Reliquiae Wottonianae, or, A collection of lives, letters, poems with characters of sundry personages : and other incomparable pieces of language and art : also additional letters to several persons, not before printed / by the curious pencil of the ever memorable Sir Henry Wottan ...

TO MARCUS VELSERUS, One of the two Governours of AUSBURG. HENRY WOTTON wishing health.

SIR,

I Have vvritten to you heretofore sometimes in private, but have a concern upon me now to do it also in publick, of vvhich (vvith your permissi∣on) I desire thus to inform you.

At the last Frankefurt Mart there vvas set to sale a certain Book of Bulk (vvhich often gives the value) not inconsiderable. And it bore this Inscription:

Jaspar Scioppius his Ecclesiasticus: opposed to the Authority of the most Serene Lord King James—vvherein as vvith Arguments for the most part new, and in a vvay hitherto by no man trac'd—And so on vvith the like modesty.

The Composer of this VVork, in his begging Scraps all about, I know not by vvhat means, seems to have lighted on a merry definition of an Ambassador, vvhich above eight years before pas∣sing by that vvay, I had chanced to set down at my Friend's Mr. Christopher Fleckamor, in his Album of

Friends, after the German custome, (a white Paper-Book used by the Dutch for such kind of Mottos) which was worded thus:

Legatus est vir bonus peregrè missus ad mentiendum Reipub. causâ. In English, being only this Jest; An Ambassador is an honest man sent to lye abroad for the Commonwealth.

A Definition perhaps so Catholick, that it may comprehend even the Popes Legates; Now, what, I pray, think you doth this Scioppius hereupon? Throws open the Cabinet of familiarity, after so many years, revives an obsolete conceipt, privi∣ledg'd from disturbance even by its Antiquity, and according to his civility adorns me with a most gentle construction, as if I had written it not only in good earnest, but even with ostentation. Nor satisfi'd with this, he endeavours to draw a blemish from my merriment, upon the untainted reputati∣on of the best of Kings; as if Masters were oblig'd to answer for their Servants triflings. Lastly, To varnish over his perversness, he puts in a passage or two out of Esay and Solomon pleasantly, as nothing is secure from a prophane wit.

This I confess befell me in a wondrous age; for, who could have imagin'd so ill humour'd a creature likely to be born, whom such a little fancy upon the Licence of Ambassadors, (who act only in Po∣liticks) should so grievously offend; whereas we daily see the severity it self of holy Writ, so foully adulterated by some that are Masters of equivoca∣tions, pious frauds, and mental reservations? And this not by the by, nor in jest, or in the Album of Friends, where idle things and truths us'd to be

set down vvith equal security, but on set purpose, and from the Pulpit, vvith priviledge and Autho∣rity of Superiors? Yea but it is Scioppius that has rose up, and vvhat answer from me doth he expect? I remember indeed that being at Venice, my Family vvas struck vvith an Anathema in Baronius his Parae∣nesis; I remember that then also some things of the like sort vvere cast at me by Gomitulus, a Jesuit of Perugia, and by Authony Possevin, vvhich, although they flow'd from galled spirits, yet however I bore in silence, for, these vvere men of no mean repute, at least at home, and, such eminency as they had, qualifi'd the injury. But vvhen a hungry Renega∣do, a dirty Sharker about the Romish Court, only scribbles that he may dine, and a raw Pedant, not at all vers'd in more solid Learning, falls to treat∣ing of Church-matters; vvhen the spawn of a Sexton, and an Ammunition Trull, * 1.1 rages vvith that ir∣reverence against a King, vvhose eminent knowledge in things divine and hu∣mane, and constant even∣ness of Justice, vvould beget a veneration to any private person; vvhen a German quitting the mo∣desty and honesty of his Countrey, breathes no∣thing throughout his vvhole Book but the subversi∣on of Kings and Kingdomes; vvhen, finally, the same mouth vvhich had called the Society of the Je∣suits, a company of Parricides; and now having begun to smell the Roman Kitchins, styles them the Praetorian Band of Gods Militia: Quis iniquae tam pa∣tiens Urbis, quae istud Animal pabulatur, tàm ferreus & teneat se? VVho can endure so base a City (that seeds the Beast) or is so insensible as to contain himself?

Wherefore (setting aside all lightness) I com∣mune with you by this Letter seriously, and from my heart (most accomplished, Velserus) de∣siring and beseeching you by our common bon•…•… of Humanity, by our conscience in the sam•…•… Faith and Baptism, that (according to t•…•… power I know you have amidst your peopl•…•… you would quell these Scioppians, that such scan∣dals of mankind, and shames even to the best Causes, being banished from Christian Society, good men may retain their esteem, and Princes their Dignity; that your Marts may not be pester'd with the prostituted Pens of Parasites, nor the Press (the brave Invention of the Ger∣mans) be so miserably tormented; and lastly, that (as much as in our weakness lyes,) the happy quiet of Kingdomes and Churches may ensue, which the highest Teacher, and example of peace hath commended to us. But if he cannot leave off that impudent scurrility (which from his base extraction he has very suitably contracted 〈◊〉〈◊〉 without great inconvenience to his Belly, surely he deserves at least to have his Commons shortned, for that execrable subtilty, whereby he seems to himself quicker-sighted then the Council of Trent; for they, first of any (that I know of) decreed, that * 1.2 Traditi∣ons and holy Scripture were with equal affection, only, of piety and reverence to be received: But this new Ecclesiastick, not in the Album of Friends, but in the 485th, Page of his fine Syntagma, pronounces with a blasphe∣mous and shameless mouth, that the Authority of Tradition is above the written. Word of God▪ I

could produce six hundred such Scioppieties, but that were to rake a Dunghill. Wherefore farewel most Noble Sir, and again farewel.

From London,Decemb. 2. after the Julian Ac∣compt, in the Year of our onely Media∣tour, 1612.

Notes

• * 1.1

  See what is pub∣lished of the Life and Parents of Scioppi∣us, pag. 127.
• * 1.2

  April 8. Ses. 4.