Varneylookedwithgreatattentionatthemachinery,andpeepedmorethanoncedowntheabysswhichwasopenedbythefallofthetrap—door。Itwasdarkaspitch,andseemedprofoundlydeep,going,asFosterinformedhisconfederateinawhisper,nightothelowestvaultoftheCastle。Varneycastoncemoreafixedandlonglookdownintothissablegulf,andthenfollowedFostertothepartofthemanor—housemostusuallyinhabited。
Whentheyarrivedintheparlourwhichwehavementioned,VarneyrequestedFostertogetthemsupper,andsomeofthechoicestwine。\"IwillseekAlasco,\"headded;\"wehaveworkforhimtodo,andwemustputhimingoodheart。\"
Fostergroanedatthisintimation,butmadenoremonstrance。TheoldwomanassuredVarneythatAlascohadscarceeatenordrunkensincehermaster\'sdeparture,livingperpetuallyshutupinthelaboratory,andtalkingasiftheworld\'scontinuancedependedonwhathewasdoingthere。
\"Iwillteachhimthattheworldhathotherclaimsonhim,\"saidVarney,seizingalight,andgoinginquestofthealchemist。Hereturned,afteraconsiderableabsence,verypale,butyetwithhishabitualsneeronhischeekandnostril。\"Ourfriend,\"hesaid,\"hasexhaled。\"
\"How!——whatmeanyou?\"saidFoster——\"runaway——fledwithmyfortypounds,thatshouldhavebeenmultipliedathousand—fold?
IwillhaveHueandCry!\"
\"Iwilltelltheeasurerway,\"saidVarney。
\"How!——whichway?\"exclaimedFoster;\"Iwillhavebackmyfortypounds——Ideemedthemassurelyathousandtimesmultiplied——I
willhavebackmyin—put,attheleast。\"
\"Gohangthyself,then,andsueAlascointheDevil\'sCourtofChancery,forthitherhehascarriedthecause。\"
\"How!——whatdostthoumeanishedead?\"
\"Ay,trulyishe,\"saidVarney;\"andproperlyswollenalreadyinthefaceandbody。Hehadbeenmixingsomeofhisdevil\'smedicines,andtheglassmaskwhichheusedconstantlyhadfallenfromhisface,sothatthesubtlepoisonenteredthebrain,anddiditswork。\"
\"SANCTAMARIA!\"saidFoster——\"Imean,GodinHismercypreserveusfromcovetousnessanddeadlysin!——Hadhenothadprojection,thinkyou?Sawyounoingotsinthecrucibles?\"
\"Nay,Ilookednotbutatthedeadcarrion,\"answeredVarney;\"anuglyspectacle——hewasswollenlikeacorpsethreedaysexposedonthewheel。Pah!givemeacupofwine。\"
\"Iwillgo,\"saidFoster,\"Iwillexaminemyself——\"Hetookthelamp,andhastenedtothedoor,buttherehesitatedandpaused。
\"Willyounotgowithme?\"saidhetoVarney。
\"Towhatpurpose?\"saidVarney;\"Ihaveseenandsmelledenoughtospoilmyappetite。Ibrokethewindow,however,andletintheair;itreekedofsulphur,andsuchlikesuffocatingsteams,asiftheverydevilhadbeenthere。\"
\"Andmightitnotbetheactofthedemonhimself?\"saidFoster,stillhesitating;\"Ihaveheardheispowerfulatsuchtimes,andwithsuchpeople。\"
\"Still,ifitwerethatSatanofthine,\"answeredVarney,\"whothusjadesthyimagination,thouartinperfectsafety,unlessheisamostunconscionabledevilindeed。Hehathhadtwogoodsopsoflate。\"
\"HowTWOsops——whatmeanyou?\"saidFoster——\"whatmeanyou?\"
\"Youwillknowintime,\"saidVarney;——\"andthenthisotherbanquet——butthouwiltesteemHertoochoiceamorselforthefiend\'stooth——shemusthaveherpsalms,andharps,andseraphs。\"
AnthonyFosterheard,andcameslowlybacktothetable。\"God!
