CCCxlviii LIFE OF BACON. 



fully acknowledge his majesty s favour, and hold themselves 

 highly bound unto his majesty for the same.&quot; 



At this interview the King, who had determined to 

 sacrifice the &quot; oracle of his counsel rather than the favourite 

 of his affection, &quot; gave him his advice, as it was termed, 

 &quot; that he should submit himself to the House of Peers, 

 and that upon his princely word he would then restore 

 him again, if they in their honours should not be sensible 

 of his merits. &quot; (a) 



How little this command accorded with the Chancellor s 

 intention to defend himself, may be gathered from his 

 distress and passionate remonstrance. &quot; I see my ap 

 proaching ruin : there is no hope of mercy in a multitude, 

 if I do not plead for myself, when my enemies are to give 

 fire. Those who strike at your chancellor will strike at 

 your crown.&quot; All remonstrance proving fruitless, he took 

 leave of the Kino- with these memorable words : &quot; I am 



o 



the first; I wish I may be the last sacrifice.&quot; (a) 

 April 17, The parts were now cast, and the last act of the drama 

 1621&amp;lt; alone remained to be performed. 



On the 17th of A P ril the house met &amp;gt; when some account 

 of the King s interview with the Chancellor was narrated 



by the Lord Treasurer, and ordered to be entered upon the 

 journals of the house; and, a rumour having been circu 

 lated that Buckingham had sent his brother abroad to 

 escape inquiry, he protested unto the lords, &quot; that whereas 

 the opinion of the world is, that his lordship had sent his 

 brother, Sir Edward Villiers abroad in the King s service, 

 of purpose to avoid his trial touching some grievances 

 complained of by the Commons, his lordship was so far 

 from that, that his lordship did hasten his coming home ; (b) 

 and, if any thing blame-worthy can be objected against 



(a) See postea, account by Bushel. (b) Ante, p. cccxi. 



