envy towards her husband even untill this time makes her repaire unto Mistris Turner a Gentlewoman that from her youth had been given over to a loose kind of life being of a low stature faire visage for outward behaviour comely but in prodigality and excesse most riotous by which course of life shee had consumed the greatest part of her husbands meanes and her owne so that now wanting wherewith to fulfill her expectations and extreme pride falls into evill courses as to the prostitution of her body to common lust to practise sorcery and inchantments and to many little lesse then a flat Bawd her husband dying left her in a desperate estate because of her wants by which meanes shee is made apt to enter into any evill accord and to entertaine any evill motion bee it never so facinerous A Doctors wife who was during his life her Physitian and in that time shee having entertained into her company his said wife by that meanes procured further acquaintance being neere of the said disposition and temperature as Pares cum paribus facile congregantur from thence it happened that shee was suspected even by her meanes and procurement before this to have lived a loose life for who can touch pitch and not be defiled I say having some familiarity with this woman and now taking some discontent at her husband more than heretofore by reason of her falling out with him and his sharpe answers as he conceives to her repaires to her house and there amongst other discourses disgorges her selfe against her husband whereby the cause of her griefe might easily be perceived Mistris Turner as feeling part of her paine pities her and in hope of profit being now in necessity and want is easily drawne to effect any thing that shee requires whereupon by the report of some it was concluded at this time betweene them to administer poison to the Earle but not taking effect according to their expectation the Countesse writes unto her to this purpose Sweet Turner as thou hast been hitherto so art thou all my hopes of good in this world My Lord is as lusty as ever he was and hath complained to my brother Howard that hee hath not layne with mee nor used mee as his wife This makes mee mad since of all men I loath him because he is the onely obstacle and hinderance that I shall never enjoy him whom I love The Earle having overpast this evill and continuing still in his prestine estate procured not any affection but more hatred and loathsomnesse so that it burst forth daily to my Lords great discontent and drawes her headlong into her owne distraction Sir Robert Carre made Viscount Rochester the acquaintance betweene my Lord of Northampton and him the new affection of the Countesse THe King taking great liking to this young Gentleman to the intent that he might be no lesse eminent in honour then hee was powerfull in wealth and substance adornes him with the title of Viscount Rochester bestowes the Secretariship of State upon him so that his honour and his wealth makes him famous to forraign Nations These things comming to my Lord of Northamptons ears having been a long time Favorite in Court and now growne into yeares and by reason thereof knowing the favour of the King to depend upon many incertainties and although at this time he was the greater actor in State affaires yet if this young man continued his height of glory all his dignity would either be abated or overshadowed and that he had not that free accesse to the Kings eares which he had wont to have endevoureth as much as in him lyeth to make this Courtier either to be wholly his or dependent upon his favour that so having relation to him hee might make use of his greatnesse And for this purpose he begins to applaud the wisdom and government of the Viscount his vertues outward Courtship comely carriage and to conclude holding him a man of no lesse worth and desert then any about the King neither were these things spoken to private or particular persons alone but even in the eares of the King to the intent to confirme the Kings favour towards him These things coming to this gentlemans eares takes it as a great favour from so great a personage and therefore so much the more admires his owne worth raising his carriage above his wonted course and in hope of better things applauding every action is performed by the Earle by which meanes there growes a kind of community betweeme them and there wants nothing but entercourse of speech for confirmance of acquaintance and procuring further relation either to other Time offers opportunity the Earle and he meets each changeth acquaintance with acquaintance of greater familiarity so that many times letters passed betweene them in their absence and courtly discourses being present by which meanes on all hands a confident amity is concluded In these times the Countesse of Essex being a spectator of those and perceiving this Viscount to be still raised up unto honours dayly in hope of greater is the more fired with a lustfull desire and the greater is her indeavours by the instigation of some of her friends to accomplish what shee determined for greatnesse doth not quallifie but set an edge upon lustfull appetites and where the most meanes are to maintaine it there the greater affections are cherished The course shee takes to procure affection shee combines with Doctor Forman they conclude to bewitch the Viscount IN these furious fits shee makes her repaire to Mistris Turner and begins a new complaint whereby shee makes manifest an extraordinary affection towards this yong gentleman so that shee could not rest without his company neither knew shee any means to attaine her ends there being no relation nor acquaintance betweene them whereupon Mistris Turner being still her second and ready to put any evill attempt into execution concludes with the Countesse to inchant the Viscount to affect her And for this purpose they fall acquainted with one Doctor Forman that dwelt at Lambeth being an ancient Gentleman and thought to have skill in the Magick Art This man by rewards and gifts was won to joyne with Mistris Turner who now to the intent to prey upon the Countesse endeavour the best they may to enchant the Viscounts affection towards her Much time is spent many words of witchcraft great cost in making Pictures of wax crosses of silver little babies for that use yet all to small purpose At length they continuing in their Sorcery advised her to live at Court where shee had free accesse without controule though of small acquaintance with him whom shee most respected neverthelesse shewing an affâ—ble countenance towards him hoping in processe of time to attaine that shee required Time offers opportunity and amongst other at length these two fall into league the Countesse being joyfull of her prey admires him uses all kindnesse that may be to intrap him He whether by these inchantments or by
