The House of Commons had no sooner met than it was involved in a contest with the Chancery, with the Lords, and finally with the King himself, about its privileges--in this case its exclusive right to judge of the returns of its members.

Bacon's time was come for showing the King both that he was willing to do him service, and that he was worth being employed.

He took a leading part in the discussions, and was trusted by the House as their spokesman and reporter in the various conferences.

The King, in his overweening confidence in his absolute prerogative, had, indeed, got himself into serious difficulty; for the privilege was one which it was impossible for the Commons to give up.

But Bacon led the House to agree to an arrangement which saved their rights; and under a cloud of words of extravagant flattery he put the King in good-humour, and elicited from him the spontaneous proposal of a compromise which ended a very dangerous dispute.