Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/357

RENT-ROLL OF THE DUKE OF BUCKINGIIAM. SC.') Well might the Lord Mayor, in Shakspcarc's Henry 'I. exclaim — " That nobles should such Stomachs bear ! " Whether Buckingham's feelings were soothed l)y this middle course of proceeding or not may be doubted ; but all jealousy was soon set at rest. Dugdale tells us that, on the death of Warwick, about two years aftei-, without issue male, Buckingham obtained a special grant giving to himself and his heirs precedence above all dukes whatever, excepting such as were of the blood royal. Dugdale also states that — •• In consideration of his vast cxpcnccs, in attending the King in those turbulent times, against his adversaries, then in arms, lie obtained a grant (38 Hen. VI.) of all those fines which Walter Devercux, William Ilastitigs, and Walter Hopton were to make to the King for their transgressions." " Here was a fresh augmentation of wealth. The Duke was slain in the battle of Northampton (28th July, 38 Hen. VI.), and was buried either there or in the monastery of Delapre. His will is given by Dugdale and by Nicolas. It contains some bequests for religious and charitable uses, and one provision deserves notice. In an agCAvhen the funeral solemnities of noblemen were performed with extraordinary splendour, and at a lavish expense, the Dulve wisely directs, that his own should be solemnised " without any sumptuous costs or charge." To revert to the roll. It contains the rental of estates in twenty-seven counties. The largest of these possessions appears to have been the castle, manor, and dominion of Brecknock, Huntingdon, and Talgarth, in Herefordshire, and the Marches of Wales, yielding 1183/. per annum. The estates in Holderness, producing the gross rental of 949/., were also of immense extent, comprising the seigniory, liberty, and manor of Holderness, and lands or other property in twenty-eight parishes. These the Duke inherited through his mother. The property in this county (Oxfordshire) was small (viz., 37/. 18.9. 3^d. per annum), consisting only of the manor of Stratton Audley. The gross rental is 6300/., a sum then of vast amount. To show this the more accurately, I had bestowed some labour, in order to arrive, if possible, at the sum which it would represent in our own days. But to enter into the 8 Dugdale's Baronago, p. 1 G.'i.