experimental rules for his prudent and safe carriage in his negociations: to whom he fmilingly gave this for an infallible aphorism; "That, to be in safety himself, and ferviceable to his country, he "fhould always, and upon all occafions, " speak the truth." It feems a state-paradox: "For," fays Sir Henry Wotton,

66

you shall never be believed; and by "this means your truth will fecure your"felf, if you fhall ever be called to any "account; and it will alfo put your ad"verfaries (who will ftill hunt counter) "to a loss in all their difquifitions and "undertakings."

Many more of this nature might be obferved; but they must be laid afide: for I shall here make a little stop, and invite the reader to look back with me, whilft, according to my promife, I fhall fay a little of Sir Albertus Morton and Mr. William Bedel, whom I formerly mentioned.

I have told you that are my reader, that at Sir Henry Wotton's first going ambassador into Italy, his coufin, Sir Al

bertus

bertus Morton, went his secretary: and I am next to tell you, that Sir Albertus died secretary of state to our late King; but cannot, am not able to exprefs the forrow that poffeffed Sir Henry Wotton, at his first hearing the news that Sir Albertus was by death loft to him and this world. And yet the reader may partly guess by these following expreffions: the firft in a letter to his Nicholas Pey, of which this that followeth is a part.

"And, my dear Nick, when I had "been here almoft a fortnight, in the "midft of my great contentment, I receiv"ed notice of Sir Albertus Morton's depar"ture out of this world, who was dearer "to me than mine own being in it. "What a wound it is to my heart, you "that knew him, and know me, will "eafily believe: but our Creator's will "must be done, and unrepiningly receiv"ed by his own creatures, who is the "Lord of all nature and of all fortune, "when he taketh to himself now one, "and then another, till that expected "day, wherein it shall please him to dis

❝ folve

"folve the whole, and wrap up even the "heaven itself as a fcroll of parchment. "This is the last philosophy that we must "study upon earth. Let us therefore, that 66 yet remain here, as our days and friends "wafte, reinforce our love to each other; "which of all virtues, both fpiritual and "moral, hath the highest privilege, be"caufe death itself cannot end it. And "my good Nick," &c.

This is a part of his forrow thus expreffed to his Nick Pey: the other part is in this following elegy, of which the reader may fafely conclude it was too hearty to be diffembled.

TEARS

WEPT AT THE GRAVE OF SIR ALBERTUS MOR-
TON, BY HENRY WOTTON.

SILENCE, in truth, would speak my forrow best,
For deepest wounds can least their feelings tell :
Yet let me borrow from mine own unreft

A time to bid him, whom I lov'd, farewell.

Oh, my unhappy lines! you that before

Have ferv'd my youth to vent fome wanton cries,
And now, congeal'd with grief, can scarce implore
Strength to accent, "Here my Albertus lies."

VOL. I.

This

This is that fable ftone, this is the cave

And womb of earth, that doth his corpfe embrace:
While others fing his praise, let me engrave
These bleeding numbers to adorn the place.

Here will I paint the characters of woe;
Here will I pay my tribute to the dead;
And here my faithful TEARS in showers shall flow,
To humanize the flints on which I tread.

Where though I mourn my matchless loss alone,
And none between my weakness judge and me;
Yet even these penfive walls allow my moan,
Whose doleful echoes to my plaints agree.

But is he gone? and live I rhyming here,
As if fome Mufe would liften to my lay?
When all diftun'd fit waiting for their dear,
And bathe the banks where he was wont to play.

Dwell then in endless blifs with happy fouls,
Discharg'd from Nature's and from Fortune's truft;
Whilft on this fluid globe my hour-glass rolls,
And runs the reft of my remaining duft.

H. W.

This concerning his Sir Albertus Mor

ton.

And for what I fhall fay concerning Mr. William Bedel, I muft prepare the reader by telling him, that when King James fent Sir Henry Wotton ambassa

dor

dor to the state of Venice, he fent also an ambassador to the King of France, and another to the King of Spain. With the ambaffador of France went Jofeph Hall, late Bishop of Norwich, whofe many and useful works speak his great merit: with the ambaffador of Spain went James Wadsworth; and with Sir Henry Wotton went William Bedel.

These three chaplains to these three ambaffadors were all bred in one Univerfity, all of one college a, all beneficed in one diocese, and all most dear and entire friends. But in Spain Mr. Wadsworth met with temptations, or reasons, fuch as were fo powerful as to perfuade him (who of the three was formerly observed to be the most averfe to that religion that calls itself Catholic) to disclaim himself a member of the Church of England, and declare himself for the Church of Rome; discharging himself of his attendance on the ambaffador, and betaking himself to

Emanuel College in Cambridge.

02

a mona