oftentimes else, hath drowned the respect of justice. The fear was this, that much practice might be grounded in foreign states upon so many gentlemen, discontented and strong in parentage, if they had been banished at large, and without limitation of time or hope of return. This was the fear, or at least with this they cover the lenity of the sentence.

There is boiling between this State and the Pope a new quarrel about a litigious wood, lying on the confines of Ferrara, whereof I hope there will be more to be said to your Lordship by the next post.

The Duke of Nevers is now pompously arrived in Rome, with divers gentlemen of the Reformed religion in his train, notwithstanding the proclamation, whereof I wrote unto your Lordship in my last, as I remember.

What will become of Poma, the assassinate of the Friar Paolo, whom the Pope holdeth still in prison since his resistance of the sergeants, we yet know not.

2

In Florence is, I hear, arrived Sir Jhon Harrington, with many gentlemen, who, I think, touched upon your Lordship in his passage. The two barons, Rosse and St. Jhons, are shortly expected here. Your Lordship's postscript of this week touching the Indian fleet doth likewise make much noise here; and I think on my conscience this State was never glad before now for the arrival of the Spanish moneys; for they draw this consequence (as every man in Italy is a logician for himself) that it will raise the spirits of Spain, and so perchance trouble your treaty, against which without doubt all Venetian saints do pray, even St. Rocco, whom the Pope hath not yet received into his calendar.s I am fain to make a little sport with your Lordship, for lack of more serious matter, and so to pass over this post with you, still remembering my hearty love and good wishes to yourself and whole family.

1 Charles Gonzaga, Duc de Nevers, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat 1627, d. 1637. 2 Sir John Harington (1592-1614), second Baron Harington of Exton, 1613. He arrived in Venice early in 1609, and took a house at S. Polo, as Wotton's house was not large enough to entertain him and his train of gentlemen. On Jan. 13 Wotton introduced him to the Doge, describing him as 'a great personage', who, it was said, would marry Lord Salisbury's only daughter. As he was the intimate friend and 'right eye' of Prince Henry, he would probably one day rule England. He is learned in philosophy, has Latin and Greek to perfection, is handsome, well-made as any man could be, at least amongst us.' Harington was introduced and showed the Doge a small oval portrait of Prince Henry. (Cal. S. P. Ven., xi, pp. 215, 216.)

3 'It cannot easily be so expressed,' Bedell wrote on Jan. 1, 1609, in what agony they have stood here, and yet do, in the expectation of this peace, or truce with the Hollanders, and how exceedingly they distaste the violence of the French King in it.' They feared that with peace in the Low Countries, the whole weight of the war would turn upon Italy, and light upon the Venetians, the greater, if not the only bar left in the King of Spain his way to the attaining the top of his desires. (Two Biog., pp. 242, 243.)

S. P. Ven., holograph, extract. Ridolfo Poma in Rome; another plot against Sarpi; Lord Roos in Venice; Wotton's plan to procure the release of Mole by means of Nicholas Fitzherbert.

From Venice, the 5th of December, 1608.

... From Rome we hear that Poma (the suborner of him who gave the blow to the Friar Paulo) flying thither, was received by the Cardinal Ascanio Colonna then living, who was the head of the practice which he had consulted with the Cardinal Borghesi. This Poma of late, upon some private accusation (whereof the secret is yet unknown) having been apprehended by the Pope's sergeants in the resistance of them (for which even the minions of cardinals have lost their lives), was hurt, and is now (though in prison) much cherished by the Pope, who seemeth to stand in a great dilemma. If he let him go, how palpable will be his protection of assassinates; if he punish him, who will give any more blows for the Church ?1

2

There is detected two other conspiracies against the person of the said friar, the one revealed unto him by his own converso, a Roman, who had been practised withal to make him away, by two sent hither of purpose (his kinsmen) from Viterbo. The other instrument should have been one of his own order in Padua, who (as I hear) likewise revealed it himself. These are the effects and proper character of that purpurissata meretrix. . . .

Here is newly arrived the Lord Rosse, and St. Jhons, who hath been ill welcomed with a violent fever, whereof yet we hope the worst is past.

With the Lord Rosse I have dealt very seriously touching the Roman journey, and find in his speeches a most vehement detestation of that foolish religion. Touching Mr. Mole, I have propounded a course unto my Lord Rosse for his delivery, which shall be to transport by oblique means to the hands of Nicholas Fitzherbert some portion of money, as well for the present necessities of the said Mole, as also to be disposed to the helping of him out, by the discretion of Fitzherbert, to whom I mean to write that by this deed

Poma was imprisoned at Civita Vecchia, where he died Jan. 6, 1615.

