Biography of Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham 1478-1521

Chronicle of Edward Hall [1496-1548]. 30th October 1485. After this he [King Henry VII of England and Ireland (age 28)] with great pompe was cōueighed to Westmynster, and there the thirtye daye of Octobre was with all ceremonyes accustomed, enoynted & crouned kyng by the whole assent as well of the cōmons as of the nobilite, & was named kyng Henry the. vij. of that. name, which was in the yere of our redempcion. M. cece. Ixxxvi. Frederyke the. iij. then beynge Emperour of Almayne, Maximilian his sonne then beynge newely clected kyng of Romanes, Charles the. viij. reignyng over the Frenche nacion, & lames the iij. rulyng the realme of Scotland. Which kyngdome he obteyned & enioyed as a thyng by God elected. & prouided, and by his especiall fauoure & gracious aspecte compassed and acheved. In so muche that m& comonly reporte that. vii. C. xcvii. yeres passed, it was by a heavenly voyce reueled to Cadwalader last kyng of Brytons that his stocke and progeny should reigne in this land and beare domynion agayn: Wherupo most men were persuaded in their awne opinion that by this heauenly voyce he was prouided & ordeyned longe before to enioye and obteine this kyngdom, whiche thing kyng Henry the. vi. did also shewe before asyou have heard declared. Wherefore he beynge by right and iust tytle of temporal inheritaunce, & by prouision of deuyne purueyauce thus crouned and proclaimed kyng: First of all vsyng the antique example of the Athenienses, whiche is to perdon and put out of memory all crymes and offences before tyme agaynst hym or his lawes perpetrated or cōmitted, he called his high court of parliamét at Westmynster the. vii. daye of Nouembre for thestablishyng of all thinges aswell cGeernyng the preseruacion and maintenaֹֹֹūce of his royal person, as the admynistracion of iustice and preferment of the cōmon wealth of this realme and dominion, in the which he caused to be proclaimed that all men were perdoned, acquited & clerely discharged of all offences, peynes of death and execucions, and should be restored to their landes and moueable goodes whiche woulde submit them selfes to his clemency and by othe be obliged truly to serue and obeye bym as their sovereigne lorde, & who woulde be obstinate & refuse to returne to bis parte, should be accepted and taken as a publike enemy to hym and his countrey. By reason of which proclamacion, a great nombre that came out of diverse sanctuaries and privileged places obteyned grace, forgetting clerely the diversite of faccions & voyce of partakyng. After this he began to remembre his es- peciall frendes & fautours, of whome sone he anaunced to honoure & dignite, & some he enriched with possessions & goodes, every ma according to his desert & merite. And to begvnne, [his step-father] laspar (age 53) his vncle Erle of Penbrooke, he created duke of Bedforde, Thomas lorde Stanley (age 50) he promoted to be erle of Darby, & lord Chandew of Briteine his especiall frende he made erle of Bathe, Sir Gyles Dawbeney (age 34) was made lorde Dawbeney, Sir Robert Willoughby (age 33) was made lord Brooke which be in their degree barons and peeres of the realme. And Edward Stafford (age 7) eldest son to [his father] Henry late duke of Buckingham, he restored to his name dignitie and possessions, which kyng Richard did confiscate and attaynted. Beside this in this parliamēt was this notable acte assented to and concluded as foloweth.

Polydore Vergil [1470-1555]. Around 20th September 1497. Learning of his enemies' departure, Henry (age 40) headed straight for Taunton, Somerset [Map]. Duke Edward of Buckingham (age 19) arrived there, a young man endowed with great spirit and virtue of character, and he was followed by a host of right noble knights with armour and all the other things requisite for warfare. In that number were Giles Briggs, Alexander Baynham, Maurice Berkeley, Robert Tames, John Guise, Robert Point, Henry Vernon, John Mortimer, Thomas Tremayle, Edward Sutton, Amyas Powlet (age 40), John Bicknell, John Sapcot, Hugh Luterell, John Wadham and his son Nicholas, John Speck, Richard Beauchamp of St. Amand, Francis Cheney, Rogerd Tokett, Thomas Long, Nicholas Lattimer, John d'Urbeville, William Storton, Roger Newberg, William Martin, Thomas Lind, Henry Rogers, Walter Hungerford, John Semery, Edward Carell, Maurice Borroughs, William Norris, John Langford, Richard Corbett, Thomas Blount, Richard Lacon, Thomas Cornwallis, and many other excellent soldiers. Meanwhile, when the king had come up, either to avoid delaying the fight or fearing the fortune of war, he sent ahead Robert Lord Broke, Richard Thomas, and Giles Daubney (age 46) to begin the battle, while he followed after, so that, when he saw the battle begin, he could either come to the aid of his men or launch a simultaneous attack on the enemy rear. But the king's plan was unnecessary. For Peter (age 23) was so far from standing his ground, that after he learned the enemy were in arms, he furtively slipped away in the night and quickly fled to the asylum at Beaulieu Abbey [Map]. Whether he did this out of cowardice (with which he was well supplied), or because he suspected trickery, is not known, but it is well enough agreed that it was a good thing for the king that he was not compelled to come to blows with the Cornishmen, whose strength was so enhanced by despair that they had all determined on conquering or dying to the last man in that battle.

