CCCX11 LIFE 01- BACON. 



spared,&quot; quoting a wise heathen as a precedent, well 

 knowing that his breviary contained no such doctrine: 

 advice which was gratefully received by the marquis, who 

 declared that, for the future, he would attend to no other 

 counsellor. () 



It may, at first sight, appear remarkable, that, in matters 

 of such moment, Buckingham should apply for counsel to 

 Williams rather than to Bacon, by whose advice he pro 

 fessed to be always guided : it is, however, certain that he 

 not only communicated privately with Williams, but that 

 he carried him to the King, whom they found closeted 

 with the prince, in much distress and perplexity, (6) when 

 the dean read to his royal master (c) a document prepared 

 at the suggestion of Buckingham, or the fruit of his own 

 politic brain. 



It is to be hoped that the fiend ambition did not so far 



(a) &quot; Advice which the marquis received with much thankfulness as he 

 could express, and requited his adviser with this compliment, that he would 

 use no other counsellor hereafter to pluck him out of his plunges ; for he 

 had delivered him from fear and folly, and had restored him both to a 

 light heart and a safe conscience.&quot; Racket, p. 50. 



(i) &quot; To the King they go forthwith with these notes of honest settle 

 ment, whom they found accompanied in his chamber with the prince, and 

 in serious discourse together.&quot; Hacket, p. 51. 



(c) Racket, p. 51. &quot; Buckingham craves leave that the dean might be 

 heard upon those particulars which he had brought in writing, which the 

 King marked with patience, and pleasure ; and whatsoever seemed conten 

 tious or doubtful to the King s piercing wit, the dean improved it to the 

 greater liking by the solidity of his answers, whereupon the King resolved 

 to keep close to every syllable of those directions ; and before the month 

 of March expired, thirty-seven monopolies, with other sharking prouleries, 

 were decried in one proclamation, which returned a thousand praises and 

 ten thousand good prayers upon the sovereign. Out of this bud the dean s 

 advancement very shortly spread out into a blown flower ; for the King, 

 upon this trial of his wisdom, either called him to him, or called for his 

 judgment in writing in all that he deliberated to act or permit in this 

 session of parliament, in his most private and closest consultations,&quot; 