2 Fra Antonio da Viterbo and Fra Gian Francesco Graziani da Perugia. Graziani afterwards confessed the particulars of the plot. (Romanin, vii, p. 77.) 3 Nicholas Fitzherbert (1550-1612), grandson of the judge, Sir Anthony Fitzherbert. He was attainted in 1580 for his activity in raising money for the College at Rheims. He went to Rome, and became secretary to Cardinal Allen in 1587. After the death of Allen he quarrelled with Parsons, who became the leader of the English Jesuits at Rome. (D. N. B.) Nicholas Fitzherbert was anxious to return to England, and for this purpose entered into secret relations with Wotton. In the Record Office is a letter from him addressed to Sig. Marc' Antonio Mani at Venice, but plainly for the English ambassador. (S. P. Ven., June 14, 1608.)

he shall win good opinion from his Majesty, by whose grace he hath long desired to return home. This is the probablest way that we can take for the helping of that poor gentleman, without spending any suit in it.

145. TO THE EARL OF SALISBURY.

S. P. Ven., holograph, no date, endorsed 'rec. pr. Jan'. Flight of the Patriarch's vicar to Rome; John Finnett, &c.

(Venice, Dec., 1608.)

RIGHT HONOURABLE AND MY VERY GOOD LORD,

Having both extraordinary occasion and a fit opportunity of writing to your Lordship within three or four days, by an Italian gentleman (whom I shall be bold, among my other presumptions, to recommend unto your honourable favour), I should by this post say nothing, were it not for an accident happened here this last week of much noise.

Monsignor Ribetta', the vicar here of the Patriarch, and one of the seven Theologi (who jointly published certain propositions against the validity of the Pope's excommunication), under pretence of some business abroad, is secretly fled to Rome; induced thereunto partly by the example of Fulgentio the Franciscan, whom the Pope useth not ill (as they have indeed the art of fostering examples), and likewise by the persuasion of the Patriarch himself (as hath been since known), who, in hope of a cardinalship, undertook the working of this man. He hath hereby increased the ill conceit of the Senate towards him, where it is taken very sensitively; but himself being at the present hectical 3, and not likely long to escape, they have manifested their anger no farther than in the limitation of that faculty, which the Pope gave him, to dispense the intrate which the Jesuits drew out of this State, amounting (as I am now informed by the particulars) to the point of 20,000 crowns per annum. For having been well considered that the Pope might buy a great deal of goodwill with such a sum laid out to his advantage yearly, the Senate seemeth resolved only to take a note from the Patriarch of such persons as shall seem fit unto him, and to make the distribution afterwards as shall seem fit to themselves. Now there is likely to ensue upon this a secondary good, that the clergy, priests, and friars (who shall participate of this intrata) will leave no saint unprayed unto to keep out the

He

1 Pier Antonio Rubetti, with Sarpi, one of the official theologians of the Republic, appointed during the Interdict, fled to Rome on Dec. 3, 1608, and made a public penance and recantation of his opposition to the Pope. died at Rome, Nov., 1610, not without suspicion of poisoning. (Sarpi, Lettere, i, pp. 154, 201; ii, p. 177.) ' Fulgenzio Manfredi, see p. 448. Hectical,' i. e. affected with hectic fever, consumptive. (N. E.D.)

Jesuits, somewhat (in a smaller proportion) like unto that course of Henry VIII in the division of the abbey lands, for which the only wise God be ever thanked.

This is all wherewith I will trouble your Lordship at the present, being in a little time to make a very important dispatch unto his Majesty, by the joint deliberation of the best affected here. It shall be fit for me to conclude with many humble thanks, as for the rest of your favours, so for the late honours which it pleased your Lordship to do unto mine honest countryman and friend, Mr. Jhon Finnet', and in him to me, and for the confidence which your Lordship hath, and may justly repose in him, for the serving of my Lord your son' in his travels; whom, according to your Lordship's speech unto me in your bed at my departure (whereof I have forgot nothing), I may now hope to see in this poor house, before his Majesty call me from this charge, where I have been so unprofitable unto him, and resolve me again into those plain and simple elements whereof I am compounded. In the meantime and always I humbly rest,

Your Lordship's most bound to honour and serve you,
HENRY WOTTON.