be consummated betweene the Countesse and Rochester that so being tyed in this bond of matrimony and joyned in affinity with my Lord of Northampton more trust might be had in him and better use might be made of his Honour and greatnesse Now there is none to support him no man to disswade him his loosenesse with the Countesse gaules his conscience and that it might be the more offensive to him and make him the willinger to consent unto this motion he is still prest with it and that it is both unfit and unseemely whereas on the otherside if they marry it will be both lawfull honourable and commendable and the eares of the vulgar will be then stopt and none dares bee so bold as to touch it This carries shew of truth so that what with his former affection what with his present offence that he conceives at these courses concludes the marriage Times are appointed to conferre how impediments might be avoyded and what should be fitting to be dome in this behalfe How the Lieutenant came acquainted with the businesse Encouraged to persist by Northampton Rewards promised him Be examined Sir Thomas to find out his affection Most thinke of Religion Some think towards the Countesse IT is now high time to enter into this action and the Countesse meanes to be the first and for this purpose shee went and got a glasse of blew water some two inches long this being wrapped in a paper shee delivers to Westons sonne with instructions that he should go to the Tower and deliver it to his father he doth so who having his matter aforehand put into his head at supper time takes the same in one hand and part of Sir Thomas Overburies supper in the other hand and who should he meet withall but Sir Iarvace Yeluis the Lieutenant So he demanded of him with a kind of caution whether he should give it him now the Lievtenant stopt and asked him what to which Weston answered Sir you know what is to be done This made him stand in a maze and doubt the worst whereupon he cals Weston into examination and makes him confesse all his intention from what grounds and of whom he received it and partly the cause of it he now being made a slave unto greatnesse and having laid out much mony to purchase his place for feare to lose the one and to offend the other lets Weston go with this caution to omit it for that time whereas a wise man rather then he would have run himselfe headlong into perdition would have discovered and have made them a meanes to have manifested his faithfulnesse in his office But what shall we say to a man lost The next day he is sent for to the Lord of Northampton These after many long and large discourses at length the Earle discloses to him his intention concerning Overbury and with those things mingles many of his insolencies First of his obstinacie against the Viscount his insolencie against the Countesse his opposition almost against all good men and that for the causes of such a thing happened there being none to look after him it would passe unregarded or unrespected but withall gives him many cautions how he should manage himselfe in the businesse letting him understand what manner of man he was a Scholler and one that had an excellent tongue and wit a Traveller experienced in the course of the world and besides that favoured the contrary Faction and as great a Polititian as any was this day in England therefore in regard he ought to be the more wary both who came to him and who went from him and above all that no Letters passe to and fro These and many other such like speeches having past betweene them for the Earle was two houres by his owne confesâ—ion prompted him with cautions and considerations that he might be the readier to act his part in this adventure he was to deale in Lastly he concludes that above all he should insinuate with him to see how he stood affected to these proceedings and what words he uttered from a heart full of thirst with griefe and sorrow must either speake or burst and his service and diligence herein shall be rewarded with a thousand pounds Whether it was the greedinesse of the reward or the foolish desire he had to give content to the Earle and Viscount they being his only Favourers or some other hope still unknowne but he by this meanes is brought to his owne destruction and so gives consent to conceale that which was intended At his comming back he repaires to Sir Thomas Overbury under pretence to comfort him in his sorrow and adviseth him to be more lightsome and not to consume himselfe with griefe by this meanes entring into further discourse secretly insinuates into his intentions Sir Thomas having a good opinion of him and supposing all was done out of faith and honesty towards him having by this meanes learned what he could of him writes unto the Lord of Northampton a Letter to this effect MY especiall good Lord having undertooke my Prisoner according to your instructions after long silence as standing betweene hope and fear he takes his Bible and after he had read upon it and by it protested his innocencie after upon further conference concerning the Countesse he said that he had justified her already and that hee could doe no more then what he had done But for himselfe alas quoth he what will they doe with mee I answered so reason you as you shall make no question hereafter of your purenesse and I left him in some sense to worke upon him As I was going he concluded that in the generality shee was so worthy that shee might be a wife in particular â—or my Lord of Rochester he would not say it lest my Lord should condemne him for weighing his worth At my next comming to him I found him not in sense but fury He let fly at you but was respective to my Lord of Rochester whose part hee taketh altogether I see the event I desire it may be safely covered what my service may doe you in this or any thing else I will be faithfull to your Lordship and so I rest Jervace Yeluis These and many other things being inserted into this Letter was sent unto the Earle which he read and in reading laughs and smiles at the simplicity of the one and ignorance of the other neverthelesse in outward appearance hee applauds all the actions of Sir Iervace but especially to my Lord of Rochester holding him both a discreet and wise man and that his secrecie and honest dealing in this imployment deserves everlasting praises with after ages More Poysons are sent from the Countesse Sir Thomas Monson is suspected to have a hand in the businesse Overbury growes sickly Iealous of his dyet No accesse is suffered to him WEston having received 24l of his allowance and yet neverthelesse nothing accomplished according to the Countesse her expectation is checkt by Mistris
desperate words that were uttered concerning Overburie's death whereupon finding the King in a good humour he moves him to this effect That whereas it had pleased His Majesty to commit many things into his charge and some of them proving something too waighty for him to undergoe it was so that ignorantly he run himselfe into a Praemunire whereby he had forfeited to him both his lands goods and libertie and that he came now to surrender them all up into His Majesties hands unlesse it pleased him of his wonted favour towards him to grant him pardon for that and many other offences that he had ignorantly committed The King still bearing a good affection towards him bid him draw his pardon and he would signe it whereupon he makes his repaire to Sir Robert Cotton and entreats him to looke him a pardon the largest he could find in former presidents so he brings him one that was made by the Pope to Cardinall Woolsey The effect of which was That the King of his meere motion and speciall favour did pardon all and all manner of Treasons misprisions of Treason Murders Felonies and outrages whatsoever by the said Sir Robert Carre Earle of Somerset committed or hereafter to be committed with many other words to make it more ample and large according to forme which he caused to be drawne and ingrossed and brought it into the King The King signed it at length it comes to my Lord Chancellor's hand he peruses it and refuseth to let it passe the Seale My Lord askes the reason answer was made That he could not justifie the doing of it but that he should incurre a praemunire as well as himselfe This struck Somerset to the heart and now he was in greater doubt then ever he was before for still he is stung with feare to be touched with Overburies death and so very pensively retires to White-hall and there remaines The King coming