APPARENTLY UNMARKED, THE ENGRAVING PERHAPS BY SIMON LE PASSE, CIRCA 1620

George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (1592-1628), was the younger son by a second marriage of Sir George Villiers of Brokesby in Leicestershire. He was sent to France by his mother to master the courtly accomplishments of riding, dancing and dueling and on his return met King James I at Apethorpe in 1614 who was immediately attracted to the handsome young man. The King showered him with titles and estates: in 1615, he was appointed Gentleman of the Bedchamber, Master of the Horse and Viscount in 1616, Earl in 1617 and Master of the Wardrobe in 1617. Buckingham was granted York House which he altered at vast expense and he built up a spectacular collection of pictures on the advice of Balthasar Gerbier. With these honours to the King's favourite came political authority and by the age of twenty-six Villiers had become the principal figure in the land. He travelled with Prince Charles to Madrid to negotiate the marriage to the Infanta and when this failed, the Duke urged James into war with Spain. On the death of James I, the Duke's position as favourite was secure with the new King but his fall from grace was rapid. His endless attempts at personal gain eventually led to the loss of good relations between the English Court and that of Spain and France and also at home between the Crown and Parliament.