MY LORD,

3

I have herewith sent unto his Majesty the first leaf of a book newly arrived here from Bologna, where it was printed, that his Majesty may see in the front of the epistle how the Pope's titles are grown; which indeed is an effect of his former depression, for the more his authority hath been lately questioned so near him, the more his penmen set him up. The book itself shall be sent through Fraunce, whereof the greatest triumph will be that a Venetian was the author.

1

(Sir) John Finet or Finett (1571-1641), afterwards Master of Ceremonies, author of Finetti Philoxenus, 1656, a book on the etiquette of embassies. See D. N. B., where his travels with Lord Cranborne are not mentioned.

2 William Cecil, Viscount Cranborne, succeeded his father as second Earl of Salisbury in 1612, and died 1668, aet. seventy-eight. For his character see Clarendon, vi, p. 403.

3 The book was written by one Benedictus à Benedictis, a Venetian, to refute William Whitaker's Thesis de Antichristo (1583). He copied the dedication to the Pope, invented by a Jesuit named Caraffa, PAULO V VICE DEO.' Bedell, on studying the dedication in Caraffa's book, found that the Roman numerals contained therein (DCLVVVI) formed the number of the Beast, 666, and immediately communicated this important fact to Fulgenzio, Sarpi's friend. Bishop Burnet, in his Life of Bedell, tells, from information supplied him by Bedell's son-in-law, Alexander Clogy, a story to the effect that this information was handed on to the Doge and Senate, who received it almost as if it had come from heaven, and it was publicly preached all over their territories, that here was a certain evidence that the Pope was Antichrist'. (See Life of William Bedell, 1685, pp. 11, 12; Two Biog., pp. 83, 84.) For this story, as for many of Clogy's stories, there seems, however, to be little foundation. For Bedell's use of this inscription in his controversy with Wadsworth, see The Copies of Certaine Letters which have passed between Spaine and England in Matter of Religion... Betweene Master James Wadsworth. . . and W. Bedell', London, 1624, p. 79.

146. TO SIR THOMAS EDMONDES.

Stowe MS. 170, f. 278, dictated. The Dutch-Spanish treaty; flight of Ribetta; message to Lady Lovell, &c.

MY VERY GOOD LORD,

From Venice, this 26th of 10ber, 1608.
Style of the place.

I have of late received weekly from your Lordship very kind information of such things as occur with you there, which bindeth me to be very careful on my part of requiting (if the matter will yield it) your pains, or at least your goodwill.

The present with us is very empty, all our thoughts hanging-and very droopingly-upon that treaty; and the more for that every day increaseth with us the opinion that the French King doth press the truce at the request of the Pope, who I think would fain have the King of Spain at rest from thoughts abroad, that their united powers, which embrace more than two-thirds of Italy, may be the more formidable to this State, of which the Pope cannot have his will over-easily.

They stand here likewise much aux éscoutes to hear how his Majesty will resolve about the Florentine businesses, Sir Steaphen Leasure being by likelihood ere this arrived at home.

From Constantinople we have news that the plague was entered into Sir Thomas Glover his house, and his lady is said to have been infected.

From Rome we hear that the late fugitive Ribetta, seduced, as I wrote to your Lordship, by the Patriarch, hath received from the Pope a pension of quaranta scudi di camera the month (which is excellent money), and an allowance of meat, with chambering for himself and two servants. My Lord, believe it (and I speak it unto you with suspiration) we are short of them not only in the skill, but in the zeal of multiplying their side.

Hence departed two days since the Lord Rosse towards France. The Lord St. Jhon lieth still here sick of the small-pox, and the town is full of that, and the measles, and such other popular diseases.

Here is newly arrived Sir Jhon Harrington, who speaketh much honour of your Lordship, and hath showed me a list of your English nuns there; which giveth me occasion to beg this favour, that some one of your Lordship's gentlemen may deliver my service to the Lady Lovell, not only as a Kentish lady of rare spirit and noble courtesy (when she was in the world), whereof myself have been often

1 Jane Roper, daughter of Sir Robert Roper (Baron Teynham of Teynham, Kent, in 1616) and widow of Sir Robert Loveli. (Berry, Kent, p. 215.) The English nuns were of the community founded in 1607 by Mary Ward, for the purpose of teaching girls. The rules of the order were modelled on those of the Jesuits. (D. N. B., Suppl. iii, p. 506; M. Salome, Mary Ward, 1901.)