we may fay) a domeftic favourite; but finding him (as it should feem) by nature little ftudious and contemplative, the chose rather to endue him with converfive qualities and ornaments of youth, as dancing, fencing, and the like; not without aim then, perchance, (though far off) at a courtier's life; to which leffons he had fuch a dextrous proclivity, as his teachers were fain to reftrain his forwardnefs; to the end that his brothers, who were under the fame training, might hold pace with him.

About the age of eighteen, he travelled into France, where he improved himself well in the language, for one that had fo little gramaticalfoundation: but more in the exercifes of that nobility, for the space of three years, and yet came home in his natural plight, without affected forms (the ordinary difeafe of travellers). After his return, he paffed again one whole year (as before) at Goodby, under the wing and counfels of his mother: and then was forward to become a fuitor at London to Sir Roger Afhton's daughter, a gentleman of the bed-chamber to king James, and master of the robes. About which time, he fell into intrinfical fociety with Sir John Greham, then one of the gentlemen of his majesty's privychamber who, I know not upon what lu minaries he efpied in his face, diffuaded him from marriage, and gave him rather encouragement to woo fortune in court. Which ad vice funk well into his fancy; for within fome

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while,

while, the king had taken upon certain glances (whereof the first was at Apthorpe, in a progrefs) fuch liking of his perfon, that he refolved to make him a malter-piece, and to mould him, as it were, platonically to his own idea. Neither was his majesty content only to be the architect of his fortune, without putting his gracious hand likewife to fome part of the work itself. Infomuch as it pleafed him to defcend, and to avail his goodness even to the giving of his forefaid friend, Sir John Greham, fecret directions, how, and by what degrees he fhould bring him into favour. But this was quickly discovered by him, who was then as yet in fome poffeffion of the king's heart. For there is nothing more vigilant, nothing more jealous than a favourite, efpecially towards the waining-time and fufpect of fatiety. So as many arts were used to difcufs the beginning of new affection. All which, notwithstanding, there was conveyed to Mr. Villiers an intimation of the king's pleasure to wait, and to be fworn his fervant; and fhortly after, his cup-bearer at large; and the fummer following he was admitted into ordinary. After which time favours came thick upon him (liker main fhowers, than fprinkling drops or dews) for the next St. George's-day he was knighted, and made gentleman of the king's bed-chamber; and the very fame day had an annual penfion given him, for his better fupport, of one thousand pounds, out of the court of wards.

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At New-year's-tide following, the king chofe him mafter of the horfe. After this he was inftalled of the most noble order. And in the next Auguft he created him baron of Whaddon, and viscount Villiers. In January of the fame year, he was advanced earl of Buckingham, and fworn here of his majesty's privy-council; as if a favourite were not fo before.

The March enfuing, he attended the king into Scotland, and was likewise sworn a counfellor in that kingdom; where he carried himfelf with fingular sweetness of temper, as it behoved him, being new in favour, and fuc. ceeding one of their own, to ftudy a moderate ftile among thofe generous fpirits.

About New-year's-tide, after his return. from thence, (for thofe beginnings of years were very propitious to him, as if kings did chufe remarkable days to inaugurate their favours, that they may appear acts as well of the times, as of the will) he was created marquis of Buckingham, and made lord-admiral of England; chief-juftice in eyre of all the parks and forefts on the fouth fide of Trent; mafter of the King's-bench office, (none of the unprofitable pieces); head fteward of Weft. minfter, and conftable of Wind for-caftle.

But thefe offices and dignities already re. heàrfed, and those of the like nature, which fhall after be fet down in their place, were but the facings, or fringes, of his greatness,

in

in comparison of that truft which his moft gracious master did cast upon him in the oneand-twentieth year of his reign, when he made him the chief concomitant of his heir apparent, and only fon, Charles, prince of Wales, in a journey of much adventure, and which (to thew the ftrength of his privacy) had been before not communicated with any other of his majesty's most reserved counsellors at home, being carried with great clofenefs, liker a bufinefs of love than ftate; as it was in the first intendment.

They began their motion in the year 1623, on Tuesday the eighteenth of February, from the marquifs his houfe of late purchase, at New Hall in Effex, fetting out with disguised beards, and with borrowed names of Thomas and John Smith. And then attended with none, but Sir Richard Greham, master of the horse to the marquifs, and of inward trust about him. When they paffed the river againstGravefend, for lack of filver, they were fain to give the ferry-man a piece of two-and-thirty fhillings, which ftruck the poor fellow into fuch a melting tenderness, that fo good gentlemen should be going (for fo he fufpected) about fome quarrel beyond fea, as he could not forbear to acquaint the officers of the town with what had befallen him, who sent presently poft for their stay at Rochester, through which they were paffed before any intelligence could arrive. On the brow of the hill beyond that city, they were fomewhat perplexed by espyVo V. F

ing the French ambaffador, with the king's coach, and other attending him, which made them baulk the beaten road, and teach poft hackneys to leap hedges.

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At Canterbury, whither fome voice (as it fhould feem) was run on before, the mayor of the town came himself to feize on them, they were taking fresh horses, in a blunt man ner, alledging first a warrant to stop them, from the council, next from Sir Lewis Lewkner, mafter of the ceremonies, and lastly from Sir Henry Manwaring, then lieutenat of Dover Castle. At all which confused fictions, the marquifs had no leifure to laugh, but thought beft to difmafk his beard, and fo told him, that he was going covertly with fuch flight company, to take a fecret view (being admiral) of the forwardnefs of his majefty's fleet, which was then in preparation on the narrow feas this, with much ado, did fomewhat handfomely heal the difguifement. On the way afterwards, the baggage poft boy, who had been at court, got (I know not how) a glimmering who they were; but his mouth was eafily fhut. To Dover, through bad horfes and those petty impediments, they came not before fix at night; where they found Sir Francis Cottington, then fecretary to the prince, now baron of Hanworth, and Mr. Endymion Porter, who had been fent before to provide a veffel for their transportation. The forefaid knight was conjoined for the nearnefs of his place on the prince's affairs;

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