y, who were
jealous left their country by such a match should be subjected to
the dominion of Spain, and their independent rights invaded by that
imperious monarch. These suspicions produced an insurrection, which
was headed by the duke of Suffolk and Sir Thomas Wyat, who both lost
their lives in the attempt to prevent the match by seizing the Queen;
for the design was soon discovered, easily defeated, and those two
persons, with many more, suffered on a scaffold.

Between Sir Thomas Wyat and the Wotton's family, there had been a
long intimacy, and Sir Thomas had really won Mr. Wotton over to his
interest, and had he not been prevented by imprisonment, he afterwards
declared that he would have joined his friend in the insurrection,
and in all probability would have fallen a sacrifice to the Queen's
resentment, and the votaries of the Spanish match.

After Sir Henry quitted the university of Oxford, he travelled into
France, Germany and Italy, where he resided above nine years, and
returned to his own country perfectly accomplished in all the polite
improvements, which men of sense acquire by travelling, and well
acquainted with the temper and genius of the people with whom he had
conversed, and the different policy of their governments. He was soon
taken notice of after his return, and became secretary to the famous
Robert Devereux, earl of Essex, that unfortunate favourite, whose
story is never exhibited on the stage, says Mr. Addison, without
affecting the heart in the most sensible manner. With his lordship he
continued in the character of secretary 'till the earl was apprehended
for his mutinous behaviour towards the Queen, and put upon his trial.
Wotton, who did not think it safe to continue in England after the
fall of his master, retired to Florence, became acquainted with the
Great Duke of Tuscany, and rose so high in his favour, that he was
entrusted by him to carry letters to James VI. King of Scots, under
the name of Octavio Baldi, in order to inform that king of a design
against his life. Walton informs us, that though Queen Elizabeth was
never willing to declare her successor, yet the King of Scots was
generally believed to be the person, on whom the crown of England
would devolve. The Queen declining very fast, both through age and
visible infirmities, "those that were of the Romish persuasion,
in point of religion, knowing that the death of the Queen, and
establishing her succession, was the crisis for