accept of his good will and such poor fare as he had Master Lieutenant quoth Sir Thomas I believe you are my frind I thank you for your good will and I assure you I dâ— not mislike my cheer but whensoever I do then thrusâ— me out of your doors 20. In the â—ower he had begun a Divine Treatise of the Passion of Christ and when he came to these words of the Gospel And the laid hands on him and held him they â—ook from him all his Books Ink and Paper so that he could go on no further Afterwards he applyed himself holly to Meditation keeping his Chamber windows fast shut and very dark the occasion whereof the Lieutenant asking It is time said he when all the wares are gone to shut up shop 21. After he had received the sentence of death he said to the Judges My Lords as wâ— read that Paul consented to the death of Stephen and yet be they now both Saints in Heaven and shall continue there friends for ever so I verily trust and shall therefore right heartily pray that though your Lâ—â—dships have been now Judges on earth to my condemnation we may yet hereafter all meet together in Heaven merrily to our everlasting salvation And so I pray God preserve my Soveraign Lord the King and send him faithful Councellors * See the rest if you please in this English Writer or in Stapleton's Latin book Detribus Thomis Sr. Henry Wotton Kt. VII Sr HENRY WOTTON Out of his Life written by Mr Iz Walton D. Roberto Jones Rect. de Leckhampton 1. SIR Henry Wotton was born An. 1568. in Bocton-Hall in the Paâ—ish of Boctoâ— Malherb in the fruitful Country of Kent both House and Church seated within a fair Park of the Wottons on the brow of such a hill as gives the advantage of a large prospect and of equal pleasure to all beholâ—ers But they are not remâ—rkâ—ble for any thing so much as for that the memorable Familie of the Wottons hâ—ve so long inhâ—bited the one and now lie buâ—ied in the other as appears by their mâ—ny Monuments in that Church the Wottons being a Family thâ—t bâ—th broughâ— foâ—th divers Persons eminent for Wisdom and Valour whose Heroick Acts and Noble Employments both in England and in Forein parts have adorned themselves and this Nation 2. Thomas Wotton the Father of our Henrie was a Gent. excellently educated and studious in all the liberal Arts who although he had many invitations from Queen Elizabeth to change his Countrâ—e recreations and retirement for a Court life offering him a Knighthood she was then with him at his Bocton-hall and to be but as an earnest of some more honorable and more profitable imployment under her yet he humbly refuseth both being a man of great modestie of a most plain and single heart of an antient freedom and integritie of mind A commendation which Sir Henrie took occasion often to remember with great gladness and thankfully to boast himself the Son of such a Father from whom indeed he derived that noble Ingenuitie that was alwaies practised by himself and which he ever commended and cherished in others 3. Of this Family was Nicholas Wotton Doctor of Law and sometime Dean of Canterburie a man whom God did not only blesse with a long life but with great abilitiès of mind and an inclination to employ them in the service of his Country as is restified by his several imployments having been sent nine times Embassador unto forein Princes a Privy Councellor to â— Henrie 8 Edward 6. Q. Marie and Q. Elizabeth who imployed him three several times for setling of peace between England Scotland and France who also offered him the Archbishoprick of Cant. but he refused it and dyed not rich though he had lived in the time of dissolution of Abbies He dyed saith learned Camden full of commendation for Wisdom and Pietie 4. The Father of Sir Henrie after the death of his first wife resolved if he should marry again to avoid three sorts of persons namely those that had children or had law suits or were of his kinred And yet following his own Law-suits he met in Westminster-hall with one Mrs Morton widow daughter to Sir William Finch of Kent who was also ingaged in several suits in Law and observing her Comportment at the time of hearing one of her Causes before the Judges he could not but at the same time both compassionate her condition and so affect her person that although there was in her a concurrence of all those accidents against which he had resolved yet he sollicited her for a wife and obtained her By her he had our Henrie his youngest son 5. His Mother was Tutoresse to him during his childhood for hich care and pains he paid her every day with such visible signs of future perfection in learning as turned her imployment into a pleasing trouble After his Father took him into his particular care and disposed of him to a Tutor in his own house and when time and diligent instruction had fitted him which was very early he was sent to Winchâ—ster School a place of stâ—ict Disâ—ipline and Order that so he might in his youth be moâ—ded into a method of living by rule And that he might be confirmed in this Regularitie he was at a fit age removed from that School to New Coll in Oxford 6. There he continued till about the 18th year of his age and was then transplanted into Queens Coll. where within that year he wrote a Play for their private use the Tragedie of Tancredo so ell that the gravest of that Society declared he