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 deseâ—ves 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 Mâ—nnors 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 meâ—sure 9. In his Travels which was almost nine years befoâ—e 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 â—bout the 30 â—h 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 Italy 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 discovered 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 Baldi an Italian Having deliverd his Letters and Message and privately told the King that he was indeed an English-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 send for his Brother Henrie Being brought to the King he took him in his arms and bade him welcome 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—â— of those 22 years of his raign but before he dismist Octavio Baldi from his present attendance upon him he restoâ—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 a 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 and 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 moâ—e retirement and best suiting with his Genius who did ever love to joyn with businesse studâ—e and a trayal of natural experience for which fruitfâ—l Italy that darling of nature and cherisher of all arts is so justly famed in all parts of the Christian World Having therefoâ—e resolved upon Venice and a large allowance being appointed by the King for his voyage thither and a settled mâ—intenance during his stay there he left England nobly accompained through France to Venice by Gentlemen of the best Families anâ— Breeding that this Nation afforded Sir Albertus Morton his Nepheâ— went his Secretarie and William Bedel a man of choice learning and sâ—nctified 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 deliverd 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 ontests 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 Which History was as faâ—t 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 Universal Language 14. For eight years after Sir Henrie Wotton's going into Italie he stood fair and highly valued but at last became much clouded by this accident Being merry with his friends at Augusta men of the best note for learning and ingenuousness the Virtuosâ— of that Nation he was requested by Christopher Flecamore to write some Sentence in his Albo a book of white paper which for that purpose many of the German Gentry usually carry about them and consenting to the motion took an occasion from some accidental discourse of the present company to write a pleasant definition of an Embassador in these very words Legatus est Vir boâ—us peregrè missus ad mentiendum Reipub. causa which Sir Henrie could have been content should have been thus Englished An Ambassador is an honest man sent to lie abroad for the good of his Countrie But the word for lie being the hinge upon which the conceit was to turn was not so expresse in Latin as would admit in the hands of an enemy especially so fair a construction as Sir Henrie thought in English This coming to the knowledge of K. James by the malicious pen of Caspar Scioppius much offended his Majestie and this caused Sir Henrie Wotton to write two Apologies one in Latin to Velserus and another to K. James which were so ingenuous so clear and so choicely eloquent that his Majestie who was a pure Judge of it could not forbear to declare publiâ—kly That Sir H. Woâ—ton had commuted sufficiently for a greater offence And now as broken bones well set become stronger so Sir Henrie Wotton did not only recover but was much more confirmed in his Majesties favour 15. And his Interest stil increased with the Duke Leonardo Donato after whose death as though it had been an entaild love it was still found living in the succeding Dukes during all the time of his employment to that State which was almost 20 years All whiâ—h time he studyed the Dispositions of those Dukes the Consultors of State wel knowing that he who negotiates a continual business and neglects the studie of dispositions usually fails in his proposed ends But this Sir H. Wotton did not For by a fine sorting of fit Presents curious and not costly entertainments alwaies sweetned by various and pleasant discourse by his choice application of stories and his so elegant delivery of all these even in their Italian Language he first got and still preserved such interest in the State of Venice that it was observed such was either his merit or his modestie they never denyed him any request 16. When he had attended the Emperour and German Princes eight months to incline them to equitable conditions for the Restoration of the Queen of Bohemia and her Descendants to their Patrimonial Inheritance of the Palatinate and had brought the businesse to a probability of successe but after a victory gotten by the Imperial Army saw the face of peace altered at his departure from the Emperour he was so bold as humbly to advise him to use his Victorie soberly and still put on thoughts of peace Which advice though it seemed to be spoke with some passion yet was taken in good part by the Emperour who was ever much pleased with his cariage all the time that he resided in his Court and said That though the King his Master was lookt on as an Abetter of his enemie the Palsgrave yet he took him to be a Person of much honour and merit and did therefore desire him to accept of that Jewel as a testimonie of his good opinion of him which was a Jewel of Diamonds of more value than a thousand pounds This was received with all circumstances and terms of honour by Sir H. Wotton but the next morning at his departing from Vienna at his taking leave of the Countess of Salvina an Italian Lady in whose house the Emperour had appointed him to be lodged and honourably entertained He acknowledged her merits and besought her to accept of that Jewel as a testimonie of his gratitude presenting her with the same that was given him by the Emperour Which being suddenly discovered by the Emperour was by him taken for a high affront and Sir H. Wotton told so To which in the nobleness of his mind he repli'd That though he received it with thankfulness yet he found in himself an indisposition to be the better for any gift that came from an Enemie to his Royal Mistresse for so the Queen of Bohemia was pleas'd he should call her 17. Many other of his Services to his Prince and this Nation might be insisted on as his procuration of Privileges and courtesies with the German Princes and the â—epublick of Venice for the English Merchants his releasing and relieving many hundred captivated English soldiers and sending them back in a comfortable condition to thank God for their lives and libertie in their own Nation but I must haâ—â— to bring Sir H. Wotton in an instant from Venice to London whither he returned that year in which K. James dyed 18. The King had for the reward of his forrein service promised him the reversion of an Office which was fit to be turned into present money and also granted him the Reversion of the Master of the Rolls place if he outlived charitable Sir Julius Caesar who then possessed it and then grown so old that he was said to be kept alive beyond natures course by the prayers of those many poor which he dayly relieved Mean while his condition requir'd present support For in the beginning of these imployments he sold to his elder brother the Lord Wotton the Rent-charge left by his good Father and which is worse was now at his return indebted to several persons whom he was not able to satisfie but by the Kings payment of his Arrears He had brought into England many servants of whom some were German and Italian Artists This was part of his condition who had many times hardly sufficient to supply the occasions of the day For it may by no means be said of his providence as himself said of Sir Philip Sidney's wit That it was the very measure of congruitie he being alwaies so careless of mony as though our Saviours words Care not for to morrow were to be literally understood 19. But it pleased God that in this juncture of time the Provostship of his Majesties College of Eaton became void by the death of Murray for which there were as the place deserv'd many earnest and powerful Suitors to the King Sir Henrie who had for many years rolled the restlesse stone of a State employment and knowing experimentally that the
