken notice of was thus: About the coming in of King James there was a minister of (a few miles from Cambridge), that was to preach before his majesty at Newmarket. The parson heard that the king was a great scholar, and studied so exceedingly that he could not sleep; so somebody gave him some opium, which had made him sleep his last, had not this physician used the following remedy. He was sent for by the parson's wife; when he came and saw the parson, and asked what they had done, he told her that she was in danger to be hanged for killing her husband, and so in great choler hastily left her. It was at that time when the cows came into the backside to be milkt; he turns back, and asked whose cowes these were; she said her husbands. Said he, "will you give me one of these cows to fetch your husband to life again?" That she would with all her heart. He then causes one presently to be opened, and the parson to be taken out of his bed, and put into the cow's warm belly, which after some time brought him to life, or else he had infallibly died.

"MEM. There is a particular story to this in Machiavel's

grand-father purchased Blithe, in Warwickshire, which joyned to Shustock, which was formerly purchased by Sir Edward Aston his father, and by him given to a mistresse of his which was married to Mr Henry Skipwith, of whom your grand-father purchased the same, but what he paid for it I never heard. The 12th of May, 10 Jac. he was made the 15th Baronet, which cost him about 1000l. more. Before his going into Spayne (but the true tyme I cannot tell you) he purchased the manor of Colton, for which he payd 16000l. interest of money being then at ten p. cented. At his going into Spayne, he was seised of the mannors of Hilton, Bradnap, Onecote, Matherfield, Tixall, Millwich, Colton, Kingston, and Wallaston, in com. Staff.; of Edlaston, in com. Derby; Beldesert, Pinley, Bothwall, Ansley, Shustock, and Blith, in com. Warwick; Oneleap, Seton, and Barstall, in the county of Leicr.; a third part

Florentine History; where 'tis said that one of the Cosmos being poisoned was put into a mule's belly sowed up, with only a place for his head to come out."

* This estate was afterwards sold to Dugdale the famous antiquary, and became his principal residence, in the latter part of his life.

of the manor of Leigh, but indeed he had more than too parts of it, for he had Parkhall, Birchwood, parts all Painley-hill, Nobot, Witlington, and 3 or 4 of the best livings in

He had all Uttoxeter Woodlande, Hanchall in Longdon, Haywood, and houses and lands in Tamworth, Lichfield, Stafford, and Hoxale, Marton, Brocton, Ridgley, Shutburow,

Bromley Regis, Bromley Bagot, Packington, Shareshall, Hixonhall, Coton, Bramcote, Haugate, in com. Staff., lands in Wootton, Worum, Brayles, Perry Croft, Glascote, Burg, and what lay in com. Warwick. These lands are now above 10,0001. a yeare, as I can make it appeare, but all on lease for lives, and charged with many annuityes to Sir Edward Aston's servants. A little before his going into Spaine, he had a benevolence from all his tenants, but I can give noe accompt what it came to. The exact time of his lordship's goeing I cannot give, but as I take it, his stay there was about 6 yeares the first tyme, and the second three yeares. My lord hopt by his first journey to have cleered himself of his debts, but the king's pay fayling, he was forct to live upon his own

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