ready by the end of this week, so as your Lordship may, after a day or two of repose here, make your public entry, and the next morning be received in College, as is of custom, which I leave to your resolution upon the place. One thing I must be bold to say provisionally, that it were fit for all those English gentleman and students there had some civil warning to come hither with you; which point I touch the rather because our nation is in truth (as I have noted) more defective therein than the French. And this is all that I need say at the present, committing your Lordship and yours to God's continual blessing. Your Lordship's to honour and serve you, 192. TO THE EARL OF SALISBURY. S. P. Ven., holograph. Wotton's farewell audience, and introduction of Venice, the 10th of Dec., 1610 (N.S.). RIGHT HONOURABLE AND MY VERY GOOD LORD, Having now resigned my charge here in College to Sir Dudley Carleton, it seemeth my last duty upon the place to inform his Majesty both how my successor hath been received, and in what terms they have dismissed me, wherein I will be bold to begin with myself, not by the order of merit, but of charity which (as they say) incipit a seipsa. After I had spent some speech (as likewise Sir Dudley at more length and with more impression) about the constancy and clearness of his Majesty's friendship, and in showing what false philosophy it would be in any to argue the change of ends by the change of instru 1 In the S. P. Ven. there are five more letters and notes from Wotton to Carleton, written during the next five days, and all concerned with arrangements for Carleton's arrival in Venice-hanging the lower hall with arras cloth, sending the gondola to Fusina, having Carleton's coat of arms copied, &c. In order that Carleton and his wife might settle comfortably into the house by themselves, Wotton went with Lord Cranborne on a little trip to Palma on the 27th, scribbling off a note at the last moment about the final arrangements, and ending, and so ready to leap into our gondolas I rest, &c.' Carleton did not arrive, however, until Thursday, the 1st of Dec., after Wotton had returned. 2 Carleton describes his reception in his dispatch of Nov. 30 (O. S.). The day after his arrival he went out to the Convent of the Padri Cruciferi. The day was cold and stormy, and he thought it somewhat preposterous to go from home purposely to be brought thither again'. The next day he went with Wotton to the Collegio and was received by the Doge, and was afterwards presented with the soliti rinfrescamenti. He says of Wotton, 'I may not here omit my due acknowledgement of his care and endeavours to settle me in his steps, with all advantages for his Majesty's service, and my particular assistance in the charge.' (S. P. Ven.) For Wotton's farewell audience on Dec. 7 see ante, p. 108. ments, it pleased the Prince to bestow in public upon me his very loving testimony touching my carriage here, not so much (as mine own conscience must conceive it) for any value of my poor travail, as that withal he might take occasion (for so he did exceeding properly) to touch the little scandal that had happened in my time, notwithstanding some diversity of religion between the nations: a thing no doubt purposely insinuated for some contentment of the Pope's spies, of which there was good store at this public audience. This made me (contrary to an express agreement at home between Sir Dudley and me) to resume in my reply the same subject by way of discharge, affirming unto the Prince that his Majesty (of whose intentions I had through his Grace been made capable from the beginning) had no other meaning here, than to pursue those courses that might become a respective and real friend, without considering any differences in point of conscience and private opinion; the times being indeed such as yielded princes business enough to maintain, without affront, the point of their jurisdiction and civil authority. And so I left that matter without any farther resuscitation; for (as I have said) Sir Dudley and I had determined before our going to consume the morning only in compliment, without offering to the audience (whose ears we knew would be greedy) any certain matter of discourse or design; especially the College itself being at the present composed (as I informed him) very untowardly; for these things depend upon vicissitudes. This is as much as I have to say of myself; being loath to tell your Lordship what an unproportionable present I am likely, according to my intelligence, to have at my parting, if it be compared to the good words I have had before, which in this country are cheaper than chains.1 Only my hope is that his Majesty will both out of his own