68 THE WREKIN FOREST 



Leicester ; and, what is still more to our purpose, 

 tliat lie completely clears tlie character of Anthony 

 Forster, who was supposed to have been the agent 

 in the foul deed, of the imputation, and shows him 

 to have been quite a different character to that 

 represented by this distinguished writer. This, 

 indeed, may be inferred from the fact that Anthony 

 Forster not only enjoyed the confidence of his 

 neighbours, but so grew in favour with the people of 

 Abingdon that he acceded in 1570 to the representa- 

 tion of that borough, and continued to represent it 

 till he died ; also, from the inscription on his tomb, 

 which is as follows : — 



" Anthonius Forster, generis generosa propago, 

 Cumnerae Dominus Barcheriensis 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 pra^cellens, corpore promptus ; 

 Eloquii duleis, ore disertus erat. 

 In factis probitas fuit, in sermonte venustas, 

 In vultu gravitas, religione fides ; 

 In patriam pietas, in egenos grata voluntas, 

 Accedunt reliquis annumeranda bonis : 

 Sic quod cuncta rapit, rapuit non omnia Lethum, 

 Sed quae Mors rapuit, vivida fama dedit." 



Then follow these laudatory verses : — 



