17th-Century Crimes - 1628 Crimes, 1672 Crimes, 1678 Crimes, 1680 Crimes, 1682 Crimes, 1685 Crimes, George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (Paperback)

Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: 1628 Crimes, 1672 Crimes, 1678 Crimes, 1680 Crimes, 1682 Crimes, 1685 Crimes, George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, Edmund Berry Godfrey, Pedro Calungsod, Diego Luis de San Vitores, John Felton, Mata'pang, Thomas Thynne, Thomas Dangerfield. Excerpt: Sir George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham KG (28 August 1592 23 August 1628) (surname pronounced "villers") was the favourite, claimed by some to be the lover, of King James I of England Despite a very patchy political and military record he remained at the height of royal favour for the first two years of the reign of Charles I, until he was assassinated. He was one of the most rewarded royal courtiers in all history. He was born in Brooksby, Leicestershire, in August 1592, the son of the minor gentleman Sir George Villiers (1550-1604). His mother, Mary (1570 - 1632), daughter of Anthony Beaumont of Glenfield, Leicestershire, who was left a widow early, educated him for a courtier's life, sending him to France with Sir John Eliot. Villiers took very well to the training; he could dance well, fence well, and speak a little French. In August 1614, Villiers, reputedly "the handsomest-bodied man in all of England," was brought before the king, in the hope that the king would take a fancy to him, diminishing the power at court of then-favourite Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset. Following Villiers' introduction to James during the king's progress of that year, the king developed a strong affection for Villiers, calling him his 'sweet child and wife'; the personal relationships of James are a much debated topic, with Villiers making the last of a succession of favourites on whom James lavished affection and rewards. The extent to which there was a sexual element, or a physical sexual relationship... More: http://booksllc.net/?id=146842