clemency, and by your Lordship's favourable intercessions pardon my weak endeavours, which is a greater reward than any other can give me, or than I can justly expect. Now concerning my successor, for the point of his first reception, I may boldly affirm in the plainness and truth of an humble servant, uncorrupted with any duty of a private friend, that he had honestissi mum diem, both for the number and fashion of his company, and for 1 The usual gift to an ambassador on his departure was a gold chain, worth one thousand crowns; his principal secretary was given a chain of the value of two hundred crowns. Wotton complained to the Venetian ambassador at Turin that he had not received at his departure honours and gifts equal to those given to the French ambassador, De Fresnes-Canaye, when he left Venice in 1607. The honours he had received were superior to his merits, but that they were not more, was a reflection on his King. The Venetian replied that Canaye was honoured because his son had offered to raise a regiment of cavalry for the Venetian service. To this Wotton replied that his nephew was equally willing to raise troops for Venice. (Ven. Arch., dispatch of Gregorio Barberigo, Jan. 16, 1611.) the singular respect that was had in appointing the gravest senators to conduct him; and lastly, for the good taste which he gave of himself, appearing generally in their countenances which I have presumed fitter for me to relate than himself, because I had more leisure, while he spake, to note them. And in truth (my Lord) as I find him to be a gentleman fit to supply here my defects, in which respect I must rejoice for the public use, so on the other side I am glad of that fraternity (as I may call it) which your Lordship's patronage of us both hath bred between us. And so humbly taking my last leave of your Lordship for this place, though reserving somewhat more to be said from Padua, when I shall be free from the encumbrances of a remove, I rest in the meantime and ever Your Lordship's many ways bound to honour and serve you, HENRY WOTTON. My Lord, your Lordship hath an accompt of my lord your son from Doctor Lister' by this post, of whom I have deferred to write till I enjoy him again, which will be (God willing) within these three days. 193. To SIR DUDLEY CARLETON. S. P. Ven., holograph. A present for Lady Carleton, &c. MY VERY GOOD LORD, Padua, Christmas Eve (1610, N.S.). 2 Having understood by Mr. Wake of a small difference fallen out 1 (Sir) Matthew Lister (1571 ?-1656), afterwards physician to Anne of Denmark, and to Charles I, knighted in 1636. (D. N. B.) Dr. Lister had come to Italy with Lord Cranborne, who was now lying seriously ill at Padua. His illness was caused apparently by homesickness. Carleton wrote to Salisbury Nov. 23, O. S. He finds relish in nothing on this side the mountains, nor much in anything on this side the sea; his affections being set so strongly on his return homeward, that any opposition is a disease.' S. P. Ven., where there are two letters from Dr. Lister to Carleton, undated, but written from Padua in December, 1610. In one he says, 'Sir, we must for England, there is no resisting of it. If we stay the fruit will not be great, the discontent infinite; and I must needs doubt some danger by the effects I have seen. Going is likewise full of hazard, where an obstination to return will precipitate us into a winter's journey, which how a weak body will sustain God knows. But I hope the same good God who hath hitherto protected us, will show us the way through this difficulty. My Lord is going to dinner, this being the first meal he eateth, and calls me. I pray you, pardon these hasty lines.' (S. P. Ven.) Wotton wrote to the same effect from Padua on Dec. 26. (Ibid.) Lord Cranborne was well enough to start homewards in Feb., 1611. 2 (Sir) Isaac Wake (1580 ?-1632), Sir Dudley Carleton's secretary. He was appointed English envoy at Turin in 1616, knighted in 1619, and sent to succeed Wotton at Venice in 1624. (D. N. B.) On August 22, 1610, Sir John Digby wrote to Carleton recommending Wake for the position of secretary. (S. P. Ven.) Wotton hired most of his furniture from a Jew named Luzzati, and Carleton at his arrival took over the contract, which was for 640 ducats, with 40 ducats more for the pictures, halberds, bucklers, and arms. The Jew, however, tried to charge Carleton 690 ducats, and there were other difficulties, about which Wake wrote to Wotton on Dec. 20, asking him to write to the Jew about it. Wotton's letter to the Jew, enclosed with the above, has not been preserved. there between your Lordship and the Jew, touching a parcel of those things left by me, I have thought it fit for me to write unto him these few