CCXX LIFE OF BACOX. 



that must arise from his inflating a family quarrel into a 

 national grievance, interceded &quot; on his knees &quot;(a) for 

 Bacon. A reconciliation, of course, took place, but not 

 without disgrace to all the parties concerned; exhibiting 

 on the one part unbecoming violence; and on the other the 

 most abject servility. The marriage, which had occa 

 sioned so much strife; was solemnized at the close of the 

 month of September ; and Sir Edward Coke was recalled 

 to the council table, where, after the death of Winwood, 

 he did not long keep his seat. 



Finance. This storm having subsided; the Lord Keeper turned his 

 attention to the subject of finance, and endeavoured to 

 bring the government expenses, now called the Civil list, 

 within the compass of the ordinary revenue ; a measure 

 more necessary, since there had never been any disposition 

 in parliament to be as liberal to James as to his illustrious 

 predecessor. 



The difficulties which the council met in the projected 

 retrenchments from the officers of state whose interests were 

 affected, confirmed the remark of Cardinal Richlieu, &quot; that 

 the reformation of a king s household is a thing more fit 

 to be done than successfully attempted.&quot; This did not dis 

 courage the Lord Keeper, who went manfully to the work, 

 and wrote freely to Buckingham and to the King himself, 

 upon the necessity both of striking at the root, and lopping 

 off the branches ; of considering whether Ireland, (b) instead 

 of being a burthen to England, ought not, in a great 

 measure, to support itself; and of diminishing household 

 expenses, and abridging pensions and gratuities, (c) 



(a) See letter, vol. xii. p. 342. (b} See vol. xii. p. 267. 



(c) To the King. 



May it please your Majesty, Being yesterday assembled in council to 

 proceed in the course we had begun for retrenchment of your majesty s 



