in the diameter, to which he applies a long perspective trunk, with a convex glass fitted to the said hole, and the concave taken out at the other end, which extendeth to about the middle of this erected tent, through which the visible radiations of all the objects without, are intromitted, falling upon a paper, which is accommodated to receive them, and so he traceth them with his pen in their natural appearance, turning his little tent round by degrees, till he hath designed the whole aspect of the field. This I have described to your Lordship, because I think there might be good use made of it for Chorography; for otherwise, to make landscips by it were illiberal; though surely no painter can do them so precisely.Now, from these artificial and natural curiosities, let me a little direct your Lordship to the contemplation of fortune. 66 - Here, by a slight battle, full of miserable errors, if I had leisure to set them down, all is reduced, or near the point. In the Province, there is nothing but of fluctuation and submission, the ordinary consequences of victory; wherein the triumphs of the field do not so much vex my soul, as the triumphs of the pulpit; for what noise will now the Jesuit disseminate more in every corner, than Victrix Causa Deo placuit; which yet was but the Gospel of a Poet: No, my Lord, when I revolve what great things Zisca did in the first troubles of his country, that were grounded upon conscience, I am tempted to believe the all-distinguishing eye hath been more displeased with some human affections in this business, than with the business itself. "I am now preparing my departure toward my other employment; for in my first instructions I had a power to go hence, when this controversy should be decided, either by treaty, or by fortune; whereof now the worser means have perverted the better. "Here I leave the French embassadors upon the stage, as I found them; being willing, quod solum superest, to deal between the Emperor and Bethlehem Gabor, with whom I have nothing to do, as he is now singled. "Betwixt this and Italy I purpose, to collect the memorablest observations that I have taken of this great affair, and to present a copy thereof unto your Lordship's indulgence,not to your severe judgment. "The present I cannot end, though I have too much usurped upon your precious time, without the return of my humble thanks unto your Lordship, for the kind remembrance of my cousie, Mr. John Meawtis, in , your letfer to me, and of your recommendation of him before; being a gentleman, in truth, of sweet conditions and strong abilities: I shall now transport him over the Alps, where we will both serve your Lordship and love one another. And so beseeching God to bless your Lordship with long life and honour, I humbly rest, Your Lordship's" The negociation at Vienna, as it was much the most important, so it appears to have been the last state affair in which Sir Henry Wotton was engaged. He returned to his residence at Venice in the latter end of the year 1620, where from the length of his employment, he had become in a great measure naturalised. He seems however, from this time, to have occupied himself less in political business, and to have indulged his fondness for literature and the arts. In December 1622 he addressed a letter to the king, with the signature of Octavio Baldi, announcing his intention of composing a history of Venice, and inclosing a specimen of the preface, written in the latin language, for the royal approbation. This intention does not appear to have been carried into effect; which is to be regretted, Sir Henry Wotton being certainly well qualified for the task, and his latin superior to his English style. Some few detached papers on Venetian subjects are preserved in the "Reliquiæ," but they are not of much value. Sir Henry Wotton at this period of his life seems to have paid his court to the Duke of Buckingham with much assiduity. The following letters exhibit strong traits of character. 4 To the Duke. "My most honoured Lord and Patron "These poor lines will be presented unto your lordship by my nephew, one of your obliged servants; and withal, some description, as I have prayed him, of my long infirmities, which have cast me behind in many private, and often interrupted even my public duties; with which yet I do rather seek to excuse some other defects of service, than my silence towards your lordship. For to importune your lordship seldom with my pen, is a choice in me, and not a disease, having resolved to live, at what distance soever from your sight, like one who had well studied before I came hither, how secure they are whom you once vouchsafe any part of your love. And indeed I am well confirmed therein by your own gracious lines; for thereby I see that your lordship had me in your meditation, when I scant remembered myself. In answer of which letter, after some respite from mine own evils, I have deputed my said nephew to re-deliver my fortune into your noble hands, and to assure your lordship that as it should be cheerfully spent at your command, if it were present and actual, from whose meditation I have derived it, so much more am I bound to yield up unto your Lordship an absolute disposition of my hopes: but if it shall please you therein to grant me any part of mine own humour, then I would rather wish some other satisfaction than exchange of office : yet even in this point likewise, I shall depend on your will, which your lordship may indeed challenge from me, not only by an humble gratitude and reverence due to your most worthy person; but even by that natural charity and discretion which I owe myself: for what do I more therein, than only remit to your own arbitrement the valuation of your own goodness? I have likewise committed to my aforesaid nephew some memorials touching your lordship's familiar service, as I may term it, in matter of art and delight. But though I have laid these offices upon another, yet I joy with mine own pen to give your lordship an acconnt of a gentleman worthier of your love than I was of the honour to receive him from you. We are now, after his well spent travels in the towns of purer language, married again till a second divorce, for which I shall be sorry whensoever it shall happen. For in truth my good lord, his conversation is both delightful and fruitful; and I dare pronounce that he will return to his friends as well fraught with the best observations as any that hath ever sifted this country; which indeed doth need sifting, for there is both flour and bran in it. he hath divided his abode between Viena and Rome: the rest of his time was for the most part spent in motion. I think his purpose to be to take the French tongue in his way homeward, but I am persuading with him to make Brussels his seat, both because the French and Spanish languages are familiar there; whereof the one will be after Italian a sport unto him, so as he may make the other a labour: and for that the said town is now the scene of an important treaty, which I fear will last till he come thither; but far be from me all ominous conceit. I will end with cheerful thoughts and wishes; beseeching the Almighty God to preserve your lordship in health, and to cure the public diseases. And so I ever remain Your Lordship's most devoted Venice, July 29, 1622. To the Duke. H. WOTTON." My most honoured and dear Lord "To give your Lordship occasion to exercise your noble nature, is withal one of the best exercises of mine own duty; and therefore I am confident to pass a very charitable motion through your lordship's hands and mediation to his majesty. "There hath long lain in the prison of Inquisition, a constant worthy gentleman, viz. Master Mole; in whom his majesty hath not only a right as his subject, but likewise a particular interest in the cause of his first imprisonment: For having communicated his majesty's immortal work, touching the allegiance due unto sovereign princes, with a Florentine of his familiar |