to London my Lord Chancellor acquainted him with the Pardon and shewed the King what danger he had incurred in case he had sealed it The King perceiving the truth of the businesse suspecting some greater matter then he knew of withdrawes his countenance from Somerset who now wanting vertue to support his greatnesse without the Kings favour falls into the contempt of many and those that are his enemies neglect him and doe as it were deride his manner of carriage by which meanes he runnes headlong into his owne perdition as shall be hereafter shewed My Lord Chancellour sued in the Star-thamber for being within the compasse of a Premunire The King goes to Cambridge A breach about Ignoramus My Lord Coke stands against my Lord Chancellor The King graces Sir George Villers Bestowes great honours upon him Somersets courses to conceale Overburies death His covetousnesse His insolencie He is crost by Villers The report of the vulgar IN this yeare 1614 the King by the entreaty of Somerset determined to go to Cambridge and there was entertained with great solemnity but amongst the rest there was a Play called by the name of Ignoramus that stirred up a great contention betweene the common Lawyers and the Schollers in so much as their flouts grew unsufferable but at last it was stayed by my Lord Chancellour and the explaining of the meaning About this time it happened that divers Citizens having recovered certaine summes of money in the Kings Bench and thereof having had Judgement against the party Defendant neverthelesse exhibites his Bill into the Chancery to have reliefe of the Plaintiffes at the Common-law having already had Judgement of the same matter there stands out and disobeyes the Kings Processe whereupon a Writ of Contempt issues against them they are taken committed to the Fleet and there continue in their obstinacy neverthelesse not long after upon some advice they exhibit their Bill into the Star-chamber against my Lord intending that hee ought not to intermeddle with any matter that were already determined at the Common-law and whereof a Judgement had been passed And this was ordained by the Statute of 4. H. 4. cap. 23â— whereby it was enacted that Judgement given in the Kings Court shall not be examined in Chancery Parliament or else-where untill it bee undone by attaint or errour c. Now my Lord having laid them fast up upon a Bill exhibited before him and Judgement being already given that therefore my Lord had incurred a Premunire and humbly prayed reliefe in this case Many were the opinions of Lawyers concerning this matter some stood on my Lord Chancellors side some said the poore men had injury and that they might justifie what they had done and amongst many my Lord Coke stood out very stiffely that my Lord Chancellor could not justifie that action And thus it stood still in question whether my Lord be in a Premunire or no My Lord of Somerset continuing still in his loose courses and utterly neglecting that severity that ought to be in a man of his place besides the former suspitions and jealousies gives occasion of others also whereby the King doth more and more fall into dislike There being at this time about the Court a young Gentleman that not long before had arrived from Travels out of France his name was Villers a Leicester-shire Gentleman and of an ancient House who as well in respect of carriage as of his countenance was more remarkable then many others On this man the King casts a particular affection holding him to be the onely properest and best deserving Gentlemen of England whereupon he entertained him into favour bestowes a thousand pound upon him after adornes him with the title of Knighthood And now he begins to grow every day more eminent then other greater honours are bestowed upon him as the dignitie to be Knight of the Garter and Master of the Horse places not common to every person and so much the more remarkable because they are bestowed upon him being so yong in yeares his wisdome is commended of the wisest and his expectations greater then many that went before him This stings Somerset to the heart to see another step to his place he more feares his subversion and downfall wherefore hee goes about to circumvent danger and for this purpose sends into France to make away the Apothecary that administred the Phisicke that killed Sir Thomas endeavouring to get in all Letters and writings that had past concerning the businesse and disgracing and discountenancing all such as at any time once spake of the death of Overbury to the intent that it might be concealed and kept close but what God will have disclosed shâ—ll never be concealed messengers are sent from place to place he being a Privie Councellor and in favour his Warrant passes currant so that in all places Truncks Chests Boxes Studies Daries and such houses wherein he suspected any Letters or other matters that appertained to that mischief lay hid were broken open and seâ—rched to the intent that they might bring some writings to my Lord yet
the lightnesse of his owne disposition carried is as much besotted numbring her amongst the best women and doubling every action in his estimation in so much that hee could scarce rest but in her company whereupon their meetings grew frequent and discourses pleasant by these meanes inflaming the fire of a lustfull appetite These things having happened so well to her expectation causes a greet love towards these good couple viz. Doctor Forman and Mistris Turner solliciting them with Letters with money and large promises to continue still their friend they willing to make use of their wealth more then expecting any good they could accomplish by their Art persist amongst her imployments Mistris Turner makes triall for her selfe by which meanes many sleights and accustomed tricks are practised and now reported to returne to the hurt of many for a womans hands being once entred into the act of sinne runs head-long to her destruction turning those evill acts to evill ends and endeavouring to purchase by that means profit and commoditie How it was thought the Earle of Northampton had a hand in the businesse Invites the Viscount to supper The Countesse and he meets places of meetings are appointed The Earle made Chancellor of Cambridge IT was vulgarly opinionated that the Countesse of Essex having sustained these discontents with her husband acquainted her Uncle the Earle of Northampton of her affection especially towards the Viscount who weighing the profit that might redound to his owne imployments if there were such affinity had between them â—eemed to give a liking towards it and endeavoured rather to further it then at all to disswade her or giving her that honest and good counsell to be dutifull to her husband as was fitting Howsoever the first meeting that they had wherein there was any conference was at the Earles house who invited the Viscount to supper and there finding the Countesse they at their pleasure appointed meetings for further discourses But whether there was any one made privie to these things it is not evident But from this time the Countesse and Viscount continued their loose kind of life and as was commonly suspected had further relation then was fitting to the great disparagement of them both and dishonour of so noble a House what the issue of these things are continue in obscurity notwithstanding the Earle of Northampton is much blamed the Countesse defamed and the Viscount himselfe for his loosenesse suspected Now was this Lord propounded at the Regent house to be Chancellor of Cambridge the Schollers fall into divers opinions and the Ramists propound the Prince to oppose him this election passed of the