Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/371

 KENT-ROLL OF THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. 279 known metrical chronicle, " The Mirror for Magistrates," was undertaken, and, through his influence, it was licensed,* Like the Shepherd Lord Clifford, he might have been the happiest of his race, and falhng upon quiet times, was enabled, like him, to indulge the peaceful and thoughtful disposition which his early fortunes had produced. In 1550, Lord Stafford appears to have compiled a cata- logue of books remaining in Stafford Castle. In ten years afterwards a very chlferent Hst of such books as remained was made out — a touching fact, as many of them had doubtless been parted with from necessity. Lord Bagot says, that about this time " the great house of Stafford was fast approach- ing its end, reduced from powerfiil princes to the most distressed and needy individuals." The peer whose father, as we have seen, had entertained four hundred and fifty-nine persons at his board, was obliged to part even with liis silver spoons to procure actual subsistence. His grandson, lioger Stafford, Sir Harris Nicolas observes, w^as actually denied the dignity of baron, which he claimed on the death of Henry, the fifth baron, a bachelor, on the (jroiind of his poverty, and as he had become the brother-in-law of a joiner, and the uncle of a shoemaker, it would have been a mockery to have encircled his brows with a coronet. Truly " The bows of the mighty men were broken." This nobleman, Henry, Baron Stafford, standing, as it were, amidst the ruins which the ambition of his ancestors had caused to be scattered around him, when " considering the days of old, and the years that were past," might yet be thankful that he enjoyed the "happy security" of which Camden speaks, and that, although deprived of the va.st wealth, and of the almost unlimited power possessed by his forefathers, liis humble and peaceful lot altogether exempted him from the fearful vicissitudes to which they had been subjected. Had he, indeed, repined at his fate ; had he sighed for what Johnson enumerates — " The golden canopy, the glittering plate, The regal palace, the luxurious board. The liv'ried army, and the menial loi'd,"
 * Athen. Oxon., I. 264.