st of terms with
Villiers. He professed to Villiers the most sincere devotion. According
to his custom he presented him with a letter of wise advice on the
duties and behaviour of a favourite. He at once began, and kept up with
him to the end, a confidential correspondence on matters of public
importance. He made it clear that he depended upon Villiers for his own
personal prospects, and it had now become the most natural thing that
Bacon should look forward to succeeding the Lord Chancellor, Ellesmere,
who was fast failing. Bacon had already (Feb. 12, 1615/16). in terms
which seem strange to us, but were less strange then, set forth in a
letter to the King the reasons why he should be Chancellor; criticising
justly enough, only that he was a party interested, the qualifications
of other possible candidates, Coke, Hobart, and the Archbishop Abbott.
Coke would be "an overruling nature in an overruling place," and
"popular men were no sure mounters for your Majesty's saddle." Hobart
was incompetent. As to Abbott, the Chancellor's place required "a whole
man," and to have both jurisdiction, spiritual and temporal, "was fit
only for a king." The promise that Bacon should have the place came to
him three days afterwards through Villiers. He acknowledged it in a
burst of gratitude (Feb. 15, 1615/16). "I will now wholly rely on your
excellent and happy self.... I am yours surer to you than my own life.
For, as they speak of the Turquoise stone in a ring, I will break into
twenty pieces before you bear the least fall." They were unconsciously
prophetic words. But Ellesmere lasted longer than was expected. It was
not till a year after this promise that he resigned. On the 7th of
March, 1616/17, Bacon received the seals. He expresses his obligations
to Villiers, now Lord Buckingham, in the following letter:

"MY DEAREST LORD,--It is both in cares and kindness that small ones
float up to the tongue, and great ones sink down into the heart
with silence. Therefore I could speak little to your Lordship
to-day, neither had I fit time; but I must profess thus much, that
in this day's work you are the truest and perfectest mirror and
example of firm and generous friendship that ever was in court. And
I shall count every day lost, wherein I shall not either study your
well-doing in thought, or do your name honour in speech, or perform
you service in deed. Good my Lord, account and accept me you