RENT-ROLL OF THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.
- ^/o
If the disguised Lord Frampiil, in tliis comedy, gives an accurate picture of Jonson's own days, it would seem that this institution had greatly degenerated, " that the age of Chivalry was gone," and that pages then occupied themselves in low and degrading pursuits. I pass over any detailed statements regarding other members of this house ; but we must shortly notice Henry, the second duke, "high-reaching Buckingham," or, as Richard is pleased to call him, " the petty rebel, duU- brain'd Buckingham." A dialogue between the King and this dangerous subject, in Shakespeare's Richard III., has erroneously led to the behef that the moiety of the estates of the Earl of Hereford, claimed by Buckingham (wdio possessed the other pai-t as the descendant of Anne Bohun), was withheld from him. Dugdale, on the contrary, gives us an abstract of the Bill founded on letters patent, " 1st of Richard III., for livery of all those lands to the Duke, whereunto he pretended a right by descent from Humphrey de Bohun, sometime Earl of Hereford and Constable of England," together with a schedule of the castles and manors that was affixed to it, the annual value being 1084/. 1^. del. In this bill Richard says, that " his beloved cosyn, Henry, Duke of Buckingham, is the rightful inheritor of such inhe- ritances as w^ere of the same earl." Here therefore was a clear gift; Richard (says Ilolinshed) promised " golden hills and silver rivers " to Buckingham,* and he apparently fulfilled his promise, but the Duke, perhaps, never enjoyed these estates, as his life was forfeited in the following year. It is to be observed that Shakespeare does not make the Duke ask for Imids, but for the earldom of Hereford and the promised " moveables.^' Now what is meant by this last word may be gathered from various authorities, especially from inventories. There is a most comprehensive hst of jewels, apparel and movcahlcs, late belonging to the Duke of Norfolk and his accomplished son, given by Mr. Nott from the originals in the Land Revenue Office, of which it is stated that the Protector Somerset, after the death of Henry VIIL, retained for himself the Hen's share.^ These must have been of immense value,
- Lives of the Lindsays, vol. iii, 416. "' Notts Surrey, vol. i., appendix ex.
VOL. VIII . ' ^ I*
