THE LIFE

OF

SIR HENRY WOTTON.

SIR

IR HENRY WOTTON (whofe life I now intend to write) was born in the year of our Redemption 1568, in Bocton-Hall (commonly called Bocton, or BougtonPlace, or Palace) in the parish of Bocton Malherbe, in the fruitful country of Kent: Bocton-Hall being an ancient and goodly ftructure, beautifying and being beautified by the parish-church of Bocton Malherbe adjoining unto it, and both feated within a fair park of the Wottons, on the brow of fuch a hill, as gives the advantage of a large profpect, and of equal pleasure to all beholders.

But this house and church are not remarkable for any thing fo much, as for that

that the memorable family of the Wottons have fo long inhabited the one, and now lie buried in the other, as appears by their many monuments in that church; the Wottons being a family that hath brought forth divers perfons eminent for wisdom and valour; whofe heroic acts, and noble employments, both in England and in foreign parts, have adorned themfelves and this nation; which they have ferved abroad faithfully, in the discharge of their great truft, and prudently in their negociations with feveral princes; and alfo ferved at home with much honour and juftice, in their wife managing a great part of the public affairs thereof, in the various times both of war and peace.

But left I fhould be thought by any, that may incline either to deny or doubt this truth, not to have obferved moderation in the commendation of this family; and alfo for that I believe the merits and memory of fuch perfons ought to be thankfully recorded, I fhall offer to the confideration of every reader, out of the teftimony of their pedigree and our chro

nicles,

nicles, a part (and but a part) of that just commendation which might be from thence enlarged, and fhall then leave the indifferent reader to judge whether my error be an excefs or defect of commendations.

Sir Robert Wotton of Bocton Malherbe, Knight, was born about the year of Chrift 1460 he, living in the reign of King Edward IV. was by him trusted to be Lieutenant of Guifnes, to be Knight Porter, and Comptroller of Calais, where he died, and lies honourably buried.

Sir Edward Wotton of Bocton Malherbe, Knight, (fon and heir of the faid Sir Robert) was born in the year of Christ 1489, in the reign of King Henry VII.; he was made Treasurer of Calais, and of the Privy Council to King Henry VIII. who offered him to be Lord Chancellor of England; "But," faith Hollinfhed, in his Chronicle," out of a virtuous modefty, "he refufed it."

Thomas Wotton of Bocton Malherbe, Efquire, fon and heir of the faid Sir Edward, and the father of our Sir Henry,

that

that occafions this relation, was born in the year of Chrift 1521. He was a gentleman excellently educated, and studious in all the liberal arts; in the knowledge whereof he attained unto a great perfection; who, though he had (befides thofe abilities, a very noble and plentiful estate, and the ancient intereft of his predeceffors) many invitations from Queen Elizabeth to change his country recreations and retirement for a court, offering him a knighthood (fhe was then with him at his Bocton-Hall), and that to be but as an earnest of some more honourable and more profitable employment under her; yet he humbly refused both, being a man of great modefty, of a most plain and single heart, of an ancient freedom, and integrity of mind. A commendation which Sir Henry Wotton took occafion often to remember with great gladness, and thankfully to boaft himself the fon of fuch a father; from whom indeed he derived that noble ingenuity that was always practised by himself, and which he ever both commended and cherished in others. This

Thomas

Thomas was also remarkable for hospitality, a great lover and much beloved of his country; to which may justly be added, that he was a cherisher of learning, as appears by that excellent antiquary Mr. William Lambert, in his Perambulation of Kent.

This Thomas had four fons, Sir Edward, Sir James, Sir John, and Sir Henry.

Sir Edward was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, and made Comptroller of her Majefty's Household. "He was," faith Camden, "a man remarkable for many "and great employments in the ftate, "during her reign, and fent feveral times "ambaffador into foreign nations. After "her death, he was by King James made "Comptroller of his Household, and call"ed to be of his Privy Council, and by "him advanced to be Lord Wotton, Ba66 ron of Merley in Kent, and made Lord "Lieutenant of that county."

Sir James, the fecond fon, may be numbered among the martial men of his age, who was, in the thirty-eighth of Queen Elizabeth's reign (with Robert

Earl