In 1499 King Henry VII of England and Ireland (age 41) created a number of Garter Knights ...

243rd Edward Poynings (age 40).

244th John King Denmark Norway and Sweden (age 43).

245th Gilbert Talbot (age 47).

246th King Henry VIII of England and Ireland (age 7).

247th [his brother-in-law] Henry Percy 5th Earl of Northumberland (age 20).

248th Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham (age 20).

249th Charles Somerset 1st Earl of Worcester (age 39). The date sometimes given as 1496?

250th Edmund Pole 3rd Duke of Suffolk (age 28).

251st Henry Bourchier 2nd Earl Essex 3rd Count of Eu.

252nd Thomas Lovell.

253rd Richard Pole (age 37).

Collectanea by John Leland [1502-1552]. [10th May 1509] First there came rydinge throughe the Cittie of Lon don the Swerdebearer of London, and the Vice-Chamberleyne of the same, with Twoe of the Masters of the Brugehowse, to sett the Crafts in theire Order and Arraye. Then came Rydinge the Kyngs Messengers, twoe and twoe, with theire Boxes on theire Brests. Then the Kyngs Trumpeters; and after them the Kyngs still Minstrells. Then the Florentines, the Venetians, the Portingalls, the Spaniards, the Frenchmen, the Esterlings, the Gentlemen Ushers, the Kyngs Chapleyns havinge no Dignitye. The Squyers for the Boddie. The Aldermen of London. The Shreves, havinge in theire Hands Twoe Whyte Roddes. Then came there rydinge Twoe Herauds of Armes, in Twoe Cote Armurs; and after them came rydinge a noble Knyght, Mourner, uppon a goodlie Courser, trapped with Black Velvet, bearinge the Kyngs Stonderd, whose Name is Sir Edward Darrell (age 43); after whome came Knights. Then came the Chapleyns of Dignitie, as Deanes and suche other. Then the Kyng’s Counsell, and Knights of the Garter beinge no Lords. Then the Chiefe Justice of the Common Place, and the Chiefe Baron of the Kyngs Exchequer: Then the Chiefe Justice of the Kings Bench, and the Master of the Rolles. Then came the Crowched Fryers on Foote, and all the Foure Orders of Fryers followinge, singinge. Then the Chanons of ali the Places in London, in like wisse singinge. Then the Kyngs Chappell, in theire Surpleses and Grey Ameses, singinge. Then came rydinge all the Temporall Lords and Barrons, on the Left Hand; and all Abbotts and Bishopps, on the Right Hand. Then rode Sir Davie Owen (age 50), bearinge an Helmet of Steele, crowned with a rich Crowne of Golde. Then rode Sir Edward Howard (age 33), the Second Sonne of the Erle of Surrey (age 66), Treasorer of England, armed complete, with the Kyngs Harnes, his Face discovered, bearinge in his Hand the Kings Battel Axe, the Heade downewarde, restnge on his Foote. Then followed him a Knyght called Sir Thomas Fyes, bearinge a riche Armour, embrodered with the Armes of England. Then came the Maior of London ymediately before the Charett, bearinge his Mace in his Hand. Then came the Charett wherein the Kyngs Corps lay. Upon the which lay a Picture resemblinge his Person crowned and richly apparreled in his Parliament Roobe, bearinge in his Right Hand a Scepter, and in his Left Hand a Ball of Golde, over whome there was hanginge a riche Cloth of Golde pitched upon Fowre Staves, which were sett at the Fowre Corners of the saide Charett, wich Charett was drawen with Seaven great Coursers, trapped in Black Velvett, with the Armes of England on everie Courser set on bothe Sydes, and on every Side of everie Courer, a Knight goinge on Foote, bearing a Banner in his Hand; and at everie Corner of the saide Charett a Baron goinge on Foote, bearing a Banner, in like Manner; wich IIIJ^or Banners were the Kyngs Avowries; whereof the First was of the Trinitie, the Second of our Ladie, the Third of St. George, the fourth of .... And in the said Charett there were sittinge Twoe Gentlemen. Usshers of the Kyngs Chamber, One at the Heade of the Kynge and the other at the Feete, mourninge. Then followed the said Charett the Duke of Buckingham (age 31), the Earle of Arondell (age 59), the [his brother-in-law] Earle of Northumberland (age 31), the Earle of Shrewsberie (age 41), the Earle of Surrey, the Earle of Essex, and other, to the Nomber of Nyne, beinge Knyghts of the Garter, in a Range one after another, as they were in Degree. Then followed them IX of the Kyngs Henchemen, ridinge on goodlie Coursers, trapped in Black Velvett, of the wich the three foremost did beare three Capps of Maintenances, wich three Popes had sent the Kynge duringe the Tyme of his Raigne. The next three Henchmen did beare three riche Swordes the Points downward, the seaventh bare a Target of the Armes of England, otherwise called a Sheild crowned, the eight bare an Helmet with a Lyon of Golde upon it. The IXth bare a Speare covered with Black Velvett. Then followed the Master of the Horses called Sir Thomas Brandon, leadinge in his Hande a goodlie Courser trapped with Black Velvett, richely embrodered with the Armes of England; whome followed the Lord Darcy (age 42), beinge Captayn of the Garde. After whome came the Garde, and many other Gentlemen. Then the worshipfull Men of the Crafts of London, which were appointed by theire Fellowship to set in the said Corps. Then Lords Servaunts followed, beinge a great Nomber.

