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 Lord Treasurer Weston.

My most honoured good Lord,

I Most humbly present (though by some infirmi∣ties a little too late) a strange New-years Gift unto your Lordship, which I will presume to term the cheapest of all that you have received, and yet of the richest materials. In short, it is only an Image of your Self, drawn by memory from such discourse as I have taken up here and there of your Lordship, among the most intelligent and un∣malignant men; which to pourtrait before you I thought no servile office, but ingenuous and real: and I could wish that it had come at the Day, that so your Lordship might have begun the New Year, somewhat like Plato's definition of Felicity, with the contemplation of your own Idea.

They say, That in your forraign Employments un∣der King James, your Lordship won the Opinion of a very able and searching Judgement, having been the first discoverer of the Intentions against the Palatinate, which were then in brewing, and masked with much Art. And that Sir Edward Con∣way got the start of you both in Title and Employ∣ment at home, because the late Duke of Buckingham wanted then for his own Ends a Martial Secretary. They say, That under our present Soveraign, you were chosen to the highest charge at the lowest of the State, when some instrument was requisite of undubitable integrity and provident moderation; which Attributes I have heard none deny you. They discourse thus of your Actions since, that though great Exhaustions cannot be cured with sudden Re∣medies, no more in a Kingdom then in a Natural Body, yet your Lordship hath well allayd those blu∣stering clamors wherewith at your beginnings your House was in a manner dayly besieged. They note, that there have been many changes, but that none hath brought to the Place a judgement so cultivated and illuminated with various Erudition as your Lordship, since the Lord Burghley under Queen Eli∣zabeth, whom they make your Parallel in the orna∣ment of Knowledge.

They observe in your Lordship divers remark∣able combinations of Vertues and Abilities, rarely sociable. In the Character of your Aspect, a mixture of Authority and Modesty. In the Faculties of your Mind, quick Apprehension and Solidity together. In the style of your Port and Train, as much Dignity, and as great Dependency as was ever in any of your Place, and with little noise or outward fume. That your Table is very abundant, free and noble, with∣out

Luxury. That you are by nature no Flatterer, and yet of greatest power in Court. That you love Magnificence and Frugality both together. That you entertain your Guests and Visiters with noble cour∣tesie, but void of complement. Lastly, that you maintain a due regard to your Person and Place, and yet are an Enemy to frothy Formalities.

Now, in the discharge of your Function, they speak of two things that have done you much ho∣nour: namely, That you have had always a spe∣cial care to the supply of the Navy: And likewise a more worthy and tender respect towards the Kings only Sister, for her continual support from hence, then she hath found before. They observe your greatness as firmly established as ever was any in the Love (and which is more) in the estimation of a King, who hath so signalized his own Constancy: Besides your addition of Strength (or at least of Lustre) by the Noblest Alliances of the Land.

Among these Notes, it is no wonder if some ob∣serve, That between a good willingness in your affections to satisfie All, and an impossibility in the matter, and yet an importunity in the Persons, there doth now and then, I know not how, arise a little impatience, which must needs fall upon your Lordship, unless you had been cut out of a Rock of Diamonds, especially having been before so con∣versant with liberal Studies, and with the freedom of your own Mind.

Now after this short Collection touching your most honoured Person, I beseech you give me leave to add likewise a little what Men say of the Writer. They say, I want not your gracious good will to∣wards me according to the degree of my poor Ta∣lent and Travels, but that I am wanting to my

self: And in good faith (my Lord) in saying so, they say truly; for I am condemned, I know not how, by nature, to a kind of unfortunate bashful∣ness in mine own business, and it is now too late to put me in a new Furnace. Therefore it must be your Lordships proper work, and not only your Noble, but even your Charitable goodness that must in some blessed hour remember me. God give your Lordship many healthful and joyful years, and the blessing of that Text; Beatus qui attendit ad attenuatum. And so I remain with an humble and willing Heart, &c.