SirRichard,andmustthatthenbedone?\"
\"Ay,inverytruth,Anthony,ortherecomesnocopyholdinthyway,\"repliedhisinflexibleassociate。
\"Ialwaysforesawitwouldlandthere!\"saidFoster。\"Buthow,SirRichard,how?——fornottowintheworldwouldIputhandsonher。\"
\"Icannotblamethee,\"saidVarney;\"Ishouldbereluctanttodothatmyself。WemissAlascoandhismannasorely——ay,andthedogLambourne。\"
\"Why,wheretarriesLambourne?\"saidAnthony。
\"Asknoquestions,\"saidVarney,\"thouwiltseehimonedayifthycreedistrue。Buttoourgravermatter。Iwillteachtheeaspring,Tony,tocatchapewit。Yondertrap—door——yondergimcrackofthine,willremainsecureinappearance,willitnot,thoughthesupportsarewithdrawnbeneath?\"
\"Ay,marry,willit,\"saidFoster;\"solongasitisnottroddenon。\"
\"Butweretheladytoattemptanescapeoverit,\"repliedVarney,\"herweightwouldcarryitdown?\"
\"Amouse\'sweightwoulddoit,\"saidFoster。
\"Why,then,shediesinattemptingherescape,andwhatcouldyouorIhelpit,honestTony?Letustobed,wewilladjustourprojectto—morrow。\"
Onthenextday,wheneveningapproached,VarneysummonedFostertotheexecutionoftheirplan。TiderandFoster\'soldman—
servantweresentonafeignederranddowntothevillage,andAnthonyhimself,asifanxioustoseethattheCountesssufferednowantofaccommodation,visitedherplaceofconfinement。Hewassomuchstaggeredatthemildnessandpatiencewithwhichsheseemedtoendureherconfinement,thathecouldnothelpearnestlyrecommendingtohernottocrossthethresholdofherroomonanyaccountwhatever,untilLordLeicestershouldcome,\"which,\"headded,\"ItrustinGod,willbeverysoon。\"Amypatientlypromisedthatshewouldresignherselftoherfate。
andFosterreturnedtohishardenedcompanionwithhisconsciencehalf—easedoftheperilousloadthatweighedonit。\"Ihavewarnedher,\"hesaid;\"surelyinvainisthesnaresetinthesightofanybird!\"
Heleft,therefore,theCountess\'sdoorunsecuredontheoutside,and,undertheeyeofVarney,withdrewthesupportswhichsustainedthefallingtrap,which,therefore,keptitslevelpositionmerelybyaslightadhesion。Theywithdrewtowaittheissueontheground—flooradjoining;buttheywaitedlonginvain。AtlengthVarney,afterwalkinglongtoandfro,withhisfacemuffledinhiscloak,threwitsuddenlybackandexclaimed,\"Surelyneverwasawomanfoolenoughtoneglectsofairanopportunityofescape!\"
\"Perhapssheisresolved,\"saidFoster,\"toawaitherhusband\'sreturn,\"
\"True!——mosttrue!\"saidVarney,rushingout;\"Ihadnotthoughtofthatbefore。\"
Inlessthantwominutes,Foster,whoremainedbehind,heardthetreadofahorseinthecourtyard,andthenawhistlesimilartothatwhichwastheEarl\'susualsignal。TheinstantafterthedooroftheCountess\'schamberopened,andinthesamemomentthetrap—doorgaveway。Therewasarushingsound——aheavyfall——afaintgroan——andallwasover。
Atthesameinstant,Varneycalledinatthewindow,inanaccentandtonewhichwasanindescribablemixturebetwixthorrorandraillery,\"Isthebirdcaught?——isthedeeddone?\"
\"OGod,forgiveus!\"repliedAnthonyFoster。
\"Why,thoufool,\"saidVarney,\"thytoilisended,andthyrewardsecure。Lookdownintothevault——whatseestthou?\"
\"Iseeonlyaheapofwhiteclothes,likeasnowdrift,\"saidFoster。\"OGod,shemovesherarm!\"
\"Hurlsomethingdownonher——thygoldchest,Tony——itisanheavyone。\"
\"Varney,thouartanincarnatefiend!\"repliedFoster。
\"Thereneedsnothingmore——sheisgone!\"
\"Sopassourtroubles,\"saidVarney,enteringtheroom;\"I
dreamednotIcouldhavemimickedtheEarl\'scallsowell。\"
\"Oh,iftherebejudgmentinheaven,thouhastdeservedit,\"saidFoster,\"andwiltmeetit!Thouhastdestroyedherbymeansofherbestaffections——itisaseethingofthekidinthemother\'smilk!\"
\"Thouartafanaticalass,\"repliedVarney;\"letusnowthinkhowthealarmshouldbegiven——thebodyistoremainwhereitis。\"
Buttheirwickednesswastobepermittednolonger;forevenwhiletheywereatthisconsultation,TressilianandRaleighbrokeinuponthem,havingobtainedadmittancebymeansofTiderandFoster\'sservant,whomtheyhadsecuredatthevillage。
