The state of Christendom, or, A most exact and curious discovery of many secret passages and hidden mysteries of the times written by Henry Wotten ...

To the Judicious Reader.

THe Author of these Politique and Polite discour∣ses, knew the world so well, and the world him, that not to know Sr Henry Wotton, were an igno∣rance beyond Barbarism, in any who have been conversant in the least measure with any transa∣ctions of State: A Knight he was of choice In∣tellectuals, and noble Extraction, who may be said to have King'd it abroad half his age in Embassies, by representing the person of his So∣veraign Prince in most of the Courts of Christendom, amongst the seve∣rest and most sagacious sort of Nations; for he was thrice sent Ambas∣sadour to the Republique of Venice, from the most serene Prince James the first King of Great Britain (by whom the Order of Knight∣hood was conferred upon him.) Once to the States of the United Pro∣vinces. Twice to Charls Emanuel Duke of Savoy. Once to the United Princes of Upper Germany in the Convention at Heyl∣brun. Lastly, He was sent Extraordinary Ambassadour to the Arch∣duke Leopold, the Duke of Wittenberg. Imperial Cities, Stras∣burgh and Ulm, and to the Roman Emperour himself, Ferdinand the second: And however it may be thought by some that after so ma∣ny great and noble employments, the Provost ship of Eaton was a place not considerable enough for a personage of his merit; yet if we consi∣der the sedateness of his temper and spirit, he being of a speculative and quiescent disposition, it seems to have been rather his own choice, then any want of regard, in those times, to a man so highly deserving of the Commonwealth; and consequently, it appears that those weighty affairs he manag'd both at home and abroad with so much honour and reputati∣on, were rather the effects of his zeal to the service of his King and Country, then of any aspiring or ambitious thoughts; seeing he for∣sook

the highest places of honour and profit, which he merited at the hands of a great King, for the more contenting enjoyments of a solitary and studious retirement. Had he been never known unto the world until the publishing of his late works called Reliquiae Wottonianae, there is in them contained that which may abundantly demonstrate how admira∣bly he was accomplish'd both in the severer and politer Arts. Not to in∣sist upon the many Elogiums deservedly fixt upon his fame by the most learned and judicious persons both Native and Forraign; I shall only insert what the most vogu'd Poet of this age hath sung of his skill in Tongues.

He had so many Languages in store, That only Fame can speak of him in more.

It were but needless therefore to premise any thing concerning these fol∣lowing discourses, written by a person of such a known and celebrated worth, but only this, that by the high quality of his negotiations in so∣veraign Courts, he had the greatest advantage that could be to feel the pulse of Government, and make inspections into those Arcana Imperii, those mysteries of State, which he communicates here to the world, in many choice and judicious Observations, whereby the discerning Reader may be will acqnainted with the state of Europe, and the interest, de∣pendencies, and power of most Princes, together with the occasions and motives of most of the Wars that hapned the last century, whereof some came from slight quarrels; for he tells you that Charls the Har∣dy Duke of Burgundy, made a war for a Cart-load of Sheep∣skins, in which he breath'd his last: With these Modern observa∣tions he intermingles many ancient passages, both of Greeks and Romans, which may much conduce to rectifie and enrich the under∣standing of the Reader.

Notes

• A. Co••ley.