had in a slight exercise given an early and a solid teâ—imony of future abilities About the 19th year of his age he proceeded Master of Arts and at that time read in Latin three Lectures De oculo wherein having described the form motion curious composure of the eye c. in the conclusion he took a fair occasion to beautifie his discourse with a commendation of the blessing and benefit of seeing so exactly and Rhetorically as among other admirers caused that learned Italian Albericus Gentilis then professor of the Civil Law in Oxford to call him Henrice mi ocelle which dear expression of his was used by many other persons of note during his stay in the Vniversitie 7. After his Optick Lecture he was taken into such a bosom friendship with Gentilis that if it had been possible he would have breathed all his excellent knowledge both of the Mathematicks and Law into the breast of his dear Henrie for so he used to call him and though he was not able to do that yet there was in Sir Harrie such a propensity and connaturalnesse to the Italian language and those studies whereof Gentilis was a great Master that this friendship between them did dayly increase and proved dayly advantageous to Sir Henrie for the improvement of him in several Sciences Among his other friends in Oxford I must not omit the
mention of a love there begun between him and Dr Donne whom he of this nation who pretends to learning or ingenuity and is ignorant of deserves not to knoâ— This friendship was generously elemented and as it was begun in their Youth in the â—niversity and there maintained by correspondent inclination and studies so it lasted till Age and Death forced a separation 8. The year after Sir Henrie proceeded Master of Arts his Father whom he did never mention without this or some like reverential expression That good man my Father changed this for a better life leaving to Sr Henry as to his other younger sons a rent charge of an hundred Marks a year to be paid for ever out of one of his Mannors of a much greater value About two years after being about tâ—o and twenty and having to his great Wit added the ballast of Learning he laid aside his Books and betook himself to travel and a more general conversation with Mankind imploying the remaining part of his youth to purchase the rich treasure of forein knowledg Of which both for the secrets of nature the dispositions of many Nations their several Laws and Languages he became the possessor in a very large measure 9. In his Travels which was almost nine years before his return into England he stayed but one year in France and most of that in Geneva where he became acquainted with Theodore Beza then very aged and with Isaac Casaubon that most learned man Three of the remaining eight years were spent in Germanie the other five in Italy the stage on which God appointed he should act a great part of his life where both in Rome Venice and Florence he became acquainted with the most eminent men for learning and all manner of Arts as Picture Sculpture Chymistrie Architecture and divers other manual Arts even Arts of inferiour nature of all which he was a most dear lover and a most excellent Judge 12. He returned out of Italy into England about the 30th year of his Age being then noted by many both for his person and comportment For indeed he was of a choice shape tall of stature and of a most pleasant behaviour which was so mixed with sweet discourse and civilities as gained him much love from all persons with whom he entred into an acquaintance And whereas he was noted in his youth to have a sharp wit and apt to jest That by time travel and conversation was so polished and made useful that his companie seemed to be one of the delights of mankind In so much as Robert Earl of Essex then one of the darlings of fortune invited him first into a friendship and after a knowledge of his great Abilities to be one of his Secretaries After the Earls Apprehension he passed into France and thence into Itaâ—y After some stay in France where he met with his old friend Vietta then Secretary to the great Duke he went the fourth time to visit Rome and injoyed the company of his friends notwithstanding his Religion in the English Colledge and satisfied himself concerning some curiosities 11. After his return to Florence the Duke having intercepted certain Letters that discoveâ—ed a design to take away the life of the then King of Scots sent Sir Henrie to impart it to the King under the name of Octovio Paldi an Italian Having deliverd his Letters and Message and privately told the King that he was indeed in Erglish-man he abode there three months with much pleasure to his Majestie and so returned to Florence with a fair account of his imployment Queen Elizabeth some few months after departed and King James was proclaimed When he was come into England he commanded the Lord Wotton to fend for his Brother Henrie Being brought to the King he took him in his arms and bade him â—elcome by the name of Octovio Baldi saying He was the most honest and therefore the best dissembler that ever he met with adding Since I know you neither want learning travel nor experience and that I have had so real a testimonie of your faithfulness and abilities to manage an Embassage I shall make use of you in that kind hereafter And indeed the King did so