AnthonyFosterfledontheirentrance,andknowingeachcornerandpassoftheintricateoldhouse,escapedallsearch。ButVarneywastakenonthespot;andinsteadofexpressingcompunctionforwhathehaddone,seemedtotakeafiendishpleasureinpointingouttothemtheremainsofthemurderedCountess,whileatthesametimehedefiedthemtoshowthathehadanyshareinherdeath。ThedespairinggriefofTressilian,onviewingthemangledandyetwarmremainsofwhathadlatelybeensolovelyandsobeloved,wassuchthatRaleighwascompelledtohavehimremovedfromtheplacebyforce,whilehehimselfassumedthedirectionofwhatwastobedone。
Varney,uponasecondexamination,madeverylittlemysteryeitherofthecrimeorofitsmotives———alleging,asareasonforhisfrankness,thatthoughmuchofwhatheconfessedcouldonlyhaveattachedtohimbysuspicion,yetsuchsuspicionwouldhavebeensufficienttodeprivehimofLeicester\'sconfidence,andtodestroyallhistoweringplansofambition。\"Iwasnotborn,\"hesaid,\"todragontheremainderoflifeadegradedoutcast;norwillIsodiethatmyfateshallmakeaholidaytothevulgarherd。\"
Fromthesewordsitwasapprehendedhehadsomedesignuponhimself,andhewascarefullydeprivedofallmeansbywhichsuchcouldbecarriedintoexecution。Butlikesomeoftheheroesofantiquity,hecarriedabouthispersonasmallquantityofstrongpoison,preparedprobablybythecelebratedDemetriusAlasco。
Havingswallowedthispotionover—night,hewasfoundnextmorningdeadinhiscell;nordidheappeartohavesufferedmuchagony,hiscountenancepresenting,evenindeath,thehabitualexpressionofsneeringsarcasmwhichwaspredominantwhilehelived。\"Thewickedman,\"saithScripture,\"hathnobandsinhisdeath。\"
Thefateofhiscolleagueinwickednesswaslongunknown。CumnorPlacewasdesertedimmediatelyafterthemurder;forinthevicinityofwhatwascalledtheLadyDudley\'sChamber,thedomesticspretendedtoheargroans,andscreams,andothersupernaturalnoises。Afteracertainlengthoftime,Janet,hearingnotidingsofherfather,becametheuncontrolledmistressofhisproperty,andconferreditwithherhanduponWayland,nowamanofsettledcharacter,andholdingaplaceinElizabeth\'shousehold。Butitwasaftertheyhadbeenbothdeadforsomeyearsthattheireldestsonandheir,inmakingsomeresearchesaboutCumnorHall,discoveredasecretpassage,closedbyanirondoor,which,openingfrombehindthebedintheLadyDudley\'sChamber,descendedtoasortofcell,inwhichtheyfoundanironchestcontainingaquantityofgold,andahumanskeletonstretchedaboveit。ThefateofAnthonyFosterwasnowmanifest。Hehadfledtothisplaceofconcealment,forgettingthekeyofthespring—lock;andbeingbarredfromescapebythemeanshehadusedforpreservationofthatgold,forwhichhehadsoldhissalvation,hehadthereperishedmiserably。
Unquestionablythegroansandscreamsheardbythedomesticswerenotentirelyimaginary,butwerethoseofthiswretch,who,inhisagony,wascryingforreliefandsuccour。
ThenewsoftheCountess\'sdreadfulfateputasuddenperiodtothepleasuresofKenilworth。Leicesterretiredfromcourt,andforaconsiderabletimeabandonedhimselftohisremorse。ButasVarneyinhislastdeclarationhadbeenstudioustosparethecharacterofhispatron,theEarlwastheobjectratherofcompassionthanresentment。TheQueenatlengthrecalledhimtocourt;hewasoncemoredistinguishedasastatesmanandfavourite;andtherestofhiscareeriswellknowntohistory。
Buttherewassomethingretributiveinhisdeath,if,accordingtoanaccountverygenerallyreceived,ittookplacefromhisswallowingadraughtofpoisonwhichwasdesignedbyhimforanotherperson。[SeeNote9。DeathoftheEarlofLeicester。]
