betwixt him and the Lady Francis Howard, who was lately divorced from the Earl of Essex, as a Match neither for his credit here, nor comfort hereafter.  This Counsel, though it proceeded from an unfeigned love in Sir Thomas, yet where Beauty commands, all discretion being sequestred, created in the Viscount a hatred towards him; and in the Countess the fury of a woman, a desire of revenge, who perswaded the Viscount, That it was not possible that ever she should endure those injuries, or hope for any prosperity so long as he lived; That she wondred how he could be so familiar, so much affected to his man Overbury; that without him he could do nothing, as it were making him his right hand, seeing he being newly grown into the Kings favour, and depending wholly upon his greatness, must expect to be clouded if not ruined, when his servant that knew his secrets should come to preferment. The Viscount, apt enough of his own inclination to revenge, being thus further exasperated by the Countess, they joyntly resolve upon his death, and soon a fit opportunity came to their hands.  He being by King James (and as it is thought by the Viscount’s Counsel) nominated to be sent Embassador to the Emperor of Russia, was by the said Viscount, whom he especially trusted, persuaded to decline the employment, as no better than an honourable Grave; Better lie some days in the Tower, than more months in a worse Prison; a Ship by Sea, and a barbarous cold Country by Land. You are now (Said he) in credit at home, and have made tryal of the dangers of travel, why then should you hazard all upon uncertainties, being already in possession of that you can probably expect by these means; promising him, that within a small time he would so work with the King, that he should have a good of opinion him.  But he (saith Dr. Fuller) who willingly goes into a Prison out of hope to come easily out of it, may stay therein so long till he be too late convinced of his error.

And now having him in the place where they would, their next study to secure their revenge, was closely to make him away; which they concluded to be by poyson.  To this end, they consult with one Mrs. Turner (the first inventer of that horrid Garb of yellow Ruffs and Cuffs, and in which Garb she was after hanged) she having acquaintance with one James Franklin, a man skilled for that purpose, agreed with him to provide that which should not kill presently, but cause one to languish away by degrees, a little and a little.  Sir Gervas Yelvis, Lieutenant of the Tower, being drawn into the Conspiracy, admits one Weston, Mrs. Turners man, who under pretence of waiting upon Sir Thomas, was to act the horrid Tragedy.  The Plot thus continued, Franklin buyes certain Poysons, viz.  Sosater, white Arsenic, Mercury sublimate, Cantharides, red Mercury,