moâ—t of those 22 years of his raign but before he dismist Octavio Baldi from his present attendance upon him he resto ed him to his old name of Henrie Wotton by which he then Knighted him 12. Not long after this the King having resolved according to his Motto Beati pacifici to have â— friendship with his neighbour Kingdoms of France and Spain and also for divers weighty reasons to enter into an alliance with the State of Venâ—ce â—nd to that end to send Ambassadors to these several places did propose the choice of these employments to Sir Henrie Wotton Who considering the smalnesse of his own estate which he never took care to augment and knowing the Courts of great Princes to be sumptuous and necessarily expensive inclined most to that of Venice as being a place of more retirement and best suiting with his Genius who did ever love to joyn with busâ—nesse studâ—e and a tryal of natural experience foâ— which fruitful Italy that darling of nature and cherisher of all arts is so justly famed in all parts of the Christian World Having therefore resolved upon Venice and a large allowanâ—e being appointed by the King for his voyage thither and a settled maintenance during his stay there he left England nobly accompanied through France to Venice by â—entlemen of the best Families and Breeding that this Nation afforded Sir Albertus Morton his Nephew went his Secretarie and William Bedel a man of choice learning and sanctified wisdom his Chaplain 13. An. 1605. Sir Henrie Wotton was received by the State of Venice with much honour and gladnesse both for that he delivered his Embassage most elegantly in the Italian Language and came also in such a juncture of time as his Masters friendship seemed useful for that Republick In the contention with the Pope which lasted several years the Venetians still acquainted K. James with their proceedings by the help of Sir Henrie Wotton Mr Bedel and Padre Paulo whom the Venetians did then call to be one of their Consultors of State and with his pen to defend their cause Which was by him so performed that the Pope saw plainly he had weakned his power by exceeding it and offered the Venetians Absolution upon very easie terms which the Venetians still slighting did at last obtain by that which was scarce so much as a shew of acknowledging it These Contests were the occasion of Padre Paulo his knowledge and interest with K. James for whose sake principally Father Paulo compiled that eminent Historie of the Council of Trent Wâ—ich History was as fast as it was written sent in several sheets in Letters by Sir H. Wotton Mr Bedel and others unto K. James and the then B. of Cant in England and there first made publick both in â—nglish and in
the inwardest thoughts of his heart from whom he professed to have received more knowledge in all Divinitie both Scholastical and Positive than from any that he had ever practised in his daies Of which all the passages were well known to the King your Father of most blessed Memory 8. And so he concludes in these words With your Majesties good favour I end this needlesse office for the general fame of his learning his life and Christian temper and those religious labours which himself hath Dedicated to your Majestie do better describe him then I am able 9. Mr Bedel was to the great joy of Sir Henrie Wotton made Governor of the said Colledg and after a fair discharge of his duty and trust there he was thence removed to be Bishop of Kilmore In both which places his life was so holy as seemed to equal the primitive Christians for as they so he kept all the Ember-weeks observed besides his private devotions the Canonical hours of prayer very strictly and so he did all the Feasts and Fast-daies of his Mother the Church of England his patience and charitie were both such as shewed his affections were set upon things above 10 Indeed his whole life brought forth the fruits of the Spirit there being in him such a remarkablenesse that he had a good report of those thâ—â—â—â—re withouâ— Those that in point of Religion were of the Roman perswasion of which there were many in his Diocese did yet ever look upon him with respect and reverence and testified it by a concealing and safe protecting him in the late horrid Rebellion in Ireland when the furie of the wild Irish knew no distinction of persons yet there and then was he protected and cherished by those of a contrarie perswasion and there and then he dyed though not by violence 11. With him were lost many of his learned Writings which were worthy of preservation and among the rest was lost the Bible which by many years labour and conference and study he had translated into the Irish Tongue with an intent to have printed it for publick use DE DOMINIS facies hcec est quem Roma cremavâ—â— Cur ais Ausonium liquerat ille Iovem IX M. ANT. de DOMINIS Dean of Windsor Out of Dr Barwick D. Roberto Glyn Rect. de Risington p. 1. ABout the year 1618. there came over into England that very learned thoâ—gh unfortunate man Marcus Antonius de Dominis Arch-bishop of Spalato Primate of Dalmatia c. Which as he was wont to glory was St Hieroms Native Country as well as his 2. This great Scholar after he had so profoundly asserted the truth of Christian Religion as it is professed and practised in the Church of England in so many particulars against