SirHughRobsartdiedverysoonafterhisdaughter,havingsettledhisestateonTressilian。Butneithertheprospectofruralindependence,northepromisesoffavourwhichElizabethheldouttoinducehimtofollowthecourt,couldremovehisprofoundmelancholy。Whereverhewentheseemedtoseebeforehimthedisfiguredcorpseoftheearlyandonlyobjectofhisaffection。Atlength,havingmadeprovisionforthemaintenanceoftheoldfriendsandoldservantswhoformedSirHugh\'sfamilyatLidcoteHall,hehimselfembarkedwithhisfriendRaleighfortheVirginiaexpedition,and,younginyearsbutoldingrief,diedbeforehisdayinthatforeignland。
OfinferiorpersonsitisonlynecessarytosaythatBlount\'switgrewbrighterashisyellowrosesfaded;that,doinghispartasabravecommanderinthewars,hewasmuchmoreinhiselementthanduringtheshortperiodofhisfollowingthecourt;andthatFlibbertigibbet\'sacutegeniusraisedhimtofavouranddistinctionintheemploymentbothofBurleighandWalsingham。
NOTES。
Note1。Ch。III。——FOSTER,LAMBOURNE,ANDTHEBLACKBEAR。
Iffaithistobeputinepitaphs,AnthonyFosterwassomethingtheveryreverseofthecharacterrepresentedinthenovel。
Ashmolegivesthisdescriptionofhistomb。IcopyfromtheANTIQUITIESOFBERKSHIRE,vol。i。,p。143。
\"InthenorthwallofthechancelatCumnorchurchisamonumentofgreymarble,whereon,inbrassplates,areengravedamaninarmour,andhiswifeinthehabitofhertimes,bothkneelingbeforeafald—stoole,togetherwiththefiguresofthreesonskneelingbehindtheirmother。Underthefigureofthemanisthisinscription:——
\"ANTONIUSFORSTER,generisgenerosapropago,CumneraeDominus,Bercheriensiserat。
Armiger,ArmigeroprognatuspatreRicardo,QuiquondamIphlethaeSalopiensiserat。
Quatuorexistofluxeruntstemmatenati,ExistoAntoniusstemmatequartuserat。
Mentesagax,animoprecellens,corporepromptus,Eloquiidulcis,oredisertuserat。
Infactisprobitas;fuitinsermonevenustas,Invultugravitas,relligionefides,Inpatriampietas,inegenosgratavoluntas,Acceduntreliquisannumerandabonis。
Siquodcunctarapit,rapuitnonomniaLethum,SiquodMorsrapuit,vividafamadedit。
\"Theseversesfollowingarewritatlength,twobytwo,inpraiseofhim:——
\"ArguteresonasCitharepretenderechordasNovit,etAoniaconcrepuisseLyra。
Gaudebatterretenerasdefigereplantas;
EtmirapulchrasconstruereartedomosCompositavariaslinguaformareloquelasDoctus,etedoctascriberemultamanu。
\"Thearmsoveritthus:——
Quart。I。3HUNTER\'SHORNSstringed。
II。3PINIONSwiththeirpointsupwards。
\"ThecrestisaSTAGcouchant,vulneratedthroughtheneckbyabroadarrow;onhissideisaMARTLETTforadifference。\"
FromthismonumentalinscriptionitappearsthatAnthonyFoster,insteadofbeingavulgar,low—bred,puritanicalchurl,was,infact,agentlemanofbirthandconsideration,distinguishedforhisskillintheartsofmusicandhorticulture,asalsoinlanguages。Insofar,therefore,theAnthonyFosteroftheromancehasnothingbutthenameincommonwiththerealindividual。Butnotwithstandingthecharity,benevolence,andreligiousfaithimputedbythemonumentofgreymarbletoitstenant,tradition,aswellassecrethistory,nameshimastheactiveagentinthedeathoftheCountess;anditisaddedthat,frombeingajovialandconvivialgallant,aswemayinferfromsomeexpressionsintheepitaph,hesunk,afterthefataldeed,intoamanofgloomyandretiredhabits,whoselooksandmannersindicatedthathesufferedunderthepressureofsomeatrocioussecret。
ThenameofLambourneisstillknowninthevicinity,anditissaidsomeoftheclanpartakethehabits,aswellasname,oftheMichaelLambourneoftheromance。Amanofthisnamelatelymurderedhiswife,outdoingMichaelinthisrespect,whoonlywasconcernedinthemurderofthewifeofanotherman。
IhaveonlytoaddthatthejollyBlackBearhasbeenrestoredtohispredominanceoverbowlandbottleinthevillageofCumnor。
*
Note2。Ch。XIII。——LEGENDOFWAYLANDSMITH。
ThegreatdefeatgivenbyAlfredtotheDanishinvadersissaidbyMr。GoughtohavetakenplacenearAshdown,inBerkshire。\"TheburialplaceofBaereg,theDanishchief,whowasslaininthisfight,isdistinguishedbyaparcelofstones,lessthanamilefromthehill,setonedge,enclosingapieceofgroundsomewhatraised。Ontheeastsideofthesouthernextremitystandthreesquarishflatstones,ofaboutfourorfivefeetovereitherway,supportingafourth,andnowcalledbythevulgarWAYLANDSMITH,fromanidletraditionaboutaninvisiblesmithreplacinglosthorse—shoesthere。\"——GOUGH\'SeditionofCAMDEN\'SBRITANNIA,vol。i。,p。221。