Earles side he refuses but still flatters the Schollers makes the King acquainted with it though willing to undertake it yet shewing an unwillingnesse endeavoured rather to be urged to it then receive it voluntarily this was imputed because of his oppose to the Prince but the truth was to perceive whether the Schollers affections were setled upon love and respect unto himselfe or meerely to depend upon his greatnesse The King writes in his behalfe to the Vicechancellor They proceed to the new election the Earle againe is chosen his title sent him and he in requitall sends many and plausive Letters and that they might be the more acceptable being sent to Schollers wrote to them in Latine it is intollerable the flattery that he used Overbury growes into grace with the King is made Knight The entercourse betweene the Countesse and the Viscount made knowne to Overbury AFter some continuance of time Master Overbury growes eminent in Court as well by reason of the Viscounts favour as the good and carefull diligence that he had in Court employments so that now comparing his worth with his wealth he is had in more respect and the honour of Knight-hood bestowed upon him with the hope of better things this howsoever in it selfe it be not valuable yet in speculators it striketh a doubt especially in the Viscount for soveraignty and love can abide no Paragon Things that at the beginning proceed with modesty are little or nothing regarded But when men grow old in such things that are hatefull they make every place alike with a blushlesse face committing them to the open view By this meanes Overbury came acquainted with this entercourse betweene the Viscount and the Countesse for now they having had some time of familiarity and entercourse in remote parts shame not to commit the sin of venery in the Court and that to the privity of Sir Thomas who both loathes and hates what he sees avoiding rather then intruding himselfe to the knowledge of it neither meddles hee any way or other with it but lets them alone in their vicious courses and rather seemes to be ignorant then take any notice of it Neverthelesse hee is employed to carry Letters to and againe between the Countesse and the Viscount some to Paternoster-row some to Hammersmith and others to other places of meeting which were appointed betweene them by which meanes comparing both actions together he entred into the secrets of this mystery and became acquainted with more things then the Viscount would have had him from whence a kind of jealousie was carried towards him Of the second complaint of the Earle of Essex The Countesse combines with Turner to bewitch himâ— it taketh effect Formans death One Gresham is entertained into the businesse NOw the Earle of Essex perceiving himselfe to be rather lesse regarded then any whit at all esteemed enters into a new discourse with his Lady with many protestations both of his constancie and love towards her but with all tells her oâ— her loosenesse of the report of the vulgar and what a strange course of life shee led contrary to all piety and honesty which stung the Countesse to the heart and more encreased and augmented her mâ—lice towards him so that in a great fury shee takes her coach and repairs to her ancient acquaintance Mistris Turner who according to her old custome is ready to performe any evill act and there they combine to bewitch the Earle and procure frigidity quoad hanc for this purpose Doctor Forman for the procuring of meanes pictures in wax are mâ—de crosses and many strange and uncoth things for what will the devill leave unattempted to accomplish their ends many attempts failed and still the Earle stood it out At last they framed a picture of wax and got a thorne from a tree that bare leaves and stucke upon the privity of the said picture by which meanes they accomplished their desires This being done according to her expectation shee repaires to her house at Chartley and thither the Earle comes to her but whether he was more lusty then shee expected or what other accident happened it is unknowne neverthelesse shee grew jealous of her art and falls into a great feare that all their labour was lost wherupon shee writ a Letter to Doctor Forman to this effect Sweet Father although I have found
him and so by their countenance he might use the greater liberty For this cause he made the Earle of Northampton and Rochester the whole end of his actions fearing more to displeasâ— them then the King A fit man for their purpose The Countesse repaires to Mistris Turner to enquire a man out for her makes complaint of Overburies insolencie discloses her determinâ—tions Weston is nominated IN the meane time the Countesse thought it not enough to heare nor to fret and fume nor perswade and intreat my Lord to undertake this dangerous enterprise but to Mistris Turner shee must go and there renue her complaints with teares hardly found in a woman of her disposition protesting shee was never so defamed neither did shee ever thinke that any man durst to be so saucie as to call her whore and base woman and that to Rochester her only hopes and with an impudent face But Overbury that Negro that scumme of men that Devill incarnate he might doe any thing and passe either unregarded or unpunished This moves pity in this pitifull woman Mistris Turner who frets as fast to see her fret so that there is storming betweene them as is incredible At length as wee see two clouds after long strife in the ayre which shall have the priority in place joyne in one so these two women after they had fulfilled their frantick humor joyne in this to be the death of him that must be the end there is no malice to the malice of a woman no submission no intreaty no perswasion could prevaile but he must dye Mistris Turner soothes her with I that shee â—ould and it is pity he should live to defame so honourable a Lady so well descended to the utter disparagement of her house and that rather then he should passe with life shee would be his deaths-man her selfe words of course in such cases where people are carried away with heady malice not with reason Yet for all this coming to their right sences they begin to weigh the matter and that it was no small thing to kill a man both in respect of conscience and law Theâ—efore they cast about which should be the best way to doe it at lasâ— they conclude that to poyson him was the only way and that with leâ—â—t suspect But then the partie that should doe it was to seeke for he must be no ordinary man some Apothecarie or Physitian that might temper the poyson rightly to take effect according to tâ—eir minde and of long study one Weston was named that had sometime beene servant to Doctor Turner and thereby learned such experience that none was so fitting to accomplish this exploit to him This man now in the countrey must be sent for Mistris Turner must worke upon him to bring him to this exploit for things of this nature must be carried with wisdome and discretion for who will hazard his life for had I wist Two hundred pounds is proffered him and he of all men undertakes it Overburies great favour The motion of the Councell to send him Embassadour to the Arch-duke He contemplates of it Is perswaded by my Lord Viscount to refuse it THese things notwithstanding Overbury still growes into favour and the Councell still finding his diligence and sufficiency in his place nominates him as a man fit to be sent Embassadour into the Low-countries to the Arch-duke making that a meanes to draw him up to great preferments This comes to Overburies eare who knowing my Lord of Northampton to be his utter enemy growing jealous of Rochester begins to contemplate what the meaning