Page:Tixall Poetry.djvu/413

 "Indeed (says Lloyd) there was in his countenance such a throne of sweetness, and his words had so powerful a charm, set off with so agreeable and taking gravity, that the respect due to him was not lost in the love he had deserved; nor the love he attained to abated by the respect he commanded."—Worthies, vol. ii. p. 249.

In Lord Bagot's house, at Blithfield, about eight miles from Tixall, there is a portrait of the first Lord Aston painted on board. He has a firm, but pleasing countenance; short, light-coloured hair, and whiskers; his dress is black, laced with gold; and round his neck is a triple gold chain, which is said to have been a present from King Charles I.

P. 94. These lines were composed on the marriage of Walter, second Lord Aston, with the Lady Mary Weston, daughter of Richard Weston, Earl of Portland, which took place in the year 1629.

Which though to-day like some bright shrine of art &c. A remarkable story is related of Francis Borgia, Duke of Gandia in Spain, who afterwards became a saint. He was appointed to conduct the funeral of a Spanish princess, who had died suddenly, to a town at some distance from Madrid. When the procession arrived at the place of interment, it was his duty to see the face of the princess uncovered, that he might be able to swear that it was really her body. But she was in so short a time, so dreadfully changed, that it was impossible to have known it to be her. His imagination was so struck with this horrid spectacle of one, whom he had seen but a few days before, in all the bloom of youth, and splendour of a court, that he soon after renounced all his honours, titles, and estates, and became a jesuit.

the first Lord Aston, and sister to Mrs Henry Thimelby, author of these poems. Sir Wm. Persall of Canwell, her husband, had been previously married to a sister of Sir John Thimelby, of Irnham, so that there was a close connexion between the families. As to mistick patches, I fancy there is often a good deal of mystery
 * P. 97. Lady Persall was the Honourable Frances Aston, third daughter of