THE LIFE OF

SIR HENRY WOTTON.

SIR

IR HENRY WOTTON (whose life I now intend to write) was born in the year of our Redemption, 1568, in Bocton-Hall (commonly called Bocton, or Bougton-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 parishchurch 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

* Bocton Malherbe, alias Boughton Malherbe, lies in the middle of the county of Kent. Sir Nicholas Wotton, Lord Mayor of London in 1837, obtained the possession of this place by marrying the only daughter of Richard Corby. It continued in the

cient family of the Wottons, until it came to Thomas Lord Wotton, whose eldest daughter the Lady Katharine Stanhope, by marrying Henry Lord Stanhope, son of Philip Earl of Chesterfield, transferred it into another family. See Harris's Hist. of Kent

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 ho nour and justice, in their wise managing a great part of the public affairs thereof in the various times both of war and peace.

But lest I should be thought by any that may incline 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 part, of 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".

* Of these monuments see " Hasted's History of Kent,” vol II p. 457 ;—“ Harris's History of Kent,” p. 48

Hollingshed informs us that the family of the Wottons very ancient, and that “ Some persons of that surname for their

"sugularities

Sir Robert Wotton of Bocton Malherbe, Knight, was born about the year of Christ 1460: He, living in the reign of King Edward IV. 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 VII.; he was made Treasurer of Calais, and of the Privy Council to King Henry VIII. who offered him to be Lord Chancellor of England; "But," saith Hollinshed, in his Chronicle, “a virtuous modesty he refused it."

out of

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

singularities of wit and learning, for their honour and government in and of the realm, about the prince and elsewhere, at home and abroad, deserve such commendations, that they naæta mero signarı lapillo," (Chrom Jol 1. p. 1402 )

then with him at 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 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 boasÉ 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 Lambert, in his Perambulation of Kent...

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

• WILLIAM LAMBard of Lincoln's Inn, gent, a pupil of Lawrence Nowell the learned Antiquary, and known to the country magistrate as the author of “ Eirenarcha, or of the Office of the "Justices of Peace, 1599," and of the "Duties of Constables, "Borsholders, Tithing-Men, and such other Lowe and Lay « Ministers of the Peace, 1601." His “ Perambulation of Kent,” much applauded by Canden, encouraged many more men of learning to endeavour the like services for their country. His chief work is "The Archaionomia sive de priscis Anglo"rum Legibus, 1568," being a translation of the Anglo-Saxon Lawn

• Sin Hanny Worrow, in a letter to Lord Zouch, dated Florence, Aug. 14, 1592, mentions his brother Edward, as

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 several times Ambassador into "foreign nations. After her death, he was by

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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

having lost his wife, a gentlewoman, in his opinion, of most rare virtue; his brother James as gone to serve in the Low Countries; and his brother John as retired to a solitary life, and at some difference with his lady.

་ས "My brother Edward hath, either against his will, as some "say, or with it, as I say, been knighted." (Letter to Lord Zouch, dated Sienna, Dec. 13, 1592. )————Sir Edward Wotton was, in 1385, sent Ambassador into Scotland, for the purpose of contracting a league offensive and defensive with the King, to counteract the holy league, which the Pope, the Spanish King, the Guises, and others had made to extirpate the reformed religion. (Spotswood's Hist. p. 389.)His character, while he was engaged in that embassy, is thus drawn by Dr. Robertson. "This man was gay, well-bred, and entertaining; he excelled in "all the exercises for which James had a passion, and amused "the young King by relating the adventures which he had met " with, and the observations he had made during a long residence " in foreign countries; but under the veil of these superficial "qualities, he concealed a dangerous and intriguing spirit. He * soon grew into high favour with James, and while he was "seemingly attentive only to pleasure and diversions, he acquired “influence over the public councils, to a degree which was in"decent for a stranger to possess." (History of Scotland, B VII)

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