favourite. George Villiers,
Duke of Buckingham, was the man to his mind: quick-witted, handsome, and
unscrupulous. The two latter qualities alone were sufficient to recommend
him to James I. In proportion as the influence of Rochester declined, that
of Buckingham increased. A falling favourite has no friends; and rumour
wagged her tongue against Rochester louder and more pertinaciously than
ever. A new favourite, too, generally endeavours to hasten by a kick the
fall of the old one; and Buckingham, anxious to work the complete ruin of
his forerunner in the king's good graces, encouraged the relatives of Sir
Thomas Overbury to prosecute their inquiries into the strange death of
their kinsman.

James was rigorous enough in the punishment of offences when he was not
himself involved. He piqued himself, moreover, on his dexterity in
unravelling mysteries. The affair of Sir Thomas Overbury found him
congenial occupation. He set to work by ordering the arrest of Sir Jervis
Elwes. James, at this early stage of the proceedings, does not seem to
have been aware that Rochester was so deeply implicated. Struck with
horror at the atrocious system of slow poisoning, the king sent for all
the judges. According to Sir Anthony Weldon, he knelt down in the midst of
them, and said, "My lords the judges, it is lately come to my hearing that
you have now in examination a business of poisoning. Lord! in what a
miserable condition shall this kingdom be (the only famous nation for
hospitality in the world) if our tables should become such a snare, as
that none could eat without danger of life, and that Italian custom should
be introduced among us! Therefore, my lords, I charge you, as you will
answer it at that great and dreadful day of judgment, that you examine it
strictly, without favour, affection, or partiality. And if you shall spare
any guilty of this crime, God's curse light on you and your posterity! and
if I spare any that are guilty, God's curse light on me and my posterity
for ever!"

[Illustration: DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.]

The imprecation fell but too surely upon the devoted house of Stuart. The
solemn oath was broken, and God's curse _did_ light upon him and his
posterity!

The next person arrested after Sir Jervis Elwes, was Weston, the
under-keeper; then Franklin and Mrs. Turner; and lastly, the Earl and
Countess of Somerset, to which dignity Rochester had been advanced since
the death of Overbury.

Weston was first brough