Nor is it of less interest to observe that, to some of Sir Robert COTTON’S closest friends, it seemed—at the moment when every part of the matter was fresh in men’s minds—that it was much more needful for him to exonerate himself from a suspicion of having stood beside SOMERSET too lukewarmly, than to clear himself from the charge of committing a forgery in order to cloke a murder. Very significant, for example, are the words of one of those friends which I find in a letter addressed to COTTON on the very day on which his pardon passed the Great Seal:—‘If I say I rejoice and gratulate to you your return to your own house, as I did lament your captivity, ... it will easily be credited.... The unsureness of this collusive world, and the danger of great friendships, you have already felt; and may truly say, with holy DAVID, _Nolite fidere in principibus_.... As I hear, you have begun to make good use of it, by receiving to you your Lady which God himself had knit unto you. It is a piety for which you are commended. And, were it not for one thing I should think my comfort in you were complete.... _It is said you were not sufficiently sincere to your most trusting friend, the pitied Earl. [Sidenote: E. Bolton to Sir R. Cotton; Cott. MS. Julius C., iii, fol. 32. (B. M.)] Though I hold this a slander, yet being not able to make particular defences, I opposed my general protestation against it as an injury to my friend._ Yet wanting apt countermines to meet with those close works by which some seek to blow up a breach into your honour, I was not a little afflicted.... I leave the arming of me in this cause to your own pleasure.’ The caution as to the danger of the friendships of grandees and great favourites was one which COTTON took to heart. In the years to come he had occasionally to give critical advice, in critical junctures. But, in the true sense of the words, he learnt, at last, not to put his trust in Princes. Long before his acquaintance with SOMERSET and his private conferences with JAMES, a very true and dear friend had noted a dangerous proclivity in Sir Robert’s character. [Sidenote: Arthur Agarde to Sir R. Cotton: Cott. MS. Julius C., iii, fol. 1.] It prompted, by way of counsel, the words: ‘Be yourself; and no man’s creature; but [only] God’s. And so He will prosper all your designs, both to his glory and your good.’ That ply had been taken too deeply, however, to be very easily smoothed out. In the years to come Sir Robert COTTON approached—more than once, perhaps—the brink of the old peril. As BUCKINGHAM clomb higher and higher, and busied himself with many transactions of the nature of which he had but a very insecure mental grasp, he felt his need of the counsels of experienced men. He made occasional advances to COTTON, amongst others. They were met; and not always so warily, as might now have been expected.