Page:Men of Kent and Kentishmen.djvu/160

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MEN OF KENT

was most distinguished, being employed on frequent occasions as ambassador to foreign sovereigns. During Edward VI's reign he was for a short time Secretary of State, and Elizabeth made him a Privy Councillor. He died Jan. 26th, 1567, and was buried in Canterbury Cathedral, where there is an elaborate tomb to his memory, with an inscription descriptive of his history, virtues, and appearance.

[See Todd's "Deans of Canterbury," Lodge's "Illustrations of British History," and Walton's "Life of Wotton," etc.]


Sir Henry Wotton,

STATESMAN,

Was another member of the same distinguished family, the son of Thomas Wotton, of Boughton Hall, where he was born in 1568. He was educated at Winchester and Oxford where "he became well-versed in logic and philosophy," and proceeded Master of Arts at nineteen years of age. On leaving Oxford he travelled in France, Germany, and Italy. On his return he became secretary to Robert, Earl of Essex, on whose fall he again went to Italy, where he obtained the confidence of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, who employed him as a private envoy to James VI. of Scotland. On James becoming King of Scotland, Wotton was taken into his service and charged with many important embassies. He obtained no other reward, however, for his services than the Provostship of Eton, which he held till his death in 1689. On his tomb in the College Chapel he caused to be engraved this