of this might be thus betweene hope and feare he stands at a maze To refuse would be to his great disgrace to undertake it would be to the losse of his preferment standing in these doubts the Viscount after thus many jangles comes to him and salutes him and after many discourses falls into speech of the intention of the Councell concerning this Embassage not so much to assist and encourage him to it as to see how he stood affected whereupon finding him hammering upon his determinations not being certainly determined to any thing joynes with him and utterly diswades him from undertaking it For quoth he your preferments and your expectations lyes not among forraigne nations you are now in creâ—it at home and have already made tryall of the dangers of travaile why then should you hazard all upon uncertainties being in possession as a man might say of all that you may expect by by this meanes already These speeches what with the trust he put in the Viscount what with the doubtfulnesse of his mind doth in a manner confirme his opinion rather to leave it then to take it But neverthelesse gives to understand that it was no small thing to oppose the determination of the Councell and to contradict the Kings imployment for in either of these he must expect the displeasure of both and be in danger to receive condigne punishment But Rochester to get these doubts out of his mind with great protestation and long discourses let him understand he had so much experience of his worth and found him so faithfull and diligent in imployments that he could so well misse his right hand as misse him anâ— that in case any such danger should happen to him yet neverthelesse if either his word his letter credit or favour could either mitigate release or relieve him it should not be wanting to doe him ease and pleasure Being led on with these hopes he is in a manner drawne utterly to deny that which was intended for his profit and to give him a fit opportunity to excuse their malice towards him as after happened according to the saying of the Poet Ne quic quam crede haud credere quic quam nam fâ—onte polito Astutum rappido torrent sub pectore vulpem Beleeve not thou scarce any man For oft a Phrygian face Is smoothly covered with a smile But within seeks thy disgrace The Viscount seeing him at this time in so fitting a vaine to be wrought upon and so easily to be perswaded from his purpose shewed him much more favour then heretofore he had done the better to confirme credence in him towards his perswasions to encourage him in his determinations by this meanes he is utterlâ— deceived and growes confident to â—orsake it in this mind the Viscount leaves him and betakes himselfe to his purpose The Countesse Earle and Viscount meet They determine of the matter The King is incensed against Overbury SIr Iervace being now growne old in his office and being acquainted with it amongst other things is sounded whether he stands faithâ—ull to his Patâ—ons Northampton and Rochesâ—er whereby it is found that he would be plyant to any thing they would desire but yet not made acquainted with this determination neverthelesse it feeds them with hope to execute their purposes with better prosperitie For the Lieutenant being their friend and Weston a man that had gotten the
Turner for delaying it whereupon he gets into his hands certaine Poysons viz. Rosacre white Arsnick Mercury sublimate Cantarides red Mercury with three or foure more severall poysons tempering them with his broth and his meaâ— according as he saw them affected increasing and diminishing their strength as he was instructed by his ancient friend Master Franklin besides these Tarts and Jellies are sent by the Viscount and Countesse to Sir Thomas Monson as from thence by the hands of one Simon master servant unto Sir Tho to be delivered to Weston and so to Overbury every of which Tarts and Jellies were poysoned with a severall poyson These courses caused Sir Thomas Monson to be suspected of this act and to have a hand in it First in respect he preferred Weston to his service Secondly poysoned Tarts and Jellies went out of his house And lastly for that he did not discover these things his men only having accesse to the Tower and that to speak with Weston Now his salt his meat his drink and whatsoever he eates is mingled with poyson and for the increase of his torment is increased or diminished as the saw Sir Thomas Overbury affected By this meanes he begins to grow extreme sickly having beene heretoâ—ore accustomed to very good health insomuch that he can sâ—arce stand or goe what with the paine of his body and the heat yet neverthelesse being a strong man he stood it out a long time till at length he begun to grow jealous of his man Weston for his maladie increased or diminished as he affected but yet some Physick he desired and at his speciall instance and request and not without some gratitude as was thought one Paule de la Bell an Apothecarie by the advice of Doctor Marvin brought a Bath to coole his body with advice to be sparing of his dyet for that he suspected that his meate was not wholsome Surely this did him much good and preserved his life longer then they expected insomuch that they misdoubt some fallacy or fraud and therefore send new Letters to the Lieutenant to have a speciall care that none may be suffered to see him or speak with him for evill men are full of needlesse feares and now there is such speciall watch had over him that none of his men might be permitted so much liberty as to speak with him out at a Window and the reason being asked Answer was made that the Lieutenant had commandment from the Councell that it should be so Thus the good gentleman passed away his tedious and sorrowfull dayes with many discontents being filled with paines and griefe without friends and comforters ready to be vext and tormented upon every occasion and consuming and languishing away without any common society that was allowed to the meanest Prisoner in the house In this man may wee see the misery of such as fall into the hands of Popish Catholiques for by Northamptons meanes was this strictnesse shewed towards him here will wee leave him languishing in sorrow and lamenting his misfortune The Marriage betweene the Viscount and the Countesse published questioned whether it might be lawfull A nullity obtained to make it lawfull My Lord of Essex repayes the Portion The Viscount made Earle of Somerset TIme can no longer conceale these secret meetings but they must at length come to light The Marriage betweene the Viscount and the Countesse is published this is strange to the world and so much the more strange by how much three such great and eminent persons as the Earle of Essex the Countesse and the Viscount were interessed in it And now according to the common course every one speakes as he stands affected some boldly some sparingly some call her a loose woman and pities the good Earle of Essex and say that he had sustained more wrong then ever any English Peer had done First to suffer disgrace by the Prince now by his wife others blame her with words harsh and unseemly a third sort Rochester and that it is pity but that shee should prove as bad a wife to him as ever shee was to the Earle of Essex then if Overbury had beene at liberty this had never happened Others that were more stayed and judicious in their opinion foresaw the ruine and downfall of Rochester by this meanes but none durst speake of it For who will put his finger into the fire unlesse he be compelled neverthelesse to stop the mouthes of the vulgar this Marriage is called into question whether it may be lawfull or not because her Husband was then living For this