lines enclosed about that matter, which I hope will put an end unto it. There was left, among the other furniture at your Lordship's house, a new carnation satin coverlet, which is none of the Jew's accompt. And therefore it may please my Lady1 to dispose of it as her own, pardoning my boldness that have presumed to confer so poor a relic towards the keeping of her from the cold of this winter, for her noble fashion towards me there hath given me a great interest in her health. And so, intending to trouble your Lordship with a larger salutation before my departure hence, that hath hitherto depended upon a continual hope of my Lord of Cranborn's amendment, which now beginneth to appear, I rest in all places Your Lordship's to serve you, HENRY WOTTON. 194. To SIR THOMAS EDMONDES. Stowe MS. 171, f. 360, holograph. Wotton writes to Edmondes (now English ambassador in France) of his expected arrival in Paris. MY VERY GOOD LORD, From a filthy inn at the foot of the I have from Briare dispatched to Paris before me this gentleman my secretary, to see there how I may be accommodated at the Hotel de Venise, to which place I have some peculiar fancy for the very name's sake, and because I understand my successor 2 lay there in his passage. I am desirous that my coming thither may be with little observation, and therefore I must beseech your Lordship to take as small notice of me as indeed I merit; for otherwise that stamp which your courtesy (wherewith I have been long acquainted) might put upon me, would subject me to much visitation and ceremony, with which I have been almost cloyed in this journey, having in truth been used in the Courts, by which I have passed, with more grace than I can express. Yet I will not deny that when I shall be in Paris, I shall hold it a great honour for me to see those Majesties, if it may be done easily and quickly; which, till I see your Lordship, I will leave in bilancia, as we Italians use to speak. This On April 24, 1612, Carleton wrote to Chamberlain that the Jews had taken advantage of his necessities at his arrival, not sparing to boast that they have now a fleece of me, as they had of my predecessors, whom they expect again as their Messias.' (S. P. Ven.) is all in effect that I had now to write, referring the relation of our accidents on the way to the bearer, and some matter of private discourse to our meeting; at which wishing to find your Lordship in cheerful health I rest, Your Lordship's faithful poor friend to serve you, 195. TO THE EARL OF SALISBURY. S. P. Ven., holograph. The rudeness of the Governor of Milan. RIGHT HONOURABLE AND MY VERY GOOD LORD, Having spent much time on the way already, and being now retarded likewise here, through the indisposition of five or six of my company,' even so near the good scent of our own country, and embracement of our friends, I have thought it my duty to present before me, through your Lordship's hands, my humble excuse unto his Majesty by my nephew Albertus Morton; of whom it may please your Lordship to understand the many honours and favours that in respect of his Majesty have been openly and professedly and (I may yet say farther) affectedly and studiously done me in the Courts where I have passed, alla barba of the Pope's Nuncii, and other instruments residing in those places. But because into this relation of good intreatments, there must enter some little mixture of the contrary, which occurred in the place where I did least expect it, namely between the Constable of Castiglia and me at Milan, I crave pardon to trouble your Lordship with the report of that under mine own hand; fearing lest I may be traduced for uncivil by the Spanish ambassador resident with his Majesty, who being near kinsman to the said Constable, hath perhaps been instructed in the case. 2 I arrived in Milan towards night, and the next morning sent my nephew and my secretary, accompanied with two or three more of mine in reasonable honest fashion, to signify so much to the Constable, and withal my desire to offer him my poor service. This they did by his secretary, (on) whom they lighted in one of his 1 On April 30, 1611, the sum of £1,018 was granted to Wotton-£378 for diets and intelligences, and £640 for 'transport of self and family through Lombardy, Savoy, France; and for carriage of his stuff by sea from Venice, and charges of self and seven of his company at Paris by reason of illness'. (Issues Ex., p. 134.) He 'The Constable of Castile (see ante, p. 320). He succeeded Count Fuentes as Governor of Milan, after the death of the turbulent Fuentes in 1610. appeared, Carleton wrote to Winwood, 'like a halcyon in the midst of these motions.' (Winwood Mem., iii, p. 236.) 3 Don Alonzo de Velasco. |