Dudley's Chamber； descended to a sort of cell； in which they
found an iron chest containing a quantity of gold； and a human
skeleton stretched above it。 The fate of Anthony Foster was now
manifest。 He had fled to this place of concealment； forgetting
the key of the spring…lock； and being barred from escape by the
means he had used for preservation of that gold； for which he had
sold his salvation； he had there perished miserably。
Unquestionably the groans and screams heard by the domestics were
not entirely imaginary； but were those of this wretch； who； in
his agony； was crying for relief and succour。
The news of the Countess's dreadful fate put a sudden period to
the pleasures of Kenilworth。 Leicester retired from court； and
for a considerable time abandoned himself to his remorse。 But as
Varney in his last declaration had been studious to spare the
character of his patron； the Earl was the object rather of
compassion than resentment。 The Queen at length recalled him to
court； he was once more distinguished as a statesman and
favourite； and the rest of his career is well known to history。
But there was something retributive in his death； if； according
to an account very generally received； it took place from his
swallowing a draught of poison which was designed by him for
another person。 ＇See Note 9。 Death of the Earl of Leicester。＇
Sir Hugh Robsart died very soon after his daughter； having
settled his estate on Tressilian。 But neither the prospect of
rural independence； nor the promises of favour which Elizabeth
held out to induce him to follow the court； could remove his
profound melancholy。 Wherever he went he seemed to see before
him the disfigured corpse of the early and only object of his
affection。 At length； having made provision for the maintenance
of the old friends and old servants who formed Sir Hugh's family
at Lidcote Hall； he himself embarked with his friend Raleigh for
the Virginia expedition； and； young in years but old in grief；
died before his day in that foreign land。
Of inferior persons it is only necessary to say that Blount's wit
grew brighter as his yellow roses faded； that； doing his part as
a brave commander in the wars； he was much more in his element
than during the short period of his following the court； and that
Flibbertigibbet's acute genius raised him to favour and
distinction in the employment both of Burleigh and Walsingham。
NOTES。
Note 1。 Ch。 III。FOSTER； LAMBOURNE； AND THE BLACK BEAR。
If faith is to be put in epitaphs； Anthony Foster was something
the very reverse of the character represented in the novel。
Ashmole gives this description of his tomb。 I copy from the
ANTIQUITIES OF BERKSHIRE； vol。i。； p。143。
〃In the north wall of the chancel at Cumnor church is a monument
of grey marble； whereon； in brass plates； are engraved a man in
armour； and his wife in the habit of her times； both kneeling
before a fald…stoole； together with the figures of three sons
kneeling behind their mother。 Under the figure of the man is
this inscription：
〃ANTONIUS FORSTER； generis generosa propago；
Cumnerae Dominus； Bercheriensis erat。
Armiger； Armigero prognatus patre Ricardo；
Qui quondam Iphlethae Salopiensis erat。
Quatuor ex isto fluxerunt stemmate nati；
Ex isto Antonius stemmate quartus erat。
Mente sagax； animo precellens； corpore promptus；
Eloquii dulcis； ore disertus erat。
In factis probitas； fuit in sermone venustas；
In vultu gravitas； relligione fides；
In patriam pietas； in egenos grata voluntas；
Accedunt reliquis annumeranda bonis。
Si quod cuncta rapit； rapuit non omnia Lethum；
Si quod Mors rapuit； vivida fama dedit。
〃These verses following are writ at length； two by two； in praise
of him：
〃Argute resonas Cithare pretendere chordas
Novit； et Aonia concrepuisse Lyra。
Gaudebat terre teneras defigere plantas；
Et mira pulchras construere arte domos
Composita varias lingua formare loquelas
Doctus； et edocta scribere multa manu。
〃The arms over it thus：
Quart。 I。 3 HUNTER'S HORNS stringed。
II。 3 PINIONS with their points upwards。
〃The crest is a STAG couchant； vulnerated through the neck by a
broad arrow； on his side is a MARTLETT for a difference。〃
From this monumental inscription it appears that Anthony Foster；
instead of being a vulgar； low…bred； puritanical churl； was； in
fact； a gentleman of birth and consideration； distinguished for
his skill in the arts of music and horticulture； as also in
languages。 In so far； therefore； the Anthony Foster of the
romance has nothing but the name in common with the real
