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Howard。 But he had no sooner joined with Northampton than the very
processes against which Overbury had warned him were begun。
Rochester was trapped； and with him Overbury。
For the success of the suit； in Northampton's view； Overbury knew too
much。 It was a view to which Rochester was readily persuaded； or it was
one which he was easily frightened into accepting。 From that to joining
in a plot for being rid of Overbury was but a step。 Grateful； perhaps； for
the undoubted services that Overbury had rendered him； Rochester would
be eager enough to find his quondam friend employment。 If that
employment happened to take Overbury out of the country so much the
better。 At one time the King； jealous as a woman of the friendship
existing between his favourite and Overbury； had tried to shift the latter
out of the way by an offer of the embassy in Paris。 It was an offer
Rochester thought； that he might cause to be repeated。 The idea was
broached to Overbury。 That shrewd individual； of course； saw through
the suggestion to the intention behind it； but he was at a loss for an outlet
for his talents； having left Rochester's employ； and he believed without
immodesty that he could do useful work as ambassador in Paris。
Overbury was offered an embassybut in Muscovy。 He had no mind
to bury himself in Russia； and he refused the offer on the ground of ill…
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health。 By doing this he walked into the trap prepared for him。
Northampton had foreseen the refusal when he promoted the offer on its
rearranged terms。 The King； already incensed against Overbury for some
hints at knowledge of facts liable to upset the Essex nullity suit； pretended
indignation at the refusal。 Overbury unwarily repeated it before the Privy
Council。 That was what Northampton wanted。 The refusal was high
contempt of the King's majesty。 Sir Thomas Overbury was committed to
the Tower。 He might have talked in Paris； or have written from Muscovy。
He might safely do either in the Towerwhere gags and bonds were so
readily at hand。
Did Rochester know of the springe set to catch Overbury？ The
answer to the question； whether yes or no； hardly matters。 Since he was
gull enough to discard the man whose brain had lifted him from a
condition in which he was hardly better than the King's lap…dog； he was
gull enough to be fooled by Northampton。 Since he valued the friendship
of that honest man so little as to consort in secret with his enemies； he was
knave enough to have been party to the betrayal。 Knave or foolwhat
does it matter？ He was so much of both that； in dread of what Sir
Thomas might say or do to thwart the nullity suit； he let his friend rot in
the Tower for months on end； let him sicken and nearly die several times；
without a move to free him。 He did this to the man who had trusted him
implicitly； a man thatto adapt Overbury's own words from his last
poignant letter to Rochesterhe had ‘‘more cause to love 。 。 。 yea； perish
for 。 。 。 rather than see perish。''
It is not given to every man to have that greater love which will make
him lay down his life for a friend； but it is the sheer poltroon and craven
who will watch a friend linger and expire in agony without lifting a finger
to save him。 Knave or foolwhat does it matter when either is
submerged in the coward？
％ IV
Overbury lay in the Tower five months。 The commission appointed
to examine into the Essex nullity suit went into session three weeks after
he was imprisoned。 There happened to be one man in the commission
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who cared more to be honest than to humour the King。 This was the
Archbishop Abbot。 The King himself had prepared the petition。 It was
a task that delighted his pedantry； and his petition was designed for
immediate acceptance。 But such was Abbot's opposition that in two or
three months the commission ended with divided findings。
Meantime Overbury in the Tower had been writing letters。 He had
been talking to visitors。 As time went on； and Rochester did nothing to
bring about his enlargement； his writings and sayings became more
threatening Rochester's attitude was that patience was needed。 In time he
would bring the King to a more clement view of Sir Thomas's offending；
and he had no doubt that in the end he would be able to secure the prisoner
both freedom and honourable employment。
Overbury had been consigned to the Tower in April。 In June he
complained of illness。 Rochester wrote to him in sympathetic terms；
sending him a powder that he himself had found beneficial； and made his
own physician visit the prisoner。
But the threats which Overbury； indignant at his betrayal by Rochester；
made by speech and writing were becoming common property in the city
and at Court One of Overbury's visitors who had made public mention of
Overbury's knowledge of facts likely to blow upon the Essex suit was
arrested on the orders of Northampton。 In the absence of the King and
Rochester from London the old Earl was acting as Chief Secretary of
Statethus proving Overbury to have been a true prophet。 Northampton
issued orders to the Tower that Overbury was to be closely confined； that
his man Davies was to be dismissed； and that he was to be denied all
visitors。 The then Lieutenant of the Tower； one Sir William Wade； was
deprived of his position on the thinnest of pretexts； and； on the
recommendation of Sir Thomas Monson； Master of the Armoury； an
elderly gentleman from Lincolnshire； Sir Gervase Elwes； was put in his
place。
From that moment Sir Thomas Overbury was permitted no
communication with the outer world； save by letter to Lord Rochester and
for food that was brought him； as we shall presently see； at the instance of
Mrs Turner。
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In place of his own servant Davies Sir Thomas was allowed the
services of an under…keeper named Weston； appointed at the same time as
Sir Gervase Elwes。 This man； it is perhaps important to note； had at one
time been servant to Mrs Turner。
The alteration in the personnel of the Tower was almost immediately
followed by severe illness on the part of the prisoner。 The close
confinement to which he was subjected； with the lack of exercise； could
hardly have been the cause of such a violent sickness。 It looked more as
if it had been brought about by something he had eaten or drunk。 By this
time the conviction he had tried to resist； that Rochester was meanly
sacrificing him； became definite。 Overbury is hardly to be blamed if he
came to a resolution to be revenged on his one…time friend by bringing
him to utter ruin。 King James had been so busy in the Essex nullity suit；
had gone to such lengths to carry it through； that if it could be wrecked by
the production of the true facts he would be bound to sacrifice Rochester
to save his own face。 Sir Thomas had an accurate knowledge of the
King's character。 He knew the scramble James was capable of making in
a difficulty that involved his kingly dignity； and what little reck he had of
the faces he trod on in climbing from a pit of his own digging。 By a trick
Overbury contrived to smuggle a letter through to the honest Archbishop
Abbot； in which he declared his possession of facts that would non…suit the
nullity action； and begged to be summoned before the commission。
Overbury was getting be