324 THE HISTORY OF NEWMARKET. [Book V. 



It was first acted before James I. and the Prince of Wales 

 during a visit to Cambridge in March, 1614-15, The edition 

 of " Ignoramus " edited by J. S. Hawkins (8vo, 1787) contains 

 a Life of Ruggles, and a valuable glossary of his " ultra-canine 

 Latin " legal terms. There is also a translation of this 

 comedy by " R. C. of Magdalen College, Oxon," and pub- 

 lished London, 1662, 4to. 



At any rate, Buckingham's first step to fortune was either 

 made on the race-course or on the stage. His name occurs 

 frequently in these annals in connection with the Turf, in 

 racing, betting, and breeding. His first post at court was 

 cup-bearer to the king. Soon after, he was made a gentleman 

 of the bed-chamber, a Knight of the Garter, and, at sub- 

 sequent intervals, a baron, a viscount, an earl, a marquis, and 

 a duke ; he became Lord High Admiral of England, Lord 

 Warden of the Cinque Ports, Master of the Horse, and 

 entirely disposed of the favours of the king, in conferring all 

 the honours and all the offices of the three kingdoms without 

 a rival. Well might Lord Clarendon exclaim : " Never any 

 man, in any age, nor, I believe, in any country or nation, 

 rose in so short a time, to such greatness of honour, fame, or 

 fortune, upon no other advantage or recommendation than 

 the beauty or gracefulness of his person." 



In 1620 Buckingham married the only daughter of the 

 Earl of Rutland, who was the richest heiress in the kingdom. 

 Some have said he debauched her first, and that the Earl of 

 Rutland threatened him into the marriage, but the corre- 

 spondence which took place on the irregularity does not 

 justify the aspersion. In 1623 Buckingham owned some of 

 the best race-horses in England, and after the fiasco of the 

 Spanish match he imported a cargo of the best Eastern 

 horses obtainable. Owing to the intimate relations between 

 him and James I. at this time, it is difficult to say whether 

 these horses were for his own or the royal stud, but there is 

 very little doubt that many of them and their descendants 

 were in the Tutbury " race," soon after the duke's assassina- 

 tion in 1628. 



Buckingham's mode of dispensing court favour at New- 



