kenilworth-第132章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃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。 Being confined
in the Tower for some offence； and understanding the Queen was
about to pass to Greenwich in her barge； he insisted on
approaching the window； that he might see； at whatever distance；
the Queen of his Affections； the most beautiful object which the
earth bore on its surface。 The Lieutenant of the Tower （his own
particular friend） threw himself between his prisoner and the
window； while Sir Waiter； apparently influenced by a fit of
unrestrainable passion； swore he would not be debarred from
seeing his light； his life； his goddess！ A scuffle ensued； got
up for effect's sake； in which the Lieutenant and his captive
grappled and struggled with fury； tore each other's hair； and at
length drew daggers； and were only separated by force。 The Queen
being informed of this scene exhibited by her frantic adorer； it
wrought； as was to be expected； much in favour of the captive
Paladin。 There is little doubt that his quarrel with the
Lieutenant was entirely contrived for the purpose which it
produced。
*
Note 6。 Ch。 XVII。ROBERT LANEHAM。
Little is known of Robert Laneham； save in his curious letter to
a friend in London； giving an account of Queen Elizabeth's
entertainments at Kenilworth； written in a style of the most
intolerable affectation； both in point of composition and
orthography。 He describes himself as a BON VIVANT； who was wont
to be jolly and dry in the morning； and by his good…will would be
chiefly in the company of the ladies。 He was； by the interest of
Lord Leicester； Clerk of the Council Chamber door； and also
keeper of the same。 〃When Council sits；〃 says he； 〃I am at hand。
If any makes a babbling； PEACE； say I。 If I see a listener or a
pryer in at the chinks or lockhole； I am presently on the bones
of him。 If a friend comes； I make him sit down by me on a form
or chest。 The rest may walk； a God's name！〃 There has been
seldom a better portrait of the pragmatic conceit and self…
importance of a small man in office。
*
Note 7。 Ch。 XVIII。DR。 JULIO。
The Earl of Leicester's Italian physician； Julio； was affirmed by
his contemporaries to be a skilful compounder of poisons； which
he applied with such frequency； that the Jesuit Parsons extols
ironically the marvellous good luck of this great favourite in
the opportune deaths of those who stood in the way of his wishes。
There is a curious passage on the subject：
〃Long after this； he fell in love with the Lady Sheffield； whom I
signified before； and then also had he the same fortune to have
her husband dye quickly； with an extreame rheume in his head （as
it was given out）； but as others say； of an artificiall catarre
that stopped his breath。
〃The like good chance had he in the death of my Lord of Essex （as
I have said before）； and that at a time most fortunate for his
purpose； for when he was coming home from Ireland； with intent to
revenge himselfe upon my Lord of Leicester for begetting his wife
with childe in his absence （the childe was a daughter； and
brought up
