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 ...

1621/2.

SIR,

BEsides the Address of my publick Duties unto your hands, I have long owed you these private lines, full of thanks from my heart for your favour and affection in all my occasions at home, and particularly in the Point of my Privy-Seal, about my German Accounts: wherein (as I am abundantly informed both by my Nephew, and by Mr. Nicholas Pey, whom I repute my best Ora∣cles in the information of mine own Obligations) it pleased you to stand by me, not only Da vero Amieo, but indeed, Da vero Cavagliere: From which, though the benefit which did remain in my purse, after the casting up of what was lost, was (as God knows) so little, that I may justly build some hope of your further charity in the authori∣zing of such Demands as I now send: yet on the other side, I must confess, that without your for∣mer

so friendly, and so noble compassion, I had received a most irrecoverable ruine and shame, beyond all example, and my case would have been very strange; for I should have been undone by the Kings goodness, upon assurance whereof (though almost forgotten) I had increased my Train. Now Sir, this acknowledgement of your singular Love, I was never more fit to pay you then at the present, being intenerated in all my in∣ward feelings and affections by new sickness, which with loss of much blood, even no less then twenty ounces within these fourteen dayes, hath brought me low. In which time (if God had called me from the Travels of this earth) I had left you, out of my narrow fortune, some poor remembrance of my thankfulness: which I have now (finding my self by Gods pleasure in a good way of recovery) transmitted to my above-said Friend Mr. Pey. Be∣fore I end, I must not forget to ease your Honour of such thanks as in your Letters you have been pleased to bestow on me, in respect of your Kins∣man Mr. B. because his being with me, I do very rightly reckon among my bands to your self: for in good faith, his integrity and discretion doth sustain my House; besides his fellowship in certain Studies, wherein we aim at no small things, even perchance at a new Systeme of the World; at least, since we cannot in the Practical and Moral, I would we could mend it in the Speculative Part. But lest these private Contemplations (on which I am fallen) transport me too far, I will conclude as I began, with humble thanks for all your Fa∣vours; and with commending your Honoured Person to the Author of all Blessing; remaining ever, &c.