great blessing of sweet content was not to be found in multitudes of men or businesse and that a College was the fittest place to nourish holy thoughts and to afford rest both to his body and mind which his Age being now almost threescore years seemed to require did therefore use his own and the interest of all his Friends to procure it By which means and quitting the King of his promised reversionary Offices and by a piece of honest policy he got a grant of it from his Majestie 20. And this was a fair settlement to his mind but money was wanting to furnish him with those necessaries which attend removes and a settlement in such a place To procure that he wrote to his old friend Mr Nicholas Pey in whom was a radicated horestie and true gratitude to the Family having been preferd at Court by the Lord Wotton to use all his interest to procure five hundred pounds of his Arrears for lesse â—ould not settle him at the College and the want of it wrinkled his face with cares 't was his own expression and that being procur'd he should the next day after find him in his College and Invidiae remedium writ over his study door 21. This mony being procured and he being settled according to the desires of his heart the College being to his mind as a quiet harbour to a Seafaring man after a tempestious voyage his first study was the Statutes of the College by which he conceiv'd himself bound to enter into Holy Orders which he did being made Deacon with convenient speed Shortly after as he came in his Surplice from the Church-service an old friend a person of quality met him so attired and joyed him to whom Sir H. Wotton replyed I thank God and the King by whose goodnesse I now â—m in this condition a condition which the Emperour Charles the fifth seemed to approve c. I dayly magnifie my God for this particular mâ—rcie of an exemption from businesse a quiet mind and a liberal maintenance even in this part of my life when my Age and infiâ—mities seem to sonnd me a retreat from the pleasures of this world and invite me to contemplation in which I have ever taken the greatest felicitie 21. After his customary publick Devotions his use was to retire into his Study and there to spend some hours in reading the Bible and Authoâ—s in Divinity closing up his Meditations with private prayer This was for the most part his employment in the forenoon But when he was once sate at Dinner then nothing but cheerful thoughts possess'd his mind and those still encreased by constant companie at his Table such persons as brought thither additions both of learning and pleasure But some part of most daies was usually spent in Philosophical conclusions Nor did he forget his innate pleasure of Aâ—gling which he did usually call his idle time not idly spent saying He would rather live five May-months than fortie Decembers He was a great lover of his neighbors and a bountiful entertainer of them very often at his Table where his meat was choice and his discourse better 22. He was a constant cherisher of all those Youths in that School in whom he found etiher a constant diligence or a genius that prompted them to learning For whose encouragement he was beside many other things of necessity and bounty at the charge of setting up in it two rows of Pillars on which he caused to be drawn the pictures of divers of the most famous Greek and Latin Historians Poets and Orators persivading them not to neglect Rhetorick Because Almightie God has left mankind Affections to be wrought upon And he would often say That none despised Eloquence but such dull Souls as were not capable of it He would also often make choice of Observations out of those Historians and Poets but he would never leave the School without dropping some choice Greek or Latin Apothegm or Sentence such as were worthy of a room in the memory of a growing Scholar He was pleased constantly to breed up one or more hopely Youths which he picked out of the School and took into his own domestick câ—re and to attend him at his meals Out of whose behaviour and discourse he gathered observations for the better compleating of his intended work of Education of which by his still striving to make the whole better he lived to leave but part of posterity 23. He was a great enemy to wrangling Disputes of Religion Having in Rome made acquaintance with a pleasant Priest who invited him one evening to hear their Vesper-musick at Church the Priest seeing Sir Henrie stand obscurely in a corner sends to him by a boy of the Quire this question writ in a small piece of paper Where was your Religion to be found before Luther To which question Sir Henrie presently underwrit My religion was to be found then where yours is not to be found now in the written word of God To another that asked him Whether a Papist may be saved he replyed You may be saved without knowing that look to your self To another whose earnestnesse exceeded his knowledge and was still railing against the Papists he gave this advice Pray Sir forbear till you have studied the points better for the wise Italians have this Proverb He that understands amisse concludes worse And take heed of thinking the farther you go from the Church of Rome the nearer you are to God 24. And to another that spake indiscreet and bitter words against Arminius I heard him reply to this purpose In my travels I rested almost a year at Leyden where I entred into an acquaintance with Arminius then Professor of Divinitie in that Vniversitie a man much talkt off in this Age which is made up of opposition and contrariety And indeed if I mistake not Arminius in bis expressions as so weak a brain as mine is may easily do then I know and differ from him in some points Yet I professe my judgment of him to be that he was a man of most rare learning and I know him to be of a most strict life and of a most meek spirit And doubtlesse many middle-witted men which yet may mean well many Scholars that are not in the highest Form for learning which yet may preach well do justly fall under the reproof of S. Jude for being busie-bodies and for medling with things they understand not 25. This is some Account both of his Inclination and the Imployment of his time in the College where he seemed to have his Youth renewed by a continual conversation with that learned Societie and a dayly recourse of other friends of choicest breeding and parts by which that great blessing of a cheerful heart was still maintained he being alwaies free even to the last of his daies from that peevishnesse which usually attends age Yet his mirth was sometimes dampt by the remembrance of divers old debts and finding some decaies of health he did about