Earl of Suffex, Count Lodowick of Naffau, Don Chriftophoro, fon of Antonio King of Portugal, and divers other gentlemen of noblenefs and valour) knighted in the field near Cadiz in Spain, after they had gotten great honour and riches, befides a notable retaliation of injuries, by taking that town.

Sir John, being a gentleman excellently accomplished, both by learning and travel, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, and by her looked upon with more than ordinary favour, and with intentions of preferment; but death in his younger years put a period to his growing hopes.

Of Sir Henry my following difcourse fhall give an account.

The defcent of these fore-named Wottons were all in a direct line, and moft of them and their actions in the memory of those with whom we have converfed : but if I had looked fo far back as to Sir Nicholas Wotton, (who lived in the reign of King Richard II.) or before him, upon divers others of great note in their several ages, I might by some be thought tedious;

and

and yet others may more juftly think me negligent, if I omit to mention Nicholas Wotton, the fourth son of Sir Robert, whom I first named.

This Nicholas Wotton was Doctor of Law, and fometime Dean both of York and Canterbury; a man whom God did not only bless with a long life, but with great abilities of mind, and an inclination to employ them in the fervice of his country, as is teftified by his feveral employments (vide Camden's Britannia); having been fent nine times Ambaffador unto foreign princes; and by his being a Privy Counsellor to King Henry VIII. to Edward VI. to Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth; who alfo, after he had been, during the wars between England, Scotland, and France, three several times (and not unfuccefsfully) employed in committees for fettling of peace betwixt this and thofe kingdoms, "died," faith learned Camden, "full of commendations for "wisdom and piety." He was also by the will of King Henry VIII. made one of his executors, and chief Secretary of

State

State to his fon, that pious prince, Edward VI. Concerning which Nicholas Wotton I fhall fay but this little more; that he refufed (being offered it by Queen Elizabeth) to be Archbishop of Canterbury-(vide Hollinfbed); and that he died not rich, though he lived in that time of the diffolution of abbeys.

More might be added; but by this it may appear, that Sir Henry Wotton was a branch of fuch a kindred, as left a stock of reputation to their pofterity; fuch reputation as might kindle a generous emulation in strangers, and preferve a noble ambition in those of his name and family, to perform actions worthy of their ancef

tors.

And that Sir Henry Wotton did so, might appear more perfectly than my pen can express it, if of his many furviving friends, fome one of higher parts and employments had been pleased to have commended his to pofterity: but fince some years are now paft, and they have all (I know not why) forborne to do it, my gratitude to the memory of my dead friend,

and

and the renewed request of fome that ftill live folicitous to fee this duty performed; these have had a power to perfuade me to undertake it; which truly I have not done but with fome diftruft of mine own abilities; and yet fo far from despair, that I am modeftly confident my humble language fhall be accepted, because I fhall present all readers with a commixture of truth, and Sir Henry Wotton's merits.

This being premised, I proceed to tell the reader, that the father of Sir Henry Wotton was twice married; first to Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir John Rudstone, Knight; after whofe death, though his inclination was averfe to all contentions, yet neceffitated he was to feveral fuits in law; in the prosecution whereof (which took up much of his time, and were the occafion of many difcontents,) he was by divers of his friends earneftly perfuaded to a re-marriage; to whom he as often an

a Sir Edward Bifh, Clarencieux King of Arms, Mr. Charles Cotton, and Mr. Nick Oudert, fometime Sir Henry Wotton's fervant.

VOL. I.

K

fwered,

fwered, "That if ever he did put on a "refolution to marry, he was seriously "refolved to avoid three forts of persons, ❝ namely,

"Thofe that had children;
"Those that had law-fuits;

"And those that were of his kindred."

And yet, following his own law-suits, he met in Weftminster-hall with Mrs. Elionora Morton, widow to Robert Morton, of Kent, Efq. who was also engaged in feveral fuits in law and he, obferving her comportment at the time of hearing one of her causes before the judges, could not but at the fame time both compaffionate her condition, and affect her perfon; for the tears of lovers, or beauty dreft in fadnefs, are obferved to have in them a charming eloquence, and to become very often too strong to be refifted: which I mention, because it proved fo with this Thomas Wotton; for although there were in her a concurrence of all thofe accidents, against which he had so seriously resolved, yet his affection to her grew then so strong,

that