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 ...

SIR,

THe very truth is, your love hath prevented me: for I meant by Giovanni to give you some ac∣count of what hath passed since our divorcement. When I had slept half an hour after you were gone from Darford, I found my self fresco come una rosa: but I awaked in a strange dream, that had seldom before befaln me in an Inn; finding nothing to be paid, not so much as for mine own Horses: where∣by the reason was plain of the paleness of my water which you observed; for none of the tincture of my gold was gone into the reckoning of the drink, as you had handled the matter.

At the top of Shooters-hill my Foot-man staid, as if he had been watching the Beacon rather then for me; and told me there were good provisions made at Sir Adam Newtons for you and me, with kind expectation of us both. But my self being desirous to reach Eton that night, as I did, (for my horses I see travel best upon another mans purse) I blanched the house, and sent thither by Giovanni a

fair excuse. True it is, we are much of a humour: Cento Bue will hardly draw us in a journey to any strange place.

At that time likewise Will brought me a Letter from Mr. Griffith, which had been expresly sent to Gr•…•…esend the night before: whereby I saw Giovanni had taken a false alarm; for he was not to be gone till the Munday morning following: so as I have had time to ballast him with Letters. And I have intimated beforehand to your Jack Dinely, your purpose to pass over the spiritous Frank as soon as you can trick him. We are now towards the Fe∣stival of our Election; wherein annually I make a shift to lose four or five Friends, and yet do my self no good; so as they are angry with me on the one side, and they laugh at me on the other.

I apprehend this year a great poverty of Veni∣son with us: for I came too late to exchange your Warrant; and my Lady Throckmortons will not serve my turn.

Since my coming, Mr. Turvil, a French practical man, of good erudition, hath passed a day or two with me, from vvhom I hear a shrewd point: That the oath of peace (which should have been taken between the two neighbouring Kings upon the same day) is put off for a moneth: I believe the stop be in France, to gain time to disturb our Treaty with Spain.

Mr. Pim (a man whose ears are open) told me likewise yesterday a strange thing, that the Queen of Bohemia hath newly, being hunting, been chased away her self with some affrightment from Rhenen by certain Troops of the enemy that have passed the Isel. With whom it was feared the Count Henry Venden Borge would joyn, and ravage the Velow Yet

withal were come tidings, that the Prince of Orenge at the Buss had had parly offered him. But my in∣telligences are Cistern-waters, you are nearer the Fountain. And not only,Dulcius ex ipso Fonte bi∣buntur aquae, but verius too. For both will stand in the verse.

Before I end, let me beseech you, to remember my humble and hearty devotion (in the very style of Seneca to his Lucilius, and I shall need to say no more) Optimo Virorum. I envy your enjoyments and conversations, and most when they are privatest, for then they are freest. I hope the Noble Lady will return quickly again to her Hesperian Garden: To whom, I pray, likewise let my humble service be remembred. And so I rest,

From the Colledge this Wednesday night, 1629.

Excepto quod non simul esses, caetera laetus; H. WOTTON.