cause the Bishops of this Land were divided By the opinion of some shee might by the opinion of others she might not my Lord of Canterbury London and many others were utâ—erly against it But Winchester and Ely stood stiffely it might provided a Nullitie might be had for by that meanes the former Marriage should bee utterly determined A Nullity was obtained and upon the grant of that it was ordered that my Lord of Essex should repay her Portion that he received with her at his marriage that so to the shew of the world it might be said there had been no marriage betweene them This afterwards was called into question and thought a meere tricke of Northampton to discharge some of the greatest of the Clergie and to discountenance our Religion it left a foule scarre and gave a foule occasion to the Adversary to speake broadly where they had liberty and of some even in our Kingdome This Order being sent to my Lord of Essex hee forthwith prepâ—res for the repayment of five thousand pound for so much hee had received with her and for this purpose he sold and fell divers woods at Adderston and neere thereabouts His Grandmother the Countesse of Leicester helpt him much or else he should have been constrained to sell much land to have paid it verily a hard course having sustained so many injuries The King neverthelesse continues his favour towards Rochester and that he might be as eminent as the best he is installed Earle of Somerset Thus favours are heapt upon him though hee little deserved them And the Countesse what shee desireth is still to be a Countesse but called after another name that is Countesse of Somerset many are the chances that happen in the world some good some bad and those things we least suspect do soonest happen to divert us At this time my Lord of Somerset little thought to have been laid in the Tower and made heire of Overburies bed-chamber but by this we may see that all things are in the hands of God The Marriage comes to Overburies Eares Hee prophesieth his owne death He falleth into a relapse He writes to the Earle to remember his promise Answer is sent him with white Mercury instead of a medicinable Powder His death The state of his body after his death The Rumour thâ—t is spread of him The Authors Lamentation NOw although Sir Thomas Overbury was kept private and that no man
in mortall feare A countenance pale a body leane deform'd with griefe I beare From all parts of the earth they brought me gold without constraint But now no gold nor precious stones nor friends can ease my plaint So variable Fortune is so nice to great attempts So subject and so doubtfull too so adverse in events That Atis with our name doth play as with a tennis ball For being lifted up with fame the greater is our fall Let this example be to such whom Fortune doth advanâ—e That they as I by Popedome fell may fall by like mischance For we cannot reade of any that ever was so great a Favourite as Somerset neither the Spencers with Edward the second nor the Earle of Warwick with Henry the sixth nor the Duke of Suffolke with Henry the eighth as this man was with the King neither was there any that ever came to so sodaine and unexpected a fall They therefore that do but rightly consider this Discourse shall find in it three things worthy observation First that neither honour nor wealth are any certaine inheritance but occasions unlesse God be mercifull unto us for the devill to pick a quarrell against us to bring us to infamie Secondly that God neuer leaves murther though never so closely carried unpunished Lastly that there was never knowne in so short a time so many great men dye with suspition of poyson and witchcraft viz. First my Lord Treasurer the Prince my Lord Harrington his sonne Overbury Northampton besides these which are no lesse then six other within three yeares and an halfe and the two Monsons which yet remaine untryed Sir Francis Bacon his Speech at the Arraignment of the Earle of Somerset IT may please your Grace my Lord High Steward of England and you my Lords the Peeres you have here before you Robert Earle to be tryed for his life concerning the procuring and consenting to the impoysonment of Sir Thomas Overbury then the Kings Prisoner in the Tower of London as an Accessary before the Fact I know your hopes connot behold this Noble man but you must remember the great favours which the King hath conferred on him and must be sensible that he is yet a member of your body and a Peere as you are so that you cannot cut him off from your body but with griefe and therefore you will expect from us that give in the Kings Evidence sound and sufficient matter of proofe to satisfie your Honours and consciences As for the manner oâ— the Evidence the King our Master who amongst other his vertues excelleth in that vertue of the Imperial Throne which is Justice hath given us command that wee should not expatiate nor make invectives but materially pursue the Evidence as it conduceth to the point in question A matter that though we are glad of so good a warrant yet we should have done of our selves for far be it from us by any strains or wit of Arts to seeke to play prizes or to blâ—son our names in bloud or to carry the day otherwise then upon sure grounds wee shall carry the Lanthorne of Justice which is the Evidence before your eyes upright and to be able to salve it from being put out with any grounds of evasion or vaine defences that is our parts and within that we shall containe our selves not doubting at all but that the Evidence it selfe will carry that force as it shall need no advantage or aggravation First my Lords the course that I will hold in delivering of that which I shall say for I love order is this First I will speak somewhat of the nature and greatnesse of the offence which is now to be tryed not to weigh downe my Lord with the greatnesse of iâ— but rather contrariwise to shew that a great offence needs a good proofe And that the King howsoever he might esteeme this Gentleman heretofore as the Signet upon his finger to use the Scripture phrase yet in sâ—ch a case as this he was to put him off Secondly I will use some few words touching the nature of the proofes which in such a case are competent Thirdly I will state the proofes And lastly I will produce the proofes either out of examination and matters of writing or witnesses viva voce For the offence it selfe it is of crimes next unto high Treason the greatest it is the foulest of Felonies It hath three degrees of stages First it is murther by impoysonment Secondly it is murther committed upon the Kings prisoner in the Tower Thirdly I might say that it is murther under the colour of Friendship but that it is a circumstance morall and therefore I leave that to the Evidence it selfe For murther my Lords the first record of Justice which was in the world was judgement upon a murtherer in the person of Adams first borne Caâ—â—e and though it was not punished by death but with banishment and marke of ignominy in respect of the primogenitors or the population of the world yet there was a severe charge given that it should not go unpunished So it appeareth likewise in Scripture that the murther or Abner by Ioah though it were by David respited in respect of great services past or reason of State yet it was not forgotten But of this I will say no more because I will not discourse it was ever admitted and rancked in Gods owne Tables that murther is of offences betweene man and man next unto high Treason and disobedience to Authority which sometimes have been referred to the first Table because of the Lieutenancie of God in Princes the greatest For impoysonment I am sorry it should be heard of in