Collectanea by John Leland [1502-1552]. [11th May 1509] First there came Twoe Herauds in their Cotearmours unto the Duke of Buckingham (age 31), beinge Chiefe Mourner, kneelinge at the West End of the Herse, goinge before him, frome the Herse unto the Place where the Archeb. stoode to take the Offeringe; where he, representinge the Kyngs Person, offered a Testiament of Golde: Which done the said Herauds conveyed him againe to the Place he came frome. Then the said Herauds came in like Manner unto the Earle of Arondell (age 59) and unto the [his brother-in-law] Earle of Northumberland (age 31), and conveyed them unto a Knight which stoode before the Herse, holdinge the Kyngs Cotearmoure. Of whom the said Herauds received the said Cotearmour, and delivered it to the said Twoe Earles; which solempnly bearinge the said Cotearmour betwene them offered it up unto the said Archeb. with great Reverence; the which he received and delivered unto a Bisshop, which delivered it over unto an Heraude standinge even by them on the South Side of the Church; which done the said Herauds conveyed the Twoe Earles againe unto theire Places. Then the said Herauds came in likewise unto the Earle of Shrewssberie (age 41) and unto the Earle of Surrey (age 66), and conveyed them unto a Knight which stoode before the said Herse, holdinge the Kyngs Sheild crowned; of whome the said Herauds received the said Shielde, and delivered it unto the said Earles; which solempnly bearinge it betwene them offered it in lyke Manner unto the ArcheBisshop; the which he received and delivered it to a Bisshop, by whome it was delivered unto an Heraude, there standinge on the South Syde beneath the other Herauds which helde the Cotearmour: And then the said Herauds conveyed the said Earles againe unto their Places. After this they went unto the Earle of Essex and to the Earle of Kent (age 28), and conveyed them unto a Knight holdinge a goodlie riche Sworde before the Herse, which the said Herauds received of the said Knyght and delivered unto the said Earles: And soe they holdinge the said Sworde betwene them, offered it up unto the ArcheBisshop in like Manner; which was also delivered unto an other Heraude standinge in Order beneath the other Twoe Herauds which helde the Cotearmour and the Shielde. Which, done the said Herauds convey’d the said Twoe Earles into theire owne Places. And then the said Twoe Herauds came unto the Earle of Derbie (age 24) and unto the Earle of Arran (age 34), otherwise called the Scottishe Lorde, which in like Manner conveyed them unto a Knight holdinge the Kings Helmett crowned, to whome was made like deliverie; which they offered in like Manner, and was delivered to another Heraude, and they conveyed unto theire owne Places againe. After this there came ryding the Second Son of th Earle of Surrey, called Sir Edward Howarde (age 33), armed in complete Harnes (his Helmet except) upon a goodlie Courser, trapped in Black Velvet, with the Armes of England embrothered upon the same, which rode unto the Railes of the said Herse, where he did alight; whome the said Herauds incontinent received; whose Horse was ymediatly delivered unto a Servant of the Abbotts of Westminfter. And the said Knight going betwene the Earle of Essex and the Earle of Kent was presented unto the Archebisshop: Which done, the said Knight was conveyed by Twoe Monkes of the said Abbey into the Revestrie, where he was unarmed, and the said Two Earles again conveyed into theire owne Places. And afrer the said Knight came in a Black Gowne, and offered amonge the other Knights. This done the said Two Herauds came againe unto the Duke of Buck. goinge before him