But against the danger which over-confiding intercourse with too-powerful courtiers was sure to bring in its train, COTTON found a better safeguard in wounded self-esteem, than even in dearbought experience. He soon saw that in BUCKINGHAM’S character there was at least as much of vacillation as of versatility. The famous lines which describe the son as A man so various, that he seem’d to be Not one, but all mankind’s epitome, would have a spice of truth if applied to the father. But their applicability is only partial; whereas the lines which follow are almost as true—a single word excepted—of the first Duke of Buckingham as they were of the second— Stiff in opinions; often in the wrong; He’s everything by starts, and nothing long. When Sir Robert COTTON perceived that James’s new favourite would listen, in the morning, to grave advice on a grave subject, and affirm his resolution to act upon it; and yet, in the afternoon suffer himself to be carried from his purpose by the silly jests or malicious suggestions of youngsters and sycophants, unacquainted with affairs and often reckless of consequences, he saw the wisdom of standing somewhat aloof. He rarely, however, refused his advice, when it was asked. In regard to matters of naval administration,—the authoritative value of his opinion on which was now everywhere recognised, save in the dockyards and their dependencies,—he gave it with especial willingness. But henceforward, to use AGARDE’S words, he was ‘no man’s creature.’ Five years passed on, marked by events which stirred England to its core, but to Sir Robert COTTON they were years of comparative quiet. He was, indeed, very far from being a careless bystander. He observed much, and learnt much. [Sidenote: GROWTH OF COTTON’S LITERARY AND PUBLIC CORRESPONDENCE.] Had it not been for the lessons which those publicly eventful years impressed on his receptive mind, he might have gone to his grave with no other reputation than that of a profound antiquary, and the Founder of the Cottonian Library.