With Buckingham he seemed to be on terms of the most affectionate familiarity, exchanging opinions freely with him on every subject.

And Parliament met in good-humour.

They voted money at once.

One of the matters which interested Bacon most--the revision of the Statute Book--they took up as one of their first measures, and appointed a Select Committee to report upon it.

And what, amid the apparent felicity of the time, was of even greater personal happiness to Bacon, the first step of the "Great Instauration" had been taken.