1619.] DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. 32S 



market we have already witnessed. These abuses, and the 

 aggrandizement of his own numerous family and dependents, 

 offended alike the ancient nobility and the people of all con- 

 ditions. When Charles succeeded to the throne in 1625, 

 the duke continued in the same degree of favour with the 

 son as he had enjoyed so many years under the father. This 

 greatly disappointed certain courtiers who anticipated a 

 change in the mode of distributing emoluments and honours. 

 But Buckingham still gave away all preferments in Church 

 and State ; his kindred and friends were promoted in honour, 

 riches, or offices as he thought fit, and all his enemies and 

 enviers discountenanced, as he appointed. But whatever 

 interest he might have with the king, he had now none with 

 the Parliament and the people. His incapacity in command 

 of the disastrous expedition to the Isle de Rhe would have 

 caused the retirement of any other minister under any other 

 monarch ; but Charles still retained Buckingham in his 

 pride of place. He ignored the aristocracy and defied the 

 public. 



Having returned to England, and repaired the fleet and 

 reorganized the army, Buckingham was about to sail from 

 Portsmouth to the relief of Rochelle, which was then closely 

 besieged by Cardinal Richelieu, when he was assassinated by 

 a soldier named Felton, on August 23, 1628. The duke was 

 then in the thirty-sixth year of his age. The particulars of 

 Buckingham's murder are well known, as it is detailed in 

 all our histories. He was lamented by none save his own 

 followers, while Felton was considered by the public as the 

 Brutus of the time. 