the errors and Corruptions of the See of Rome in his Learned and laborious books De Republica Ecclesiastica and had also from the Kings bounty received so great incouragements for his honorable supports as the Deanry of Windsour and Mastership of the Saâ—oy besides many rich and yearly presents not only from the Bishops and Clergy but also from the Nobilitie and Gentrie Was so far wrought upon by that Polititian Couâ—t Gondamar the Spanish Embassador then in England and other instruments of the See of Rome that sought his ruin under some specious pretences as to take up a resolution of returning to Rome and could not be disswaded from it by his true friends that really endeavoured hiâ— security Among whom Bishop Morton was neither the least nor last who very earnestly advised him both by word and writing not to venture himself upon such a hopelesse and hassardous journy 3. The Arch-bishops pretence was very plausible and commenâ—able and how real he was in it must be left to God namely to negotiate an unitie in Religion between the Church of Rome and the Church of England upon those moderate grounds which he had laid down and so well defended in his learned and laborious Works printed here at London He appâ—uded himself in the excellency of the work in removing the Schism and of the honour in becoming a Repairer of the breach and of the reward which is promised to the peace makers And he thought himself the more likely to go through with his work by reason of the seasonable opportuaitie he had at that time when Gregorie the fifteenth was newly chosen Pope who had been of his old and intimate acquaintance brought up in the same School and College with him And however he was resolved to make an attempt because if he failed in it he hoped he should lose nothing but his labour for as for his Indemnitie Count Gondamar had promised him the securitie of the King of Spain his Master But how well that promise was perform'd will appear by the Sequel 4. While he was swelled up full with this promise and these hopes Dr Morton the Bishop of Lichfield and Coâ—â—ntrie coming to visit him had this ensuing discourse with him among many others which I have often heard him repeat with pleasure and shall therefore insert it and the rather because it shews us of how little authority the Council of Trent would be if it were not foâ— the terrour of the inquisition Leichf Domine quid tibi in animo est Anne convertere Papam Atque etiam conclave papale Spal Quid ni domine Anne existimas eos diabo oâ— esse ut non possint converti Leiâ—hf Minime Domine nec puto dominum Spalatensum deum esse ut hoc possit praestare Nostin enim concilium â—ridientinum Spal Novi domine ausus sum tibi dicere Millies Mille sunt etiam in Italia qui huic concilio fidem nullam adhibeant 5. This discourse â—nd many other having passed between them they parted friendly And not long after did this Bishop reinforce his arguments with an addition of many more in a long and learned Epistle to him Wherein among other Motives to dissâ—ade him from his â—ourny he used one wherein he shewed himself a true Prophet concerning the entertainment he was like to have at Rome Which proved to be that before he gâ—t to Rome Pope Gregorie the fifteenth his old friend was dead and a successor chosen in his plâ—ce by whom this Arch-bishop was imprisoned in Castro St Angelo Where he died not without strong suspition of murder or poyson And his body was afterward burnt as of an Heretick in Campo Flori. 6. I could here start a problematical question concerning this learned Arch bishop Whether or no did he ever retract his works which he pulished in print If he did why did they at Rome buâ—n his body for Heresie If not then they abused him in his life time as well as after his deâ—th in the manifesto whiâ—h they put forth in his nâ—me which wâ—s so learnedly answered by Dr Crakanthrop There is but one way of avoiding this Diâ—emma and that will bring them into a greateâ— strait than either of the other namely That
this part of it To my Lords Grace of Cant now being I leave my picture of divine love rarely copied from one in the Kings Galleries of my presentation to his Majestie beseeching him to recieve it as a pledge of my humble reverence to his great wisdom And to the most worthy L. B. of London Lord high Treasurer of England in true admiration of his Christian simplicitie and contempt of earthly pomp I leave a Picture of Heraclitus bewailing and Democritus laughing at the world most humbly beseeching the said Lo. Archb. his Grace and the Lo. B. of London of both whose favours I have rasted in my life time to intercede with our most Gracious Soveraign after my death in the bowels of Jesus Christ that out of compassionate memory of my long services wherein I more studyed the publick Honour than mine own Utility some order may be taken out of my Arrears due in the Exchequer for satisfection of my Creditors c. Accordingly conscionable satisfaction was given for his just debts 26. He went usually once a year if not oftner to the beloved Bocton-hall where he would say he found both cure for all cares by the company which he called the living furniture of that place and a restorative of his health by the connaturalnesse of that which he called his genial air He yearly went also to Oxford but the Summer