Thepopularbeliefstillretainsmemoryofthiswildlegend,which,connectedasitiswiththesiteofaDanishsepulchre,mayhavearisenfromsomelegendconcerningthenorthernDuergar,whoresidedintherocks,andwerecunningworkersinsteelandiron。ItwasbelievedthatWaylandSmith\'sfeewassixpence,andthat,unlikeotherworkmen,hewasoffendedifmorewasoffered。
Oflatehisofficeshavebeenagaincalledtomemory;butfictionhasinthis,asinothercases,takenthelibertytopillagethestoresoforaltradition。Thismonumentmustbeveryancient,forithasbeenkindlypointedouttomethatitisreferredtoinanancientSaxoncharterasalandmark。Themonumenthasbeenoflateclearedout,andmadeconsiderablymoreconspicuous。
*
Note3。Ch。XIV。——LEICESTERANDSUSSEX。
NauntongivesusnumerousandcuriousparticularsofthejealousstrugglewhichtookplacebetweenRatcliffe,EarlofSussex,andtherisingfavouriteLeicester。Theformer,whenonhisdeathbed,predictedtohisfollowersthatafterhisdeaththegipsy(sohecalledLeicester,fromhisdarkcomplexion)wouldprovetoomanyforthem。
*
Note4。Ch。XIV。——SIRWALTERRALEIGH。
AmongtheattendantsandadherentsofSussex,wehaveventuredtointroducethecelebratedRaleigh,inthedawnofhiscourtfavour。
InAubrey\'sCorrespondencetherearesomecuriousparticularsofSirWalterRaleigh。\"Hewasatall,handsome,boldman;buthisnaevewasthathewasdamnablyproud。OldSirRobertHarleyofBramptonBrianCastle,whoknewhim,wouldsayitwasagreatquestionwhowastheproudest,SirWalterorSirThomasOverbury;
butthedifferencethatwas,wasjudgedinSirThomas\'sside。InthegreatparlouratDownton,atMr。Raleigh\'s,isagoodpiece,anoriginalofSirWalter,inawhitesatindoublet,allembroideredwithrichpearls,andamightyrichchainofgreatpearlsabouthisneck。Theoldservantshavetoldmethattherealpearlswerenearasbigasthepaintedones。Hehadamostremarkableaspect,anexceedinghighforehead,long—faced,andsour—eyelidded。\"Arebusisaddedtothispurpose:——
Theenemytothestomach,andthewordofdisgrace,Isthenameofthegentlemanwiththeboldface。
SirWalterRaleigh\'sbeardturnedupnaturally,whichgavehimanadvantageoverthegallantsofthetime,whosemoustachesreceivedatouchofthebarber\'sarttogivethemtheairthenmostadmired。——SeeAUBREY\'SCORRESPONDENCE,vol。ii。,partii。,p。500。
*
Note5。Ch。XV。——COURTFAVOUROFSIRWALTERRALEIGH。
Thegallantincidentofthecloakisthetraditionalaccountofthiscelebratedstatesman\'sriseatcourt。NoneofElizabeth\'scourtiersknewbetterthanhehowtomakehiscourttoherpersonalvanity,orcouldmorejustlyestimatethequantityofflatterywhichshecouldcondescendtoswallow。BeingconfinedintheTowerforsomeoffence,andunderstandingtheQueenwasabouttopasstoGreenwichinherbarge,heinsistedonapproachingthewindow,thathemightsee,atwhateverdistance,theQueenofhisAffections,themostbeautifulobjectwhichtheearthboreonitssurface。TheLieutenantoftheTower(hisownparticularfriend)threwhimselfbetweenhisprisonerandthewindow;whileSirWaiter,apparentlyinfluencedbyafitofunrestrainablepassion,sworehewouldnotbedebarredfromseeinghislight,hislife,hisgoddess!Ascuffleensued,gotupforeffect\'ssake,inwhichtheLieutenantandhiscaptivegrappledandstruggledwithfury,toreeachother\'shair,andatlengthdrewdaggers,andwereonlyseparatedbyforce。TheQueenbeinginformedofthissceneexhibitedbyherfranticadorer,itwrought,aswastobeexpected,muchinfavourofthecaptivePaladin。ThereislittledoubtthathisquarrelwiththeLieutenantwasentirelycontrivedforthepurposewhichitproduced。
*
Note6。Ch。XVII。——ROBERTLANEHAM。
