CCX11 LIFE OF BACON. 



The policy of the favourite seems to be clear. He had 

 endeavoured to prevent the King s visit ; and, in surround 

 ing his royal master with these buffooneries, he well knew 

 that he should disgust the better part of the Scottish no 

 bility, and keep aloof all those grave and wise counsellors, 

 who could not recognize, under the disguise of a masquer, 

 the learned pupil of Buchanan, and the ruler of two 

 kingdoms. 



&quot; And his new favourite, being an excellent dancer, brought that pastime 

 into the greater request. To speak of his advancement by degrees were to 

 lessen the King s love ; for titles were heaped upon him, they came rather 

 like showers than drops; for as soon as Somerset declined, he mounted. 

 Such is the court motion! Knighthood and gentleman of the bedchamber 

 were the first sprinklings : and the then old Earl of Worcester (who had been 

 long master of the horse to the late Queen, and continued it to this time) 

 was made Lord Privy Seal, in exchange of his place, and a good sum of 

 money put into the scale ; and Sir George Villers (Baron of Whaddon, 

 Viscount Villers, and Earl of Buckingham, also of the privy council) is 

 made Master of the Horse. In this glory he visits Scotland with the 

 King, and is made a privy counsellor there. Favourites are not complete 

 figures, if the prince s bounty be not circular, as well in his northerly 

 motion as his southerly. He now reigns sole monarch in the King s affec 

 tion : every thing he doth is admired for the doer s sake. No man dances 

 better, no man runs, or jumps better ; and indeed he jumped higher than 

 ever Englishman did in so short a time, from a private gentleman to a 

 dukedom. But the King is not well without him, his company is his 

 solace, and the court grandees cannot be well but by him, so that all 

 addresses are made to him, either for place or office in court or common 

 wealth. The bishops sees did also ebb and flow, from the wane or fulness 

 of his influence upon them ; and having a numerous kindred of the rank 

 of gentry, which he planted about him, as a nursery in the court, to make 

 them virescere, and spring up the better, the dew of these offices, and the 

 fresh springs that came from those seas must be contributed. It cannot 

 with modesty be expressed how greedily some of our prelates would clear 

 all the passages of a bad conscience, to bring in such waters of comfort, 

 lest it should bespatter the more worthy, and brand them all with simony, 

 which dares not be done. But where God hath his church, the devil 

 many times will have his chapel ; it was ever his ambition to be like unto 

 him.&quot; Wilson. 





