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 the DUKE.

My most honoured and dear Lord,

TO give your Lordship occasion to exercise your noble Nature, is withal one of the best exercises of mine own duty; and there∣fore. I am confident to pass a very charitable mo∣tion through your Lordships hands and mediation to his Majesty.

There hath long lain in the Prison of Inquisition, a constant worthy Gentleman, viz. Master Mole: in whom his Majesty hath not only a right as his Sub∣ject, but likewise a particular interest in the Cause of his first imprisonment: For having communica∣ted his Majesties immortal work, touching the Al∣legiance due unto Soveraign Princes, with a Flo∣rentine of his familiar acquaintance, this man took such impression at some passages, as troubling his Conscience, he took occasion at the next shrift, to confer certain doubts with his Confessor; who out of malicious curiosity, enquiring all circumstances, gave afterwards notice thereof to Rome, whither the said Mole was gone with my Lord Ross; who in this story is not without blame: but I will not disquiet his Grave,

Now having lately heard that his Majesty, at the suit of I know not what Ambassadors, (but the Florentine amongst them is voiced for one) was pleased to yield some releasment to certain re∣strained Persons of the Roman Faith; I have taken a conceit upon it, that in exchange of his Clemency therein, the great Duke would be easily moved, by the Kings gracious request, to interceed with the Pope for Master Mole's delivery: To which

purpose, if it shall please his Majesty to grant his Royal Letters, I will see the business duely pur∣sued. And so needing no arguments to commend this proposition to his Majesties goodness, but his goodness it self, I leave it (as I began) in your Noble hand. Now touching your Lordships fami∣liar service, (as I may term it) I have sent the Com∣plement of your bargain, upon the best provided, and best manned Ship that hath been here in long time, called the Phoenix. And indeed the cause of their long stay, hath been for some such Vessel as I might trust. About which, since I wrote last to your Lordship, I resolved to fall back to my first choice: so as now the one Piece is the work of Titian, wherein the least Figure (viz. the Child in the Virgins lap playing with a Bird) is alone worth the price of your expence for all four, being so round, that I know not whether I shall call it a Piece of Sculpture, or Picture: and so lively, that a man would be tempted to doubt, whether Nature or Art had made it. The other is of Palma, and this I call the speaking Piece, as your Lordship will say it may well be termed; for except the Damsel brought to David, whom a silent modesty did best become, all the other Figures are in discourse and action. They come both distended in their Frames: for I durst not hazard them in Rowls, the young∣est being 25 years old, and therefore no longer supple and pliant. With them I have been bold to send a Dish of Grapes to your Noble Sister, the Countess of Denbigh, presenting them first to your Lordships view, that you may be pleased to pass your censure, whether Italians can make Fruits as well as Flemings, which is the common glory of their Pensils. By this Gentleman, I have sent the

choicest Molon seeds of all kinds, which his Majesty doth expect, as I had Order both from my Lord of Holderness, and from Mr. Secretary Calvert. And although in my Letter to his Majesty (which I hope by your Lordships favour, himself shall have the honour to deliver, together with the said Seeds) I have done him right in his due Attributes; yet let me say of him farther, as Architects use to speak of a well chosen foundation, that your Lordship may boldly build what Fortune you please upon him, for surely, he will bear it vertu∣ously. I have committed to him for the last place, a private Memorial touching my self, wherein I shall humbly beg your Lordships intercession upon a necessary Motive. And so with my heartiest prayers to Heaven for your continual health and happiness, I most humbly rest,

Venice, Dec.2/12 1622.

Your Lordships ever obliged, devoted Servant, H. W.

POSTSCRIPT.

My Noble Lord,

It is one of my duties to tell your Lordship, that I have sent a servant of mine (by Profession a Painter) to make a search in the best Towns through Italy, for some principal Pie∣ces, which I hope may produce somewhat for your•• Lord ships contentment and service.