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the first Earl of Exeter's five sons, the only one who distinguished himself was Edward, Viscount Wimbledon. Of his youth or education nothing is recorded, until we find him, in 1594, at the age of twenty-two, setting out to travel on the Continent with his elder brother Richard. He was in Florence in 1596, and was entertained by the Duke, Ferdinand de' Medici, "and which was an extraordinary favour the duke gave him leave to ride his own horse, and at his departure gave him gifts of price." Later he made his way to the Low Countries, and made up his mind to serve under Sir Francis Vere. His determination is expressed in a letter to his uncle, Sir Robert, dated February 9th, 1599, 3 in which he says: "My fortune is now to follow the wars, having had always heretofore a disposition thereunto. … The profession I have taken upon me wills that I