Did his youth scatter Poetry, wherein Lay Love's Philosophy? was every sin

Pictured in his sharp Satires, made so foul,

That some have feared sin's shapes, and kept their soul
Safer by reading verse? Did he give days
Past marble monuments, to those whose praise
He would perpetuate? Did he-I fear

Envy will doubt-these at his twentieth year?

But, more matur'd, did his rich soul conceive
And in harmonious holy numbers weave
A Crown of Sacred Sonnets 1 fit t' adorn
A dying martyr's brow, or to be worn
On that blest head of Mary Magdalen,
After she wip'd Christ's feet, but not till then ;
Did he-fit for such penitents as she
And he to use-leave us a Litany,

Which all devout men love, and doubtless shall,
As times grow better, grow more classical ?
Did he write Hymns, for piety and wit,
Equal to those great grave Prudentius writ?
Spake he all Languages? Knew he all Laws?
The grounds and use of Physic; but, because
'Twas mercenary, waiv'd it? went to see
That happy place of Christ's nativity?

Did he return and preach him? preach him so,
As since St. Paul none ever did ? they know—
Those happy souls that heard him-know this truth.
Did he confirm thy aged convert thy youth?
Did he these wonders? and is his dear loss
Mourn'd by so few ? few for so great a cross.

But sure the silent are ambitious all
To be close mourners of his funeral.
If not, in common pity they forbear
By repetitions to renew our care:

Or knowing grief conceived and hid, consumes
Man's life insensibly,-as poison's fumes

Corrupt the brain,-take silence for the way

To enlarge the soul from these walls, mud and clay,—

Materials of this body-to remain

With him in heaven, where no promiscuous pain

Lessens those joys we have; for with him all

Are satisfied with joys essential.

Dwell on these joys, my thoughts! Oh! do not call Grief back, by thinking on his funeral.

1 'La Corona.'

Forget he loved me: waste not my swift years,
Which haste to David's seventy, fill'd with fears
And sorrows for his death: forget his parts,
They find a living grave in good men's hearts:
And, for my first is daily paid for sin,
Forget to pay my second sigh for him :
Forget his powerful preaching; and forget
I am his convert. Oh my frailty! let
My flesh be no more heard; it will obtrude
This lethargy; so should my gratitude,
My vows of gratitude should so be broke,
Which can no more be, than his virtues, spoke
By any but himself: for which cause, I
Write no encomiums, but this elegy;
Which, as a free-will offering, I here give

Fame and the world; and parting with it, grieve
I want abilities fit to set forth

A monument, as matchless as his worth.

April 7, 1631.

Iz. WA.

THE LIFE OF SIR HENRY WOTTON(

Knight, late Provost of Eton College

Eccles. xliv. 7.-These were honourable men in their generations

SIR HENRY WOTTON-whose life I now intend to writewas born in the year of our Redemption, 1568, in BoctonHall, commonly called Bocton, or Boughton-Place, or Palace, in the Parish of Bocton Malherbe, in the fruitful country of Kent. Bocton-Hall being an ancient and goodly structure, beautifying and being beautified by the Parish Church of Bocton Malherbe adjoining unto it, and both seated within a fair Park of the Wottons, on the brow of such a hill, as gives the advantage of a large prospect, and of equal pleasure to all beholders.

But this House and Church are not remarkable for any thing so much, as for that the memorable Family of the Wottons have so 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 persons eminent for wisdom and valour; whose heroic acts, and noble employments, both in England and in foreign parts, have adorned themselves and this nation; which they have served abroad faithfully, in the discharge of their great trust, and prudently in their negociations with several Princes; and also served at home with much honour and justice, in their wise managing a great part of the public affairs thereof, in the various times both of war and peace.

incline

But lest I should be thought by any, that may either to deny or doubt this truth, not to have observed moderation in the commendation of this Family; and also for that I believe the merits and memory of such persons ought to be thankfully recorded, I shall offer to the consideration of every reader, out of the testimony of their Pedigree and our Chronicles, a part-and but a partof that just commendation which might be from thence enlarged, and shall then leave the indifferent Reader to judge whether my error be an excess or defect of

commendations.

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

Sir Edward Wotton, of Bocton Malherbe, Knight,-son and heir of the said Sir Robert-was born in the year of Christ 1489, in the reign of King Henry the Seventh; he was made Treasurer of Calais, and of the Privy Council to King Henry the Eighth, who offered him to be Lord Chancellor of England: but, saith Holinshed,1 out of a virtuous modesty, he refused it.

Thomas Wotton, of Bocton Malherbe, Esquire, son and heir of the said Sir Edward, and the father of our Sir Henry, that occasions this relation, was born in the year of Christ 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 besides those abilities, a very noble and plentiful estate, and the ancient interest of his predecessors -many invitations from Queen Elizabeth to change his country recreations and retirement for a Court, offering him a Knighthood,-she 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

1 In his Chronicle,

modesty, of a most plain and single heart, of an ancient freedom, and integrity of mind.' A commendation which Sir Henry Wotton took occasion often to remember with great gladness, and thankfully to boast himself the son of such 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 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 Lambarde, in his Perambulation of Kent.

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

Sir Edward was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, and made Comptroller of Her Majesty's Household. He was,' saith Camden, 'a man remarkable for many and great employments in the State, during her reign, and sent several times Ambassador into foreign nations. After her death, he was by King James made Comptroller of his Household, and called to be of his Privy Council, and by him advanced to be Lord Wotton, Baron of Merley in Kent, and made Lord Lieutenant of that County.'

Sir James, the second son, may be numbered among the martial men of his age, who was, in the thirty-eighth of Queen Elizabeth's reign-with Robert, Earl of Sussex, Count Lodowick of Nassau, Don Christophoro, son of Antonio, King of Portugal, and divers other gentlemen of nobleness and valour-knighted in the field near Cadiz in Spain, after they had gotten great honour and riches, besides 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 discourse shall give an

account.