Second part:
The
King’s desires now centred on the young
man who had everything to gain from gratifying him, and as
Sir Anthony Weldon recorded in the
gossipy memoirs that he left to posterity, ‘in his passion of love to his new favourite ... the King was more impatient than any woman to enjoy her love.’
Where the details of private relationships are
concerned, nothing, of course, can be
known for certain. but Buckingham himself provides the evidence that at Farnham
he at last gave in to the King's importunity; writing to James many years
later to thank him for a particularly enjoyable visit to Court he
told him how he had spent the return journey pondering the question, ‘whether you loved me now ... better than at the time which I shall never forget
at Farnham, where the bed's head
could not be found between the master and his dog'. Bv giving himself to James, Buckingham confirmed his supremacy
for what he had to offer was a combination of qualities which the King
could find nowhere else - youth., beauty, high spirits, sensuality,
sweetness of character, and devotion … .
The King was never ashamed about giving public
expression to his love for his favourite. On the day
after his creation as marquis, Buckingham held a great feast in the Cockpit at Whitehall for the King, the Prince and the
leading members of the Court. The food was rich and abundant, and the
wine plentiful. James was in a warm good
humour, and halfway through supper rose from his place, took the Prince by the hand, and walking to the table where the
other guests were seated, publicly toasted Buckingham. 'My lords,' he told
them, `I drink to you all and I know we are all welcome to my George.
And he that doth not pledge it with all his
heart, I would the Devil had him for my part.' Having delivered himself
of this resounding declaration he returned to his seat.