'I might add herunto for a corollary of this discourse the Art of Revels which requireth knowledge in Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic, Philosophy, History, Music, Mathematics, and in other Arts (and all more than I understand I confess) and hath a settled place within this City. But because I have described it and discoursed thereof at large in a particular commentary, according to my talent, I will surcease to speak any more thereof: blazing only the Arms belonging to it; which are Gules, a cross argent, and in the first corner of the scutcheon, a Mercury's petasus argent, and a lion gules in chief or.'[356]
It is matter for deep regret that Buck's 'particular commentary' is lost. He made other contributions to letters, writing commendatory verses to Thomas Watson's [Greek: EKATOMPATHIA] (_c._ 1582) and to Camden's _Britannia_ (1607), and a poem called [Greek: DAPHNIS POLYSTEPHANOS] (1605).[357] His _History of the Life and Reigne of Richard III_ was published posthumously in 1607.[358]
Reversions of the Mastership were granted during Buck's lifetime to Edward Glasscock in 1603, to John, afterwards Sir John, Astley or Ashley on 3 April 1612, to Benjamin Jonson on 5 October 1621, and to William Painter on 29 July 1622.[359] His actual successor was Sir John Astley. On 30 March 1622 John Chamberlain wrote to Dudley Carleton, 'Old Sir George Buck, master of the revels, has gone mad'.[360] On 29 March 1622 a warrant was issued by the Lord Chamberlain to swear Astley in as Master, followed on 16 May by a letter requiring Buck to deliver up the books and other property of the Office.[361] His death took place on 20 September 1623.[362] Astley almost immediately sold his office to Sir Henry Herbert, whose tenure of it belongs to the history of the Caroline stage.
[Footnote 232: _Order for Sitting in the King's Great Chamber_ (_H. O._ 113): 'If the master of revells be there, he may sitt with the chapleyns or with the esquires or gentlemen ushers.']
[Footnote 233: Cf. _Mediaeval Stage_, i. 404.]
[Footnote 235: Brewer, i. 24, 283, 690, 828; ii. 875, 1044, 1479; iii. 129; iv. 868; cf. _Tudor Revels_, 6.]
[Footnote 237: Brewer, vii. 560; Feuillerat, _M. P._ 22; cf. _Tudor Revels_, 7.]