LittleisknownofRobertLaneham,saveinhiscuriouslettertoafriendinLondon,givinganaccountofQueenElizabeth\'sentertainmentsatKenilworth,writteninastyleofthemostintolerableaffectation,bothinpointofcompositionandorthography。HedescribeshimselfasaBONVIVANT,whowaswonttobejollyanddryinthemorning,andbyhisgood—willwouldbechieflyinthecompanyoftheladies。Hewas,bytheinterestofLordLeicester,ClerkoftheCouncilChamberdoor,andalsokeeperofthesame。\"WhenCouncilsits,\"sayshe,\"Iamathand。
Ifanymakesababbling,PEACE,sayI。IfIseealistenerorapryerinatthechinksorlockhole,Iampresentlyonthebonesofhim。Ifafriendcomes,Imakehimsitdownbymeonaformorchest。Therestmaywalk,aGod\'sname!\"Therehasbeenseldomabetterportraitofthepragmaticconceitandself—
importanceofasmallmaninoffice。
*
Note7。Ch。XVIII。——DR。JULIO。
TheEarlofLeicester\'sItalianphysician,Julio,wasaffirmedbyhiscontemporariestobeaskilfulcompounderofpoisons,whichheappliedwithsuchfrequency,thattheJesuitParsonsextolsironicallythemarvellousgoodluckofthisgreatfavouriteintheopportunedeathsofthosewhostoodinthewayofhiswishes。
Thereisacuriouspassageonthesubject:——
\"Longafterthis,hefellinlovewiththeLadySheffield,whomI
signifiedbefore,andthenalsohadhethesamefortunetohaveherhusbanddyequickly,withanextreamerheumeinhishead(asitwasgivenout),butasotherssay,ofanartificiallcatarrethatstoppedhisbreath。
\"ThelikegoodchancehadheinthedeathofmyLordofEssex(asIhavesaidbefore),andthatatatimemostfortunateforhispurpose;forwhenhewascominghomefromIreland,withintenttorevengehimselfeuponmyLordofLeicesterforbegettinghiswifewithchildeinhisabsence(thechildewasadaughter,andbroughtupbytheLadyShandoes,W。Knooles,hiswife),myLordofLeicesterhearingthereof,wantednotafriendortwotoaccompanythedeputy,asamongotheracoupleoftheEarlesownservants,Crompton(ifImissenothisname),yeomanofhisbottles,andLloidhissecretary,entertainedafterwardbymyLordofLeicester,andsohedyedinthewayofanextreameflux,causedbyanItalianreceipe,asallhisfriendsarewellassured,themakerwhereofwasachyrurgeon(asitisbeleeved)
thatthenwasnewlycometomyLordfromItaly———acunningmanandsureinoperation,withwhom,ifthegoodLadyhadbeensooneracquainted,andusedhishelp,sheshouldnothaveneededtosittensopensiveathome,andfearefullofherhusband\'sformerreturneoutofthesamecountry……Neithermustyoumarvailethoughallthesediedindiversmannersofoutwarddiseases,forthisistheexcellencyoftheItalianart,forwhichthischyrurgeonandDr。Juliowereentertainedsocarefully,whocanmakeamandyeinwhatmannerorshowofsicknessyouwill——bywhoseinstructions,nodoubt;buthislordshipisnowcunning,especiallyaddingalsotothesethecounsellofhisDoctorBayly,amanalsonotalittlestudied(asheseemeth)inhisart;forIheardhimoncemyselfe,inapubliqueactinOxford,andthatinpresenceofmyLordofLeicester(ifIbenotdeceived),maintainthatpoysonmightbesotemperedandgivenasitshouldnotappearpresently,andyetshouldkillthepartyafterward,atwhattimeshouldbeappointed;whichargumentbelikepleasedwellhislordship,andthereforewaschosentobediscussedinhisaudience,ifIbenotdeceivedofhisbeingthatdaypresent。So,thoughonedyeofaflux,andanotherofacatarre,yetthisimportethlittletothematter,butshowethratherthegreatcunningandskilloftheartificer。\"——PARSONS\'LEICESTER\'SCOMMONWEALTH,p。23。
ItisunnecessarytostatethenumerousreasonswhytheEarlisstatedinthetaletoberatherthedupeofvillainsthantheunprincipledauthoroftheiratrocities。Inthelattercapacity,whichapartatleastofhiscontemporariesimputedtohim,hewouldhavemadeacharactertoodisgustinglywickedtobeusefulforthepurposesoffiction。
Ihaveonlytoaddthattheunionofthepoisoner,thequacksalver,thealchemist,andtheastrologerinthesamepersonwasfamiliartothepretenderstothemysticsciences。
*
Note8。Ch。XXXII。——FURNITUREOFKENILWORTH。
