Letters of Sir Henry Wotton to Sir Edmund Bacon

Sir,

I Have not yet presented to my Lord that Box which came with your Letter of this week; for he re∣moved on Wednesday with the King and houshold to Greenwich: And I still remain here to shew you that the Court doth like a Load-stone, draw only those that are intra orbem vir∣tutis suae: I mean, within the compass and circle of profit.

The Savoy Ambassador seemeth in his second audience to have dis∣charged all his Commission; or otherwise he wanteth authority to proceed further then to a general overture, till the arrival of the Caval^r▪ Battista Gabaleoni, who is hourly expected, and is here to re∣main as Resident for the said Duke.

With him likewise come certain other Gentlemen of title, who should from the beginning have dignified the Ambassadors Train; but the cause of this stragling, was a

sudden attempt, which the Duke immediately after the Ambassadors departure (who appointed those Gentlemen to follow him) made upon the Marquisat of Monserrato, where he surprized three Towns with the Petarde: the first time (as one writeth from Venice) that ever that pestilent invention had been put in practice beyond the Alpes.

The cause of this attempt, was for that the Cardinal Gonzaga (now Duke of Mantua) had yielded to send home the Dowager Infanta, to the Duke of Savoy her Father; but would retain her only child, a daugh∣ter of two years: in whose right, the said Duke of Savoy pretendeth colourably enough to the foresaid whole Marquisat; and clearly to all the moveables left by the late Duke of Mantua her Father, who died in∣testat. Into which point of Law, there entered besides some jealousie of State: being unfit for respects

that would have falln easily into the apprehension of duller Princes than the Italian, to leave a childe out of the custody of her Mother, in his that was to gain by the death of it: yet am I of opinion, who have a little contemplated the Duke of Savoys complexion, that nothing moved him more in this business, than the threatnings of the French Queen, who had before commanded Didi∣guires to fall into the said Dukes estates by way of diversion, if he should meddle with the least Village in the Monserrato: which feminine menacement did no doubt incite him to do it out of the impatience of scorn; And withall, he built silently upon a ground, which could not well fail him; That the King of Spain would never suffer the French Soul∣diers to taste any more of the Grapes and Melons of Lombardie, because L'apetit vient en mangeant: which the issue of the businesses hath proved

true: for the Governor of Milan, having raised a tumultuary army of horse and foot, did with it only keep things in stay from farther progress on both sides, till the agreement was made between the Duke of Mantua himself in person, and the Prince of Piedmont within the Town of Milan. The accord is advertised the King from Venice, and Paris. The condi∣tions will be better known at the arrival of Gabaleoni; and then likewise we shall see the bottom of this er∣rand, which hath been hitherto no∣thing, but a general proposition of a match between the same Lady that was formerly offered, and our Prince now living: which the Ambassador hath touched so tenderly, as if he went to manage his Masters credit. Upon the whole matter, I cannot conceive (though he seemeth to let fall some phrases of haste) that he will be gone yet this fortnight or three weeks, till when I languish. And

so let me end all my letters, ever resting

Your faithfullest poor friend and servant, HENRY WOTTON.

May 21▪ 1613.