Surrey in Richard III. His father's rank and titles, having
been lost by the part he took with Richard, were restored to
him by Henry VIII. in 1514, soon after his great victory over
the Scots at Flodden. His wife was Anne, third daughter of
Edward IV., and so, of course, aunt to the King. He died in
1525, and was succeeded by his son Thomas, Earl of Surrey,
The Poet, however, continues them as duke and earl to the end of
the play; at least he does not distinguish between them and their
successors. Edward Stafford, the Buckingham of this play, was
son to Henry, the Buckingham of Richard III. The father's titles
and estates, having been declared forfeit and confiscate by Richard,
were restored to the son by Henry VII. in the first year of his
reign, 1485. In descent, in wealth, and in personal gifts, the latter
was the most illustrious nobleman in the court of Henry VIII.
In the record of his arraignment and trial he is termed, says
Holinshed, "the floure and mirror of all courtesie." His oldest
daughter, Elizabeth, was married to the Earl of Surrey; Mary,
his youngest, to George Neville, Lord Abergavenny.

48. "Element here," says Hudson, "is commonly explained to
mean the first principles or rudiments of knowledge. Is it not
rather used in the same sense as when we say of any one, that
he is out of his element? From Wolsey's calling, they would no
more think he could be at home in such matters, than a fish could
swim in the air, or a bird fly in the water." Schmidt's explanation
substantially agrees with this.

84, 85. Have broke their backs, etc.:-- "In the interview at An-
dren," says Lingard, "not only the two kings, but also their at-
tendants, sought to surpass each other in the magnificence of their
dress, and the display of their riches. Of the French nobility it
was said that many carried their whole estates on their backs;
among the English the Duke of Buckingham ventured to express
his marked disapprobation of a visit which had led to so much
useless expense." The passage might be cited as going to show
that the Poet's reading in English history was not confined, as
some would have us believe, to Holinshed.

85-87. What did this vanity . . . issue:-- That is, serve for
the reporting or proclaiming of a paltry, worthless result; some-
what like the homely phrase, "Great cry, and little wool."

116. Where's his examination? -- Where is he to be examined?
The cardinal, says Holinshed, "boiling in hatred against the
Duke of Buckingham, and thirsting for his blood, devised to make
Charles Knevet, that had beene the dukes surveior, an instrument

-163-