(1688 - 1760) of Walsingham Abbey, Norf.
1714 - 15 [Calais, 8 Nov. 1713] Leghorn (5 Oct. 1714), Pisa, Lucca, Florence (11 Oct.), Naples (Nov.), Rome (1 Dec. 1714 - Apr. 1715), Bologna (3 May), Modena, Parma, Cremona, Mantua, Ferrara, Venice (by 31 May), Padua (2 Jun.), Vicenza, Verona, Milan, Genoa [Geneva, 14 Jul. 1715; London 5 Apr. 1716]
Warner made the grand tour with Hamon Lestrange, a Norfolk neighbour, and sent regular reports on his progress to his uncle Sir James Howe. Lestrange kept a factual diary until December 1714, which showed less interest in the fine arts than in local industries and agriculture.1 They had spent a year in France before arriving on 5 October 1714 at Leghorn where they found so many English merchants that 'above half the Town understand us'. They had an introduction from Sir Henry Bedingfield to the Grand Duke in Florence and, said Warner, they were able to see the 'the best Pictures and Medalls I ever saw'. Six months were spent in Rome, where they watched Carnival and saw 'every day some new curiosity either in Antiquity or Statuary or Painting'. On the return journey, consul Broughton reported on 31 May that they were in Venice for Ascension and intended to leave shortly.2 They were at Padua on 2 June 1715,3 and met Thomas Coke at Geneva, but soon afterwards Lestrange died of small pox at Basel. Warner himself was ill, and did not reach home until April 1716. In Italy Warner had been unable to avoid buying 'some Pictures and Prints which are the chief Manufactures of that Country'.
1. See Moore 1985, 19 - 21, 86 - 7; diary and letters are Norfolk RO (Lee Warner, box 10). 2. SP 99/61, f.39 (Broughton, 31 May 1715). 3. Brown 1470 - 1.