erious negotiations; and that her chief
purpose in sending him, was to entertain the king with witty and
facetious conversation, and to partake without reserve of his pleasures
and amusements. Wotton was master of profound dissimulation, and knew
how to cover, under the appearance of a careless gayety, the deepest
designs and most dangerous artifices. When but a youth of twenty, he had
been employed by his uncle, Dr. Wotton, ambassador in France during the
reign of Mary, to insnare the constable Montmorency; and had not his
purpose been frustrated by pure accident, his cunning had prevailed over
all the caution and experience of that aged minister. It is no wonder
that, after years had improved him in all the arts of deceit, he should
gain an ascendant over a young prince of so open and unguarded a temper
as James; especially when the queen's recommendation prepared the way
for his reception. He was admitted into all the pleasures of the king;
made himself master of his secrets; and had so much the more authority
with him in political transactions, as he did not seem to pay the least
attention to these matters. The Scottish ministers, who observed the
growing interest of this man, endeavored to acquire his friendship; and
scrupled not to sacrifice to his intrigues the most essential interests
of their master. Elizabeth's usual jealousies with regard to her heirs
began now to be levelled against James; and as that prince had attained
the years proper for marriage, she was apprehensive lest, by being
strengthened by children and alliances, he should acquire the greater
interest and authority with her English subjects. She directed Wotton to
form a secret concert with some Scottish noblemen, and to procure their
promise, that James, during three years, should not on any account be
permitted to marry. In consequence of this view, they endeavored to
embroil him with the king of Denmark, who had sent ambassadors to
Scotland on pretence of demanding restitution of the Orkneys, but really
with a view of opening a proposal of marriage between James and his
daughter. Wotton is said to have employed his intrigues to purposes
still more dangerous. He formed, it is pretended, a conspiracy with some
malecontents, to seize the person of the king, and to deliver him into
the hands of Elizabeth, who would probably have denied all concurrence
in the design, but would have been sure to retain him in perpetual
thraldom, if not captivity. The