Inrevisingthiswork,IhavehadthemeansofmakingsomeaccurateadditionstomyattempttodescribetheprincelypleasuresofKenilworth,bythekindnessofmyfriendWilliamHamper,Esq。,whohadthegoodnesstocommunicatetomeaninventoryofthefurnitureofKenilworthinthedaysofthemagnificentEarlofLeicester。Ihaveadornedthetextwithsomeofthesplendidarticlesmentionedintheinventory,butantiquariesespeciallywillbedesiroustoseeamorefullspecimenthanthestoryleavesroomfor。
EXTRACTSFROMKENILWORTHINVENTORY,A。D。1584。
ASalte,ship—fashion,ofthemotherofperle,garnishedwithsilveranddiversworkes,warlikeensignes,andornaments,withxvjpeecesofordinancewhereofijonwheles,twoanckersontheforeparte,andonthestearnetheimageofDameFortunestandingonaglobewithaflaginherhand。Poisxxxijoz。
Agiltesaltelikeaswann,motherofperle。Poisxxxoz。iijquarters。
AGeorgeonhorseback,ofwood,paintedandgilt,withacaseforknivesinthetayleofthehorse,andacaseforoysterknivesinthebrestoftheDragon。
Agreenbarge—cloth,embrother\'dwithwhitelionsandbeares。
Aperfumingpann,ofsilver。Poisxixoz。
Inthehalle。Tabells,longandshort,vj。Formes,longandshort,xiiij。
HANGINGS。
(Theseareminutelyspecified,andconsistedofthefollowingsubjects,intapestry,andgilt,andredleather。)
Flowers,beasts,andpillarsarched。Forestworke。Historie。
StorieofSusanna,theProdigallChilde,Saule,Tobie,Hercules,LadyFame,HawkingandHunting,Jezabell,JudithandHolofernes,David,Abraham,Sampson,Hippolitus,AlexandertheGreat,NaamantheAssyrian,Jacob,etc。
BEDSTEADS,WITHTHEIRFURNITURE。
(Thesearemagnificentandnumerous。IshallcopyVERBATIMthedescriptionofwhatappearstohavebeenoneofthebest。)
Abedstedofwallnut—tree,toppefashion,thepillersreddandvarnished,theceelor,tester,andsinglevallanceofcrimsonsattin,panedwithabroadborderofbonelaceofgoldeandsilver。ThetesterrichlieembrotheredwithmyLo。armesinagarlandofhoppes,roses,andpomegranetts,andlynedwithbuckerom。Fyvecurteinsofcrimsonsattintothesamebedsted,stripeddownewithabonelaceofgoldandsilver,garnishedwithbuttonsandloopsofcrimsonsilkandgolde,containingxiiijbredthsofsattin,andoneyardeiijquartersdeepe。Theceelor,vallance,andcurteinslynedwithcrymsontaffatasarsenet。
Acrymsonsattincounterpointe,quiltedandembr。withagoldetwiste,andlynedwithreddsarsenet,beinginlengthiijyardsgood,andinbreadthiijscant。
Achaiseofcrymsonsattin,suteable。
Afayrequilteofcrymsonsattin,vjbreadths,iijyardes3
quartersnailedeepe,alllozengedoverwithsilvertwiste,inthemidstacinquefoilewithinagarlandofraggedstaves,fringedroundeaboutewithasmallfringeofcrymsonsilke,lynedthroughewithwhitefustian。
Fyveplumesofcooleredfeathers,garnishedwithbonelaceandspangellsofgouldeandsilver,standingincupsknittalloverwithgoulde,silver,andcrymsonsilk。[Probablyonthecentreandfourcornersofthebedstead。Fourbearsandraggedstavesoccupiedasimilarpositiononanotherofthesesumptuouspiecesoffurniture。]
Acarpettforacupboardeofcrymsonsattin,embrotheredwithaborderofgouldetwiste,aboutiijpartsofitfringedwithsilkandgoulde,lynedwithbridges[Thatis,Bruges。]sattin,inlengthijyards,andijbredthsofsattin。
(Therewereelevendownbedsandninetyfeatherbeds,besidesthirty—sevenmattresses。)
CHYRES,STOOLES,ANDCUSHENS。
(Thesewereequallysplendidwiththebeds,etc。Ishallherecopythatwhichstandsattheheadofthelist。)
Achaierofcrimsonvelvet,theseateandbackepartlieembrothered,withR。L。inclothofgoulde,thebeareandraggedstaffeinclotheofsilver,garnishedwithlaceandfringeofgoulde,silver,andcrimsonsilck。Theframecoveredwithvelvet,boundeaboutetheedgewithgouldelace,andstuddedwithgiltenailes。
Asquarestooleandafootestoole,ofcrimsonvelvet,fringedandgarnishedsuteable。
Alongcushenofcrimsonvelvet,embr。withtheraggedstaffeinawreatheofgoulde,withmyLo。posie\"DROYTEETLOYALL\"writteninthesame,andthelettersR。L。inclotheofgoulde,beinggarnishedwithlace,fringe,buttons,andtasselsofgold,silver,andcrimsonsilck,lynedwithcrimsontaff。,beinginlength1yardquarter。