our Kingdome It is not nostri generis nec sanguinis peccatum It is an Italian comâ—it for the Court of Rome where that person that intoxicateth the Kings of the earth is many times really and materially intoxicated and impoysoned himselfe But it hath three circumstances which makes it grievous beyond other matters The first is that it takes a man away in full peace in Gods and the Kings peace that thinks no harme but is comforting of nature with resection and food so that as the Scripture saith His table is made a snare The second is that it is easily committed and easily concealed and on the other side haâ—dly prevented and hardly discovered for murther by violence Princes have Guards and private men have houses attendants and armes neither can such murther be committed but cum sonitu with some overt and apparant acts that may discover and trace the offenders but for poyson the cup it selfe of Princes wil scarse serve in regard of many poisons that neither discolour nor distaste It comes upon a man when he is carelesse and without respect and every day a man is within the gates of death And the last is because it concerneth not onely the destruction of the maliced man but of every man quis modo tutuâ— erit for many times the poyson is prepared for one and is
the Realme things seldome used but either by Princes or their Confederates or at the least by such as practise and worke against or at the least upon Princes But understand mee my Lord I shall not charge you with disloyaltie this day and I lay this for a foundation that there was great Communication of Secrets betweene you and Sir Thomas Overbury and that it had relation to matter of State and the great causes of this Kingdome But my Lords as it is a principle in Nature that the best things are in their corruption the worst and the sweetest wine maketh the sowrest vinegre so fell it out with them that this excesse as I may say of friendship ended in mortall hatred on my Lord of Somersets part I have heard my Lord Steward say sometimes in the Chancâ—ry that Frost and Fraud ends soule and I may adde a third and that is the Friendship of ill men which is truly said to be conspiracie and not friendship For it fell out some twelve moneths or more before Overbury his imprisonment in the Tower that the Lord of Somerset sell into an unlawfull love towards that unfortunate Ladie the Countesse of Essex and to proceed to a Marriage with Somerset This Marriage and purpose did Overbury mainly impugne under pretence to doe the true part of a friend for that hee accompted her an unworthy woman But the truth was Overbury who to speake plainly had little that was sollide for Religion or morall vertue but was wholly possest with ambition and vain-glory was loath to have any partners in the favour of my Lord of Somerset and especially not any of the House of the Howards against whom he had alwayes professed hatred and opposition And my Lords that this is no sinister construction will appeare to you when you shall heare that Overbury made his brags to my Lord of Somerset that he had won him the love of the Lady by his Letters and industrie so far was he from cases of conscience in this point And certainely my Lords howsoever the tragicall misery of this poore Gentleman Overbury might somewhat obliterate his faults yet because wee are not upon points of civilitie but to discover the face of Truth before the face of Justice for that it is materiall to the true understanding of the state of this cause Overbury was naught and corrupt the ballads must be mended for that point But to proceed when Overbury saw that hee was like to be possessour of my Lords Grace which hee had possessed so long and by whose greatnesse he had promised himselfe to doe wonders and being a man of an unbounded and impudent spirit hee began not onely to disswade but to deterre him from the love of that Lady and finding him fixed thought to find a strong remedie supposing that hee had my Lords head under his girdle in respect of communication of Secrets of State as he calls them himselfe secrets of Nature and therefore dealt violently with him to make him desist with menaces of discovery and the like Hereupon grew two streames of hatred upon Overâ—ury the one from the Ladie in respâ—ct that hee crossed her love and abused her name which are â—uries in women the other of a more deepe nature from my Lord of Somerset himselfe who was affraid of Overburies Nature and that if he did breake from him and fly out hee would winde into him and trouble his whole fortunes I might adde a third sâ—reame of the Earle of Northamptons Ambition who desires to be first in favour with my Lord of Somerset and knowing Oveâ—â—uries malice to himselfe and to his House thought thâ—t man must be removed and cut off so as certainely it was resolved and decreed that Overbury must dye Hereupon they had variâ—ty of devices to send him beyond the Seas upâ—n occasion of imployment That was too weake and they were so far from giving way to it as they crossed it there rested but two wayes of quarrell assault and poyson For that of assault after some proposition and attempt they passed from it was a thing too open and subject to more varietie of shame that of poyson likewise was an hazardous thing and subject to many prevenâ—ions and caution especially to such a working and jealous braine as Overbury had except he was first fast in their hands therefore the way was first to get him into a trap and lay him up and then they could not misse the marke and therefore in execution of this plot it was denyed that hee should be designed to some honourable imployment in forraigne parts and should underhand by my Lord of Somerset be incouraged to refuse it and so upon contempt he should be laid prisoner in the Tower and then they thought he should be close enough and death should be his Bayle yet were they not at their end for they considered that if there were not a fit Lieutenant of the Tower â—or their purpose and likewise a fit Underkeeper of Oâ—â—râ—ury First they should meet with many impediments in the giving and the exhibiting of the poyson Secondly they should be exposed to note an observation that might discover them And thirdly Overbury in the meane time might write clamorous and â—urious Letters to his friends and so all might bee disappointed And therefore the next linck of the chaine was to displace the then Lieutenaâ—â—Wade and to place Yeluis a principall abettor in the impoysonment to displace Cary that was Underkeeper in Wadesâ—ime and to place Weston that was the Actor in the impoysonment And this was done in such a while that it may appeâ—re to be done as it were in a breath Then when they had this poore Gentleman in the Tower close pâ—isoner where he could not scape nor stir where hee could not feed but by their hands where he could not speake or write but thorow their truncks then was the time to act the last day of his tragedy Then must Francklin the purveyour of the Poyson procure five six seven severall Poysons to be sure to hit his complexion Then must Mistris Turner the Lay Mistris of the Poysons advise what workes at present and what at distance Then must Weston bee the tormentour and chase him with Poyson after Poyson Poyson in salt meats Poyson in sweet meats Poyson in medicines and vomits untill at last his bodie was almost come by use of Poyson to the state of Mithridates bodie by the use of Treacle and preservatives that the force of the Poysons was blunted upon him Weston confessing when hee was chid for not dispatching him that hee had given him enough to poyson twentie men And lastly because all this asked time courses were taken by Somerset both to divert all the true meanes of Overburies delivery and to entertaine him with continuall Letters partly with hopes and protestations for his delivery and partly with other fables and negotiations somewhat like some kind of persons which keepe in a tale of fortune telling when they have a
