CHAPTER VI.
BACON'S FALL.
When Parliament met on January 30, 1620/21, and Bacon, as Lord Chancellor, set forth in his ceremonial speeches to the King and to the Speaker the glories and blessings of James's reign, no man in England had more reason to think himself fortunate.

He had reached the age of sixty, and had gained the object of his ambition.

More than that, he was conscious that in his great office he was finding full play for his powers and his high public purposes.

He had won greatly on the confidence of the King.

He had just received a fresh mark of honour from him: a few days before he had been raised a step in the peerage, and he was now Viscount St.Alban's.