234 To FENN 17 SEPTEMBER 1774 of Henry VIII I can find nobody whom it so probably exhibits as Edward Stafford the last Duke of Buckingham,12 a true prince of the blood, and who aiming at the crown, and being also by his grand­ mother, I think, descended from the Somersets,13 might affect the red rose, the only royal cognizance of which the Henrys were not jealous. I could still hint at another person, supposing the picture painted in the reign of Henry VII, who was very likely to give the cognizance of Lancaster; I mean, his uncle, Jasper Duke of Bedford.1* In short, Sir, I fear we may multiply conjectures, and yet not ascer­ tain the specific person intended, as there are only marks enough to furnish guesses, and we have not lights from that age sufficient to identify the person. I wish I could have given you better assistance; but I had rather leave obscurities in their darkness, than as most anti­ quaries do, pronounce rashly. Truth is the sole merit of most antiq­ uities; and when we cannot discover the truth, what value is there in dogmatic error about things that have no intrinsic value?—and such were all our pictures before Holbein, and infinitely the greater part of our pictures since! Mr Granger,1* I see by the papers, has published his Supplement.16 I have not yet received it. I am sorry his bookseller17 has quoted me for 12. Edward Stafford (1478-1521), 3d D. tory of England, 1769, dedicated to HW; of Buckingham, 1485. 'In right of his rep­ 2d edn, 1775; 3d edn, 1779. resentation of Thomas, Duke of Gloucester 16. A Supplement, Consisting of Correc­ and Earl of Buckingham ... he appears tions and Large Additions to A Biographi­ to have entertained some notions of his cal History of England . and A List of possible right to the Crown, and having Curious Portraits of Eminent Persons Not incurred the enmity of Cardinal Wolsey Yet Engraved, Communicated, by the . was accused and found guilty, on Honourable Horace Walpole, to the Au­ very flimsy grounds, of high treason' (CEC). thor, 1774. It had not been published, but His ancestor was Thomas of Woodstock had been advertised: 'Saturday, Septem­ (1355-97),, youngest son of Edward III, cr. ber 20, will be published, price eighteen (1377) E. of Buckingham and (1385) D. of shillings in boards, A Supplement,' etc. See Gloucester. the Whitehall Evening Post 6-8, 8-10 Sept. 13. HW is correct: Buckingham's grand­ 1774; London Chronicle 13-15, 15-17 Sept. mother was Lady Margaret Beaufort, dau. 1774, xxxvi. 263, 271. When the book was of Edmund Beaufort, D. of Somerset; m. advertised as published 'this day,' in the (ca 1454) Humphrey Stafford, styled E. of St James's Chronicle 22-4, 24-6 Nov. 1774, Stafford, son of Humphrey, 2d E. of Staf­ the price was corrected to '15. 6d. in boards.' ford, cr. (1444) D. of Buckingham; m. (2) Granger acknowledges assistance from (after 1455) Sir Richard Darell. Fenn, 'a curious and ingenious gentleman/ 14. Jasper Tudor (ca 1430-95), cr. (1453) at pp. 5, 66, 478-9, 519. There are over E. of Pembroke and (1485) D. of Bedford; fifty references to HW, SH, or HW's works, half-brother to Henry VI and uncle to in addition to the list of unengraved por­ Henry VII. traits HW contributed, pp. 534-^39] (the 15. James Granger (1723-76), HW's cor­ last three pages are incorrectly numbered). respondent; author of A Biographical His­ HW's copies of the Biographical History .