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is merely as strong as its weakest member。 Overbury had no approach to
the King save through the King's favourite。 Rochester could have no real
weight with the King； at least in affairs of State； except what he borrowed
from Overbury。 Divided； the two were powerless。 No； more than that；
there had to be no flaw in their linking。
The wily Northampton； one may be certain； was fully aware of this
possible weakness in the combination opposed to his advancement。 He
would be fully aware； that is； that it was there potentially； but when he
began； as his activities would indicate； to work for the creation of that flaw
in the relationship between Rochester and Overbury it is unlikely that he
knew the flaw had already begun to develop。 Unknown to him；
circumstance already had begun to operate in his favour。
Overbury was Rochester's tutor in more than appertained to affairs of
State。 It is more than likely that in Carr's wooing of Lady Essex he had
held the role of Cyrano de Bergerac； writing those gracefully turned letters
and composing those accomplished verses which did so much to augment
and give constancy to her ladyship's love for Rochester。 It is certain； at
any rate； that Overbury was privy to all the correspondence passing
between the pair； and that even such events as the supplying by Forman
and Mrs Turner of that magic powder； and the Countess's use of it upon
her husband； were well within his knowledge。
While the affair between his alter ego and the Lady Essex might be
looked upon as mere dalliance； a passionate episode likely to wither with a
speed equal to that of its growth； Overbury； it is probable； found cynical
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amusement in helping it on。 But when； as time went on； the lady and her
husband separated permanently； and from mere talk of a petition for
annulment of the Essex marriage that petition was presented in actual form
to the King； Overbury saw danger。 Northampton was backing the
petition。 If it succeeded Lady Essex would be free to marry Rochester。
And the marriage； since Northampton was not the man to give except in
the expectation of plenty； would plant the unwary Rochester on the hearth
of his own and Overbury's enemies。 With Rochester in the Howard camp
there would be short shrift for Thomas Overbury。 There would be；
though Rochester in his infatuation seemed blind to the fact； as short a
shrift as the Howards could contrive for the King's minion。
In that march of inevitability which marks all real tragedy the road that
is followed forks ever and again with an ‘if。' And we who； across the
distance of time； watch with a sort of Jovian pity the tragic puppets in their
folly miss this fork and that fork on their road of destiny select； each
according to our particular temperaments； a particular ‘if' over which to
shake our heads。 For me； in this story of Rochester； Overbury； Frances
Howard； and the rest； the point of tragedy； the most poignant of the issues；
is the betrayal by Robert Carr of Overbury's friendship。 Though this
story is essentially； or should be； that of the two women who were linked
in fate with Rochester and his coadjutor； I am constrained to linger for a
moment on that point。
Overbury's counsel had made Carr great。 With nothing but his good
looks and his personal charm； his only real attributes； Carr had been no
more than King James's creature。 James； with all the pedantry； the
laboured cunning； the sleezy weaknesses of character that make him so
detestable； was yet too shrewd to have put power in the hands of the mere
minion that Carr would have been without the brain of Overbury to guide
him。 Of himself Carr was the ‘toom tabard' of earlier parlance in his
native country； the ‘stuffed shirt' of a later and more remote generation。
But beyond the coalition for mutual help that existed between Overbury
and Carr； an arrangement which might have thrived on a basis merely
material； there was a deep and splendid friendship。 ‘Stuffed shirt' or not；
Robert Carr was greatly loved by Overbury。 Whatever Overbury may
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have thought of Carr's mental attainments； he had the greatest faith in his
loyalty as a friend。 And here lies the terrible pity in that ‘if' of my choice。
The love between the two men was great enough to have saved them both。
It broke on the weakness of Carr。
Overbury was aware that； honestly presented； the petition by Lady
Essex for the annulment of her marriage had little chance of success。 But
for the obstinacy of Essex it might have been granted readily enough。 He
had； however； as we have seen； forced her to live with him as his wife； in
appearance at least； for several months in the country。 There now would
be difficulty in putting forward the petition on the ground of non…
consummation of the marriage。
It was； nevertheless； on this ground that the petition was brought
forward。 But the non…consummation was not attributed； as it might have
been； to the continued separation that had begun at the altar； the reason
given was the impotence of the husband。 Just what persuasion
Northampton and the Howards used on Essex to make him accept this
humiliating implication it is hard to imagine； but by the time the coarse
wits of the period had done with him Essex was amply punished in
ridicule for his primary obstinacy。
Sir Thomas Overbury； well informed though he usually was； must
have been a good deal in the dark regarding the negotiations which had
brought the nullity suit to this forward state。 He had warned Rochester
so frankly of the danger into which the scheme was likely to lead him that
they had quarrelled and parted。 If Rochester had been frank with his
friend； if； on the ground of their friendship； he had appealed to him to set
aside his prejudice； it might well have been that the tragedy which ensued
would have been averted。 Enough evidence remains to this day of
Overbury's kindness for Robert Carr； there is enough proof of the man's
abounding resource and wit； to give warrant for belief that he would have
had the will； as he certainly had the ability； to help his friend。 Overbury
was one of the brightest intelligences of his age。 Had Rochester
confessed the extent of his commitment with Northampton there is little
doubt that Overbury could and would have found a way whereby
Rochester could have attained his object （of marriage with Frances
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Howard）； and this without jeopardizing their mutual power to the Howard
menace。
In denying the man who had made him great the complete confidence
which their friendship demanded Rochester took the tragically wrong path
on his road of destiny。 But the truth is that when he quarrelled with
Overbury he had already betrayed the friendship。 He had already
embarked on the perilous experiment of straddling between two opposed
camps。 It was an experiment that he； least of all men； had the adroitness
to bring off。 He was never in such need of Overbury's brain as when he
aligned himself in secret with Overbury's enemies。
It is entirely probable that in linking up with Northampton Rochester
had no mind to injure his friend。 The bait was the woman he loved。
Without Northampton's aid the nullity suit could not be put forward； and
without the annulment there could be no marriage for him with Frances
Howard。 But he had no sooner joined with Northampton than the very