unworthy favourites whom James I. of England raised
to a power so extravagant, has always been surrounded with a tragic
mystery. One of them, Buckingham, was stabbed by an assassin; the
other, Somerset, was condemned to death for murder. The extravagant
dignities and emoluments heaped on these unworthy men, are utterly
beyond the belief of those who live under the constitutional
government of the present day. Nor was it enough that they obtained
the highest titles in the peerage, and large grants out of the public
money; they were rewarded in a manner still more dangerous to the
public welfare, by being invested with the great, responsible offices
of state, which were thus held by young men totally inexperienced,
instead of responsible and capable ministers. Of course, they
distributed all the inferior offices among their relations and
connections; and a witty annalist of the day describes the children of
the reigning favourite's kindred as swarming about the palaces, and
skipping up and down the back-stairs like so many fairies. They had
been raised in early youth from a humble condition to this dazzling
elevation, and it was only too much in accordance with the frailty of
human nature that they should lose head--feel as if they were under no
responsibility to their fellow-men--and, as Shakspeare says, 'play
such fantastic tricks before high Heaven, as make the angels weep.'
Such rapid and ill-founded prosperity never lasts; and generally he
who has ascended like a blazing rocket, tumbles to the earth like its
charred and blackened socket.

Carr, afterwards made Earl of Somerset, was a raw Scotch youth,
without education or training, when he was first brought under the
notice of the king by chancing to have his leg broken in the royal
presence in an attempt to mount a fiery horse. When once taken into
favour, the king did not care whom he offended, or what injustice he
did, to enrich the fortunate youth. When he was besought to spare the
heritage of the illustrious and unfortunate Raleigh, he said
peevishly: 'I mun have it for Carr--I mun have it for Carr!' The
favourite desired to have for his wife the Lady Frances Howard, who
had been married to the Earl of Essex. The holiest bonds must be
broken to please him, and the marriage was shamefully dissolved. This
did no great injury, indeed, to Essex. The union had been one entirely
of interest, contracted when both were mere children. He was the same
Essex who afterward