felonious intent to picke their pocket and purâ—es And this is the true narration of this act which I have summarily recited Now for the distribution of the Proofes there are foure heads to prove you guilty whereof two are precedent to the impoysonment the third is present and the â—ourth is following or subsequent for it is in Proofes as it is in lightsâ— there is a direct light and there is a direct light and there is a reflection of light and a double light The first head or Proofe thereof is that there was a root of bitternesse a mortall malice or hatred mixed with a deepe and bottomlesse mischiefe that you had to Sir Thomas Overbuâ—y The second is that you were the principall Actor and had your hand in all those acts which did conduce to the impoysonment and gave opportunity to effect it without which the impoysonment could never have been and which could seeme to tend to no other end but to the impoysonment The third is that your hand was in the very impoysonment it selfe thâ—t you did direct Poyson and that you did deliver Poyson and that you did continually harken to the successe of the impoysonment and that you spurred it on and called â—or dispatch when you thought it lingered And lastly that you did all things after the impoisonment which mâ—y detect a guilty conscience for the smothering of it aâ—d the avoyding of punishment for it which can be but of three kindes Thâ—t you suppressed as much as in you was testimony thâ—t you did deâ—ace destroy clip and misdate all writings that might give light to the impoysonment and you did fly to the Altar of guiltinesse which is a Pardon of murther and a Pâ—rdon â—or your selfe and not for your selfe In thâ—â— my Lord I convert my speech unto you because I woulâ— have you alter the points of your charge and so make your dâ—â—ence the better And two of these heads I have taken to my selfe and left the other â—o the Kings two Serjeants For the â—irst maine part which is the mortall malice coupled with feare that was in you to Sir Thomas Overbury although you did palliate it with a great deale of hypocrisie and dissimulâ—tion even to the very end I will prove it my Lord Steward the root of this hate was that which cost many a mans life that is feare of discovering of Secrets I say of Secrets of a dangerous and high nature wherein the course that I will hold shall be this I will shew that a breach and malice was betwixt my Lord and Overbury and that it burst forth into violent threats and menaces on both sides Secondly that these Secrets were not of a light but an high nâ—ture I will give you the elevation of the Pole they were such as my Lord of Somerset had made a vow that Overbury should neither live in Court nor Country that he had likewise opened himselfe so far that either hee or himselfe must dye for it and of Overburies part he had threatned my Lord that whether he did live or die my Lords shame should never dye but that he would leave him the most odious man in the woâ—ld And â—urther that my Lord was like enough to repent where Overbury wrote which was in the Tower of London he was a Prophet in that so there is the highest of the Secret Thirdly I will shew you that all the Kings businesse was by my Lord put into Overburies hands so as there is worke enough for Secrets whatsoever they write them and like Princes Confederates they had their Cyphers and their Jurgons And lastly I will shew you that iâ— was but a toy to say the malice was only in â—espect he spake dishonourably of the Ladie or for doubt of breaking the Marriage for that Overbury was â—oadjutor to that love and the Lord of Somerset was as deepe in speaking ill of the Lady as Overbury and againe it was too late for that matter for the bargain of the match was then made and past and if it had been no more then to remove Overbury for disturbing the match it had been an easie matter to have landed over Overbury for which they had a faire way but that would not serve And lastly periculum periculo vincitur to go so far as an impoysonment must have a deeper malice then flashes for the cause must have a proportion in the effect For the next generall head or proofe which consists in the acts preparatory or middle acts they are in eight severall points of the Compasse as I may terme them First there were divers devices and projects to set Overburies head on worke to dispatch him and to overthrow him plotted betweene the Countesse of Somerset and the Earle of Somerset and the Earle of Northampton before they fell upon the impoysonment for alwayes before men fix upon a course of mischiefe there will be some rejection but dye hee must one way or other Secondly that my Lord of Somerset was principall practiser I must speake it in a most perfidious manner to set a traine and trap for Overbury to get him into the Tower without which they durst not attempt the impoysonment Thirdly that the placing of the Lieutenant Yeluis one of the impoysonments was done by my Lord of Somerset Fourthly that the placing of Weston the Underkeeper who was the principall impoysoner and the displacing of Carey and the doing all this within the while of fifteene dayes after Overburies commitment was by the meanes and countenance of my Lord of Somerset And these were the active Instruments of the impoysonment and this was a businesse the Ladies power could not reach unto Fifthly that because there must be a cause of this Tragedie to be acted and chiefly because they would not have the Poysons worke upon the sudden and for that the strength of Overburies natnre or the very custome of receiving the Poysons into his body did overcome the Poysons that they wrought not so fast therefore Overbury must be held in the Tower as well as he was laid in and as my Lord of Somerset got him into the Trap so he keepes him in and abuses him with continuall hope of liberty but diverted all the true and effectuall meanes of his liberty and makes light of his sicknesse and extremities Sixthly that not onely the plot of getting Overbury into the Tower and the devises to hold and keepe him there but the strange manner of the close keeping of him being in but for a Contempt was by the device and meanes of my Lord of Somerset who denied his father to see him denied his servants that offered to be shut up close prisoners with him and in effect handled it so that he made him close prisoner to all his friends and exposed to all his enemies Seventhly that all the advertisement the Lady received from time to time from the Lieutenant or Weston touching Oveâ—buries state of body and health were ever sent nigh to the Court though it were in Progresse and that from my Ladie such a thirst and listening he had to heare that he was dispâ—tched Lastly that there was a continuall negotiâ—tion to set Overâ—uâ—ies head on worke that he should make some to cleâ—re the Honour of the Ladie and that he should be a good insâ—rument towardâ— her and her friends all which wâ—â— but enterâ—ainment Foâ— your Lordships shall see diverâ— of my Lord of Northamptons Letters whose hand was dâ—epe in this businesse written I must say in darke wordâ— aâ—â— clauses that there was one thing pretended and anotâ—er â—hing iâ—tended That there was a reall charge and somewhat not reâ—ll a main drift and dissimulation nâ—y further there be some pâ—ssâ—gâ—s which the Peeres in their wisdomes will discerne to point directly at the impoisonment FINIS