Encyclopædia americana. A popular dictionary of arts, sciences, literature, history, politics and biography, a new ed.; including a copious collection of original articles in American biography; on the basis of the 7th ed. of the German Conversations-lexicon. Ed. by Francis Lieber, assisted by E. Wigglesworth ...

310 BUCKINGHAM.
aptitude for literature. Nature had lav- abolishing the episcopal dignity, selling
ishly bestowed upon him beauty, ease the possessions of the church, and conand grace. By means of these qualities, tinuing the war with the money raised in
he so effectually won the affections of this way. Thus the policy, the feelings
James I, that, in less than two years, he and conscience of James were betrayed
was mlade a knight, a gentleman of the by his favorite, and in the midst of these
bedchamber, baron, viscount, marquis of disorders lie died. He had succeeded,
B., lord high-admiral, lord warden of the indeed, ill concluding a treaty for the
cinque ports, &c., and, at last, dispenser marriage of his son with Henrietta of
of all the honors, offices, favors and reve- France; but had the grief of seeing an
nues of the three kingdoms, according to English army, which was intended to reth'e dictates of his ambition, his cupidity cover the hereditary dominions of his
and his caprice. The nation was indig- son-in-law, the unhappy elector palatine
nant at seeing merit undervalued, the Frederic V, ruined by the mismanagement
people trampled upon, the nobility hum- of B., while a union with Spain might
bled, the crown impoverished and de- have effected a peaceful restoration of the
graded, to elevate and enrich a weak and territories. After the death of James, B.
insolent favorite. To complete the cata- continued to be the arbitrary minister of
loogue of his misdeeds, B. became a traitor Charles I; but the time had now come
in 1623, the eighth year of his favor. He for the fulfilrent of the prophecy of his
desired to remove the earl of Bristol, an former king. After having been declared
able and virtuous minister, from office. the savior of the prince and the nation, in
Bristol wvas then negotiating the marriage the house of commons of the last parliaof a Spanish princess with the prince of ment, B. was declared, by the new one, a
]Wales, afterwards Charles I. The design seducer of the king, a traitor to the liberty
of B. was, not only to reconcile to him- of his country, and a public enemy. This
self the prince, against whom he had took place during a war which required,
dared to lift his hand in a fit of passion, more than ever, the fullest harmony with
but also to make him dependent upon the house of commons. Hence the dishimself, that he might secure the contin- solution of two parliaments, the imprisonuance of his power, in case of the death mlent of the members who had been
of Jamies. He therefore inspired young most distinguished for their zeal, illegal
Charles with the romantic idea of going taxes and forced loans, instead of supplies
to Madrid himself, and removing all the granted by parliament, the arbitrary imdifficulties of negotiation by his presence. prisonment of those who refused to pay
The king's consent to this measure was them; in short, every thing that could
gained in an hour of weakness, and, conspire to bring a virtuous king to the
though he was long angry, on this ac- most fearful end. But B., who had
count, with B., he soon after made him a learned, by his disgraceful attempt on
dluke. The event was what James had Cadiz, that he was unequal to a war
anticipated. While the young prince de- against Spain, did not hesitate to engage
lighted the rovyal family and the whole in a war against France. He had gone
nation by the gentleness and modesty of to Paris to solemnize, in the name of' the
his manners, B., who accompanied him, king, his marriage -with the daughter of
offended them by his arrogance and li- Henry IV. Here he dared to raise his
centiousness. Ile. attained his purpose: eyes to the queen of France. As this
the negotiation, which was far advanced princess dismissed him with indulgence
by means of Bristol, was broken off; and, rather than indignation, he desired to rethat no one else might afterwards corm- turn to the French court as English amplete it with success, he indulged himself bassador. His rashness, however, did not
in the grossest insults against the Spanish remain unobserved; and Louis XIII
ministry, speedily left the kingdom with wrote to himr to forbid his cherishing the
the prince, deceived James by false re- thought of this journey. In order to
ports, and instigated the parliament to avenge himself for this prohibition, B.
declare, that, instead of forming a connex- engaged with the Protestants of Rochelle
ion with Spain, it was necessary to make in a war against France. This enterprise,
war against it, which was accordingly and the assault of the island Rhie (1627),
done by James. The house of commons was more disgracefully conducted than
peremptorily refused the requisite sup- the attempt on Cadiz. B., at the same
plies, although they had consented to the time minister, admiral and general, seemwar. B. connected himself with the Pu- ed to make it his object to dishonor himritan party, and formed the project of self in all three capacities. After having