Asquarecushen,ofthelikevelvet,embr。suteabletothelongcushen。
CARPETS。
(Therewere10velvetcarpetsfortablesandwindows,49Turkeycarpetsforfloors,and32clothcarpets。OneofeachIwillnowspecify。)
Acarpettofcrimsonvelvet,richlieembr。withmyLo。posie,bearesandraggedstaves,etc。,ofclotheofgouldeandsilver,garnishedupontheseamesandaboutewithgoldelace,fringedaccordinglie,lynedwithcrimsontaffatasarsenett,being3
breadthsofvelvet,oneyard3quarterslong。
AgreatTurquoycarpett,thegroundeblew,withalistofyelloeateachend,beinginlengthxyards,inbredtheiiijyardsandquarterAlongcarpettofblewclothe,lynedwithbridgessattin,fringedwithblewsilckandgoulde,inlengthvjyardslackaquarter,thewholebredthoftheclothe。
PICTURES。
(Chieflydescribedashavingcurtains。)
TheQueene\'sMajestie(2greattables)。3ofmyLord。St。
Jerome。Lo。ofArundell。LordMathevers。LordofPembroke。
CounteEgmondt。TheQueeneofScotts。KingPhilip。TheBaker\'sDaughters。TheDukeofFeria。AlexanderMagnus。TwoYongeLadies。PompaeaSabina。Fred。D。ofSaxony。Emp。Charles。
K。Philip\'sWife。PrinceofOrangeandhisWife。Marq。ofBergesandhisWife。CountedeHome。CountHolstrate。Monsr。
Brederode。DukeAlva。CardinalGrandville。DuchesofParma。
HenrieE。ofPembrookeandhisyoungCountess。CountisofEssex。
OccacionandRepentance。LordMowntacute。SirJas。Crofts。SirWr。Mildmay。Sr。Wm。Pickering。EdwinAbp。ofYork。
Atabellofanhistorieofmen,women,andchildren,mouldeninwax。
Alittlefouldingtableofebanie,garnishedwithwhitebone,whereinarewrittenverseswithlres。ofgoulde。
AtableofmyLord\'sarmes。
Fyveoftheplannetts,paintedinframes。
Twentie—threecardes,[Thatischarts。]ormapsofcountries。
INSTRUMENTS。
(Ishallgivetwospecimens。)
Aninstrumentoforgans,regall,andvirginalls,coveredwithcrimsonvelvet,andgarnishedwithgouldelace。
Afairpairofdoublevirginalls。
CABONETTS。
Acabonettofcrimsonsattin,richlieembr。withadeviceofhuntingthestagg,ingoulde,silver,andsilck,withiiijglassesinthetoppthereof,xvjcuppsofflowersmadeofgoulde,silver,andsilck,inacaseofleather,lynedwithgreenesattinofbridges。
(Anotherofpurplevelvet。Adeskofredleather。)
ACHESSBOARDEofebanie,withcheckarsofchristallandotherstones,layedwithsilver,garnishedwithbearesandraggedstaves,andcinquefoilesofsilver。Thexxxijmenlikewyseofchristallandotherstonessett,theonesortinsilverwhite,theothergilte,inacasegildedandlynedwithgreencotton。
(Anotherofboneandebanie。Apairoftabellsofbone。)
AgreatBRASONCANDLESTICKtohangintheroofeofthehowse,veriefayerandcuriouslyewrought,withxxiiijbranches,xijgreateandxijoflessersize,6rowlersandijwingsforthespreadeeagle,xxiiijsockettsforcandells,xijgreaterandxijofalessersorte,xxiiijsawcers,orcandlecups,oflikeproporciontoputunderthesocketts,iijimagesofmenandiijofweomen,ofbrass,veriefinelyandartificialliedone。
ThesespecimensofLeicester\'smagnificencemayservetoassurethereaderthatitscarcelayinthepowerofamodernauthortoexaggeratethelavishstyleofexpensedisplayedintheprincelypleasuresofKenilworth。
*
NotetoCh。XLI。——DEATHOFTHEEARLOFLEICESTER。
InacuriousmanuscriptcopyoftheinformationgivenbyBenJonsontoDrummondofHawthornden,astranscribedbySirRobertSibbald,Leicester\'sdeathisascribedtopoisonadministeredasacordialbyhiscountess,towhomhehadgivenit,representingittobearestorativeinanyfaintness,inthehopethatsheherselfmightbecutoffbyusingit。WehavealreadyquotedJonson\'saccountofthismeritedstrokeofretributioninanoteoftheIntroductiontothisvolume。ItmaybehereaddedthatthefollowingsatiricalepitaphonLeicesteroccursinDrummond\'sCollection,butisevidentlynotofhiscomposition:——
EPITAPHONTHEERLEOFLEISTER。
Hereliesavaliantwarriour,Whoneverdrewasword;
Hereliesanoblecourtier,Whoneverkepthisword;
HereliestheErleofLeister,WhogovernedtheEstates,Whomtheearthcouldneverlivinglove,AndthejustHeavennowhates。