cn reading them declared, "that Sir Henry Wot"ton had fufficiently commutted for a greater "offence." Upon this reconciliation, Sir Henry became' more in favour with his Majefty than ever; like friends who have been for fome time feparated, they meet again with double fervour, and their friendship increases to a greater warmth. During the twenty years which Sir Henry was ambassador at Venice, he had the good fortune to be fo well refpected by all the Dukes, and the leading men of the Republic, that his interest every year increased, and they feldom denied him any favour he asked for his countrymen who came to Venice; which was, as Walton expresses it, a city of refuge for all Englishmen who were any way diftreffed in that Republic. Walton proceeds to relate two particular inftances of the generofity, and tendernefs of his difpofition, and the noblenefs ofhis mind, which, as they ferve to illuftrate his character, deferve a place here. There had been many Englishmen brought by commanders of their own country, to ferve the Venetians for pay, against the Turks; and those Englifh, by irregularities, and imprudence, committed fuch offences as brought them into prifons, and expofed them to work in gallies. Wotton could not be an unconcerned fpectator of the miseries of his countrymen: their offences he knew proceeded rather from wantonnefs, and intemperance, than any real principles of difhonour; and therefore he thought it not beneath him to become a petitioner for their releasement. He was happy in a fuccefsful reprefentation of their calamities, they were set at liberty, and had an opportunity of returning to their own country in comfort, in place of languishing in jails, and being flaves at the Gallies; and by this compaffionate Interpofition with the Republick, he had the bleffings of many miferable wretches: the highest highest pleasure which any human being can enjoy on this fide immortality. Of the generofity and nobleness of his mind, Walton gives this instance; Upon Sir Henry Wotton's coming a fecond time to Venice, he was employed as embaffador to several of the German princes, and to the Emperor Ferdinando II. and this embaffy to these princes was to incline them to equitable measures, for the restoration of the Queen of Bohemia, and her defcendants, to their patrimonial inheritance of the Palatinate. This was by eight months conftant endeavours and attendance upon the Emperor and his court, brought to a probability of a fuccefsful conclufion, by a treaty; but about that time the Emperor's army fought a battle fo fortunately, as put an end to the expected treaty, and Sir Henry Wotton's hopes, who when he quitted the Emperor's court, humbly advifed him, to me his victory with moderation, which advice the Emperor was pleased to hear graciously, being well fatisfied with Wotton's behaviour during his refidence at his court. He then told him, that tho' the King his master was looked upon as an abetter of his enemy, yet he could not help demonftrating his regard to him, by making him a prefent of a rich jewel of diamonds, worth more than ten thousand pounds. This was received with all poffible refpect by Sir Henry; but the next morning upon his departing from Vienna, at his taking leave of the Counters of Sabrina, an Italian lady, in whofe house he refided, he expreffed his gratitude for her civilities by prefenting her with the jewel given him by the Emperor, which being afterwards discovered, was by the Emperor taken as an affront; but Sir Henry acknowledging his gratitude for the mark of diftinction fhewn to him, at the fame time declared, he did not chufe to receive profit from any pre prefent, given him by an enemy of his royal miftrefs, for fo the Queen of Bohemia, the eldest daughter of the King of England, permitted him to call her. Upon Sir Henry Wotton's return from his embaffy, he fignified an inclination to the King to be ex-". cufed from any further employment in foreign affairs, to retire from the bustle of life, and spend the evening of his days in ftudious eafe and tranquility. His Majefty in confequence of this request, promifed him the reverfion of an office, which was the place of Master of the Rolles, if he out-lived Sir Julius Cæfar, who then poffeffed it, and was grown fo old, that he was faid to be kept alive beyond nature's course, by the prayers of the many people who daily lived upon his bounty. Here it will not be improper to obferve, that Sir Henry Wotton had, thro' a generofity of temper, reduced his affairs to fuch ftate, that he could not live without fome prontable employment, as he was indebted to many perfons for money he borrowed to fupport his dignity in his embaffy, the King's appointment for that purpose being either not regularly paid, or too inconfiderable for the expence. This rendered it impoffible for him to wait the death of Sir Julius Cæfar; befides that place had been long follicited by that worthy gentleman for his fon, and it would have been thought an ill-natured office, to have by any means pre vented it. It luckily happened at this time, that the Provoftship of his Majefty's college at Eaton became vacant by the death of Mr. Murray, for which there were many earnest and powerful follicitations. This place was admirably fuited to the courfe of life Wotton refolved to purfue, for the remaining part of his days; he had feen enough of the world to be fick of it, and being now threefcore fcore years of age, he thought a college was the fitteft place to indulge contemplation, and to rest his body and mind after a long ftruggle on the theatre of life. In his fuit for this place he was happily fuccefsful, and immediately entered into holy orders, which was neceffary, before he could take poffeffion of his new office. Walton has related the particular manner of his fpending his time, which was divided between attendance upon public devotion, the more private duties of religion, and the care which his function demanded from him of the affairs of the college. In the year 1639 Sir Henry died in Eaton-College, and was buried in the chapel belonging to it. He directed the following fentence to be put upon a marble monument to be erected over him. Hic jacit hujus fententiæ primus author. Difputandi pruritus ecclefiarum fcabies. Nomen alias quære. Which may be thus rendered into English ; Here lyeth the first author of this fentence. The itch of difputation will prove the fcab of the church. Enquire his name elsewhere. Sir Henry Wotton has been allowed by all critics to be a man of real and great genius, an upright statesman, a polite courtier, companionate and benevolent to thofe in diftrefs, charitable to the poor, and in a word, an honest man and a pious chrif tian. As a poet he feems to have no confideraable genius. His verfification is harmonious, and fomeVOL. I. No. 4. N times times has an air of novelty, his turns are elegant, and his thoughts have both dignity and propriety to recommend them. There is a little piece amongst his collections called the World, which we fhall before we give an account of his works. The world's a bubble: and the life of man, Lefs than a fpan. In his conception wretched from the womb, So to the tomb, Nurft from his cradle, and brought up to years, Who then to frail mortality shall trust, But lymns in water, or but writes in duft. Courts are but only fuperficial fchools, To dandle fools: The rural part is turned into a den Of favage men : And where's a city from vice fo free, But may be termed the worst of all the three? Domestic cares afflict the husband's bed, Or pains his head. Those that live fingle take it for a curse, Or do things worse, quote Thefe would have children, thofe that have them none, Or wish them gone: What is it then to have, or have no wife, But fingle thraldom, or a double strife? To cross the feas, to any foreign foil Peril and toil. Wars with their noife, affright us, when they cease. We're worfe in peace. What then remains, but that we ftill should cry For being born, and being born to die. He |