individual。 But notwithstanding the charity； benevolence； and
religious faith imputed by the monument of grey marble to its
tenant； tradition； as well as secret history； names him as the
active agent in the death of the Countess； and it is added that；
from being a jovial and convivial gallant； as we may infer from
some expressions in the epitaph； he sunk； after the fatal deed；
into a man of gloomy and retired habits； whose looks and manners
indicated that he suffered under the pressure of some atrocious
secret。
The name of Lambourne is still known in the vicinity； and it is
said some of the clan partake the habits； as well as name； of the
Michael Lambourne of the romance。 A man of this name lately
murdered his wife； outdoing Michael in this respect； who only was
concerned in the murder of the wife of another man。
I have only to add that the jolly Black Bear has been restored to
his predominance over bowl and bottle in the village of Cumnor。
*
Note 2。 Ch。 XIII。LEGEND OF WAYLAND SMITH。
The great defeat given by Alfred to the Danish invaders is said
by Mr。 Gough to have taken place near Ashdown； in Berkshire。 〃The
burial place of Baereg； the Danish chief； who was slain in this
fight； is distinguished by a parcel of stones； less than a mile
from the hill； set on edge； enclosing a piece of ground somewhat
raised。 On the east side of the southern extremity stand three
squarish flat stones； of about four or five feet over either way；
supporting a fourth； and now called by the vulgar WAYLAND SMITH；
from an idle tradition about an invisible smith replacing lost
horse…shoes there。〃GOUGH'S edition of CAMDEN'S BRITANNIA；
vol。i。； p。 221。
The popular belief still retains memory of this wild legend；
which； connected as it is with the site of a Danish sepulchre；
may have arisen from some legend concerning the northern Duergar；
who resided in the rocks； and were cunning workers in steel and
iron。 It was believed that Wayland Smith's fee was sixpence； and
that； unlike other workmen； he was offended if more was offered。
Of late his offices have been again called to memory； but fiction
has in this； as in other cases； taken the liberty to pillage the
stores of oral tradition。 This monument must be very ancient；
for it has been kindly pointed out to me that it is referred to
in an ancient Saxon charter as a landmark。 The monument has been
of late cleared out； and made considerably more conspicuous。
*
Note 3。 Ch。 XIV。LEICESTER AND SUSSEX。
Naunton gives us numerous and curious particulars of the jealous
struggle which took place between Ratcliffe； Earl of Sussex； and
the rising favourite Leicester。 The former； when on his
deathbed； predicted to his followers that after his death the
gipsy （so he called Leicester； from his dark complexion） would
prove too many for them。
*
Note 4。 Ch。 XIV。SIR WALTER RALEIGH。
Among the attendants and adherents of Sussex； we have ventured to
introduce the celebrated Raleigh； in the dawn of his court
favour。
In Aubrey's Correspondence there are some curious particulars of
Sir Walter Raleigh。 〃He was a tall； handsome； bold man； but his
naeve was that he was damnably proud。 Old Sir Robert Harley of
Brampton Brian Castle； who knew him； would say it was a great
question who was the proudest； Sir Walter or Sir Thomas Overbury；
but the difference that was； was judged in Sir Thomas's side。 In
the great parlour at Downton； at Mr。 Raleigh's； is a good piece；
an original of Sir Walter； in a white satin doublet； all
embroidered with rich pearls； and a mighty rich chain of great
pearls about his neck。 The old servants have told me that the
real pearls were near as big as the painted ones。 He had a most
remarkable aspect； an exceeding high forehead； long…faced； and
sour…eyelidded。 〃A rebus is added to this purpose：
The enemy to the stomach； and the word of disgrace；
Is the name of the gentleman with the bold face。
Sir Walter Raleigh's beard turned up naturally； which gave him an
advantage over the gallants of the time； whose moustaches
received a touch of the barber's art to give them the air then
most admired。See AUBREY'S CORRESPONDENCE； vol。ii。； part ii。；
p。500。
*
Note 5。 Ch。 XV。COURT FAVOUR OF SIR WALTER RALEIGH。
The gallant incident of the cloak is the traditional account of
this celebrated statesman's rise at court。 None of Elizabeth's
courtiers knew better than he how to make his court to her
personal vanity； or could more justly estimate the quantity of
flattery which she could condescend to swallow。