The King’s Projects—A Journey to Scotland—Obstacles to that Intention—Want of Money—£100,000 raised in the City—Dislike of the People to this Journey, on Account of Expense—James sets out, March 13th, 1616-1617—His Attendant Courtiers, Sir John Zouch, Sir George Goring, Sir John Finett—Characteristics of Each—Surpassing Qualities of Buckingham—Objects of James’s Journey to Edinburgh—Anecdote of Lord Howard of Walden—Disputations at St. Andrews—The King knights many of the Young Courtiers—Offence given at Edinburgh by Laud—A Project to assassinate Buckingham Suspected—James’s Progress Concluded—His Visit to Warwick—Affairs relating to Sir Edward Coke and his Family—Base Conduct of all the Parties Concerned—Meanness of Bacon—His Letters—Frances Hatton—Contrast between her and the Earl of Oxford brought forward by Lady Hatton—Coke restored to Favour—Marriage of Frances Hatton to Lord Purbeck 139 CHAPTER V. Buckingham’s Favour Paramount—Change in the King’s Temper—His Poetic Flights—His Reign a Course of Dissipation—The Masques of Ben Jonson—Their Great Beauty—Patronized by the Queen—How Performed—The Vision of Delight—Composed to Celebrate Buckingham’s being made a Marquis—His Appearance at this Era—The Banquet given for this Occasion—Great Extravagance of the Entertainment—Rivals to Buckingham in James’s Favour—Sir Henry Mildmay—Brooke—Young Morrison—The Diversions of the Court—The Meteor that appeared—Foot-Racing—Buckingham’s Profusion—Jealousies between Prince Charles and him 189 CHAPTER VI. Review of the State of Political Affairs—Dissolution of Parliament—Protest—James tears it out of the Journals of the House of Commons—Acts of Oppression—Case of the Earl of Oxford—of Lord Southampton—Persecution of Sir Edward Coke—The Conduct and Impeachment of Lord Bacon—The Part taken by Buckingham in this Affair—The Abuses of Monopolies—Case of Sir Giles Mompesson—Of Sir Francis Michell—Bacon’s Letters to Parliament—His Illness—The Great Seal taken from Him—James’s Reluctance to act with Vigour—Sheds Tears upon the Occasion—Bacon still protected by Buckingham—Williams, Bishop of Lincoln, is made Chancellor—His Character, by Bishop Goodman 275 CHAPTER VII.