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and interlarded them with certain Ciceronian exclamations, as "O tempora O mores!"

"Thus I have a little run over these accidents unto you enough only to break out of that silence which I will not call a symptom of my sickness, but a sickness itself. Howsoever, I will keep it from being hectical, and hereafter give you a better account of my observations, This week I have seen from a most dear neice, a letter, that hath much comforted one uncle, and a postscript the other. Long may that hand move which is so full of kindness. As for my particular, take heed of such invitations, if you either love or pity yourselves; for I think there was never needle touched with a loadstone that did more incline to the north. than I do to Redgrave. In the mean time, we are all here well; and so our Lord Jesus preserve you there.

Your faithfullest, poor

Friend and Servant,

H. WOTTON."

This letter, not only very fairly exhibits Sir Henry Wotton's epistolary style, and political sentiments, at this time, but is also curious as an historical document. The Parliament it commemorates was a most refractory one, summoned by James for the purpose of granting supplies, and dissolved by him after a session of two months only, before a single statute had been framed. The spirit then displayed itself which afterwards involved the country in civil war, and the government in destruction.

In February, 1615, Sir Henry Wotton was again dispatched to his residence at Venice, but he seems to have been previously, and when on his journey probably

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employed in various affairs of state. Of these, he gives some account in the following letter:

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To the King, 1615.

May it please your sacred Majesty—

"I beseech your Majesty to pardon me a little short repetition, how I have spent my time since my departure from your royal sight, because I glory in your goodness,

"I have been employed by your favour in four several treaties, differing in the matter, in the instruments, and in the affections.

"The first was for the sequestration of Juliers, wherein I was joined with the French.

"The second for the provisional possession of the two Pretendents: wherein, contrary to the complaint of the gospel, the labourers were more than the harvest.

"The third for a defensive league between the United Provinces and the United Princes. Who, though they be seperate bodies of state, do now by your only mediation, make one body of strength.

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"The fourth was for the composing of some differences between your own and this people, in matter of commerce; which hath exceeded the other three both in length and difficulty."

Respecting one of these employments he addresses Sir Edmund Bacon under date of June 7, 1615, as follows,-"For what sin, in the name of Christ, was I sent hither among soldiers, being by my profession academical, and by my employment pacifical."

He remained in Venice very much to the satisfaction of all parties, until the year 1618, when he solicited the Duke of Buckingham, whom he calls his most

honoured Lord and Patron, to procure him leave to return home for a few weeks, on his own private affairs; which appears to have been granted to him.

About this time occurred the unfortunate election of the Count Palatine, son in law of James, to the crown of Bohemia, involving that pacific monarch in difficulties from which he wanted the necessary energy to extricate himself. Sir Henry Wotton being prepared to return to his residence at Venice, when the affair between the Emperor and the Palatine was drawing to a crisis, and military powers had been assembled on both sides, was selected to make a final attempt at pacification. Dignified with the title of embassador extraordinary to the Emperor, and furnished with instructions which display the moderation and prudence of his royal master, he arrived at Vienna in August 1620, and immediately commenced negociations, at first with some appearance of success. These hopes were however, of short duration; the sword had been drawn, and the rash and ill-judging friends of the Palatine, ventured to commit his fortunes to the chance of a battle, when victory decided in favour of his more powerful adversary. This happened in November; Sir Henry Wotton continued to reside at the Emperor's court until the end of the next month, when finding his efforts vain, according to the tenor of his instructions, he proceeded to his destination at Venice.

On taking leave of the Emperor, an incident occurred highly honourable to the embassador, which cannot be better related than in the words of his honest biographer :

"Sir Henry seeing the face of peace altered by that victory, prepared for a removal from that court; and at

his departure from the Emperor, was so bold as to remember him, that the events of every battle move on the unseen wheels of fortune, which are at this minute up, and down the next: and therefore humbly advised him to use his victory so soberly, as still to put on thoughts of peace. Which advice, though it seemed to be spoke with some passion, his dear mistress, the Queen of Bohemia, being concerned in it, was yet taken in good part by the Emperor, who replied,—that he would consider his advice: and though he looked upon the King his master as an abettor of his enemy the Paulsgrave; yet for Sir Henry himself, his behaviour had been such, during the manage of the treaty, that he took him to be a person of much honour and merit, and did therefore desire him to accept of that jewel, as a testimony of his good opinion of him,--which was a jewel of diamonds, of more than a thousand pounds.

"This jewel was received with all outward circumstances and terms of honour, by Sir Henry Wotton : but the next morning, at his departure from Vienna, at his taking leave of the Countess of Sabrina, an Italian lady, at whose house the Emperor had appointed him to be lodged, and honourably entertained, he acknowledged her merits, and besought her to accept of that jewel, as a testimony of his gratitude for her civilities; presenting her with the same that was given him by the Emperor: which being suddenly discovered, and told to the Emperor, was by him taken for a high affront, and Sir Henry Wotton told so by a messenger. To which he replied,-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 enemy to his royal mistress, the Queen of

Bohemia; for so she was pleased he should always call her."

The following admirable Poem, which was certainly composed about this time, by Sir Henry Wotton, forms a becoming sequel to the narration of this gallant and sphited act of self-denial :—

On his Mistress, the Queen of Bohemia.

You meaner beauties of the night,
That poorly satisfy our eyes,
More by your number than your light!
You common people of the skies!
What are you when the sun shall rise?

You curious chanters of the wood,
That warble forth dame Nature's lays,
Thinking your voices understood

By your weak accents! what's your praise
When Philomel her voice shall raise?

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By your pure purple mantles known,
Like the proud virgins of the year,

As if the spring were all your own!
What are you when the rose is blown?

So, when my mistress shall be seen,
In form and beauty of her mind,
By virtue first, then choice a Queen!
Tell me, if she were not design'd
Th' eclipse and glory of her kind?

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H. W.

Let not our readers mistake this excellent little poem for an effusion of the tender passion. Sir Henry Wotton

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