before his death he changed that for a jorney to Wâ—nchester College And as he returned said to his companion How useful was that advice of a holy Monk who perswaded his friend to perform his customarie devotions in a constant place because in that place we usually meet with those thoughts which possessed us at our last being there And I find it thus far experimentally true that at my now being at that School seeing that verie place where I sate when I was a boy occasioned me to remember those thoughts of my Youth which then possessed me c. 27. After his return from Winchester he fell into a dangerous fever which weakned him much â—e was then also much troubled with a continual short spitting but that infirmity he seemed to overcome in a good degree by leaving Tobacco which he had taken somewhat immoderately And about two months before his death Oct. 1639. he again fell into a fever which though â—e seemed to recover yet these still left him so weak that those common infirmities which were wont like civil friends to visit him and after some short time to depart came both oftner and at last took up their constant habitations with him still weakning his body In the beginning of a December following he fell again into a Quartane fever and in the tenth fit his better part that part of Sir Henrie Wotton which could not dy put off mortality with as much content and cheerfulnesse as humane frailty is capable of being in perfect peace with God and man His Epitaph by himself Hic jacet hujus sententiae primus Author Disputandi pruritus â—cclesiarum scabies Nomen alià s quaere Another sentence wherein he delighted Animas fieri sapientiores quiescendo Another Amor unit omnia Ob. Etonae Anno Sal. 1639. Aetat 72. VIII Mr WILLIAM BEDEL Bishop of Kilmore Out of Mr Iz Walton and Bish Hall D. Thomae Carles Rect. de Barnesley 1. WHen King James sent Sr Henrie Wotton Embassador to the State of Venice he sent also an Embassador to the King of France and another to the King of Spain With the Embassador of France went Joseph Hall late B. of N. whose many and useful Works speak his great merit with the Embassador of Spain Ja. Wadsworth and with Sir Henrie Wotton William Bedel 2. These three Chaplains to these three Embassdors were all bred in one Vniversitie all of one College all Beneficed in one Diocese and all most dear and entire friends But in Spain Mr Wadsworth met with temptations or reasons such as were so powerful as to perswade him who of the three was formerly observed to be the most averse to that Religion that calls it self Catholick to disdain himself a Member of the Church of England and declare himself for the Church of Rome discharging himself of his Attendance on the Embassador and betaking himself to a Monasterial life in which he lived very regularly and so dyed 3. When Mr Hall came into England he wrote to Mr Wadsworth t is the first Epistle in his Decads to perswade his return or the reason of his Apostacie The Letter seemed to have many expressions of love and yet there was something in it that was so unpleasant to Mr Wadsworth that he chose rather to acquaint his old friend Mr Bedel with his Motives 4. By which means there past between Mr Bedel and Mr Wadsworth very many Letters which be extant in print and did well deserve it for in them there seems to be a controversie not of Religion only but who should answer each other with most love and meeknesse Which I mention the rather because it seldome falls out so in a Book-war 5. Mr Hall in an Epistle to Mr Bedel at Venice having lamented the death of our late Divines addeth What should this work in us but an imitation yea that word is not too big for you an emulation of their worthinesse The Church our Mother looks for much at your hands She knows how rich our common Father hath left you She notes your graces your oportunities your imployments She thinks you are gone so far like a good Merchant for no small gain and looks you shall come home well laded Let me perswade you to gratifie us at home with the publication of that your exquisite Polemical Discourse whereto our conference with Mr Alablaster gave so happy an occasion You shall hereby clear many truths and satisfie all Readers yea I doubt not but an Adversarie not too perverse shall acknowledge the truths victory and Yours 6. In a Letter of Sir Henrie Wotton's to the King is mentioned a Petition to his Majestie from persons directed hither by the good wishes of the Arch-bishop of Armagh to make Mr Bedel then Resident upon a small Penefice in Suffolk Governour of Dublin College for the good of that Society And Sir Henrie himself being required to render some testimonie of Mr Bedel long his Chaplain at Venice in the time of his first employment there goeth on thus I am bound in all conscience of truth so far as your Majestie will vouchsafe to accept my pâ—ot Judgment to affirm of him that I think hardly a fitter man for that charge could have been propounded unto your Majestie in your whole Kingdom for singular erudition and pietie conformitie to the Rites of the Church and zeal to advance the Cause of God wherein his Travels abroad were not obscure in the time of the excommunication of the Venetians 7. Then he certifies the King This is the Man whom Padre Paulo took I may say into his very soul with whom he did communicate