to the Archebishop, where he offered againe for himselfe. After whome the other Earles offered in theire Order. Then came the Bisshops and Abbotts, and offered in theire Order; the Bisshops goinge unto the Alter, and there makinge theire Offeringe, and the Abbotts goinge unto the Archeb. kissinge his Hande, and takinge his Blessinge. After whome came the Lords and Barrons, makinge their Offeringe everie Man in Degree. And in the meane while Twoe Herauds came againe unto the said Duke of Buck. and to the Earles, and conveyed them into the Revestrie, where they did receive certen Palles, which everie of them did bringe solempnly betwene theire Hands, and comminge in Order one before another, as they were in Degree, unto the said Herse, they kissed theire said Palles, and delivered them unto the said Heraudes, which lalde them uppon the Kyngs Corps, in this Manner: The Palle which was first offered by the Duke of Buck. was laid on length on the said Corps, and the Residewe were laid acrosse, as thick as they might lie. Which Palles were offered in the Manner aforesaid, in Token of their Homage which they of Dutie ought to doe unto the Kinge. And after the saide Lords and Barrons had made theire Offeringe, then foliowed the Chapleins of Dignitie and the Grey Amezes of the Kinges Chappell, whome foliowed Knights and Gentlemen, everie Man in his Degree. After the which Offeringe and the said Masse ended, a Knight called Edmond Carewe (age 43) came unto the Second Stepp of the Highe Alter, bearinge in his Hand the Kings great Banner, which he offered up unto the Archebisshop, and Sir Edward Darrece (age 43) his Standerd. Which done, the Bisshop of London inade a noble Sermon. And after the said Sermon ended, incontinente the Archebisshopps, Bisshopps, and Abbotts went unto the Herse. At whose Coomminge the Palles and the iiij Banners of the Kings Avowries were carried away by Twoe Monks. Which done, the Picture was taken from the Herse, and borne unto Sr. Edwards Shrine, the Kyngs Chappell, singinge this Anthem, Circum dederunt me genitus mortis [The sorrows of death have compassed me, Psalm 17, 5-6]. And then the said Corps was incensed, and ali the Royal Ornaments taken fome the said Corps, soe that everie Man might see the said Corps cofferd in a Coffin of Bordes, which was covered over with Black Velvett, havinge a Crosse of Whyte Satten from the one End of the said Coffyn unto the other; within the which Coffiyn the verie Corps of the Kynge lay enclosed in Lead. Upon the which Lead was written, in great Lettres chafed, Hic jacet Rex Henricns Septimus [Here lies King Henry VII]. And soe the said Corps was laid into the Vaught with great reverence by the noble Queen Elizabeth his Wyfe; whome incontinent ali the Archebishops, Bisshops, and Abbotts settinge theire Crosses upon the said Corps assoiled, in most solempn Manner sayinge this Collett (Absolvimus). Which done the said Archebishop did cast Earth uppon the said Corps. And then my Lord Treasorer and my Loyd Steward did breake theire Staves, and did cast them into the Vaught; and the other Hed Officers did cast theire Staves in, all whole. Which done the Vaught was closed, and a goodlie riche Pall of Clothe of Golde laide upon the saide Herse. And incontinent ali the Herauds did of theire Cotearmour, and did hange them uppon the Rayles of the Herse; cryinge lamentably in French, The noble King Henry the Seaventh is deade. And as soone as they had so done, everie Heraud putt on his Cotearmour againe, and cryed with a loude Voyce, Vive le noble Roy Henry le VIIIth; which is to say in Englishe Tonge, God send the noble Kynge Henry the Eight longe Lyfe. Amen.