402 ADVICE TO SIR GEORGE VILLIERS. 



also a favourite ; the favourite of the time, and so are 

 in his bosom also ; the world hath so voted you, and 

 doth so esteem of you ; for kings and great princes, 

 even the wisest of them, have had their friends, their 

 favourites, their privadoes, in all ages ; for they have 

 their affections as well as other men. Of these they 

 make several uses ; sometimes to communicate and 

 debate their thoughts with them, and to ripen their 

 judgments thereby ; sometimes to ease their cares by 

 imparting them ; and sometimes to interpose them 

 between themselves and the envy or malice of their 

 people ; for kings cannot err, that must be discharged 

 upon the shoulders of their ministers ; and they 

 who are nearest unto them must be content to bear 

 the greatest load. [Remember then what your true 

 condition is : the king himself is above the reach of 

 his people, but cannot be above their censures ; and 

 you are his shadow, if either he commit an error, and 

 is loth to avow it, but excuses it upon his ministers, 

 of which you are first in the eye ; or you commit the 

 fault or have willingly permitted it, and must suffer 

 for it : and so perhaps you may be offered a sacrifice 

 to appease the multitude.] But truly, Sir, I do not 

 believe or suspect that you are chosen to this emi- 

 nency, out of the last of these considerations : for you 

 serve such a master, who by his wisdom and good 

 ness is as free from the malice or envy of his subjects, 

 as I think, I may truly say, ever any king was, who 

 hath sat upon his throne before him : but I am confi 

 dent, his majesty hath cast his eyes upon you, as 

 finding you to be such as you should be, or hoping to 



