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answer： ‘‘Guilty。''
Sir Francis Bacon； the Attorney…Generalhimself to appear in the
same place not long after to answer charges of bribery and corruption
now addressed the judges。 His eloquent address was a commendation of
the Countess's confession； and it hinted at royal clemency。
In answer to the formal demand of the Clerk of Arraigns if she had
anything to say why judgment of death should not be given against her the
Countess made a barely audible plea for mercy； begging their lordships to
intercede for her with the King。 Then the Lord High Steward； expressing
belief that the King would be moved to mercy； delivered judgment。 She
was to be taken thence to the Tower of London； thence to the place of
execution； where she was to be hanged by the neck until she was dead
and might the Lord have mercy on her soul。
The attendant women hastened to the side of the swaying woman。
And now the halbardiers formed escort about her； the headsman in front；
with the edge of his axe turned towards her in token of her conviction； and
she was led away。
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％ VI
It is perfectly clear that the Countess of Somerset was led to confess
on the promise of the King's mercy。 It is equally clear that she did not
know what she was confessing to。 Whatever might have been her
conspiracy with Anne Turner it is a practical certainty that it did not result
in the death of Thomas Overbury。 There is no record of her being
allowed any legal advice in the seven months that had elapsed since she
had first been made a virtual prisoner。 She had been permitted no
communication with her husband。 For all she knew； Overbury might
indeed have died from the poison which she had caused to be sent to the
Tower in such quantity and variety。 And she went to trial at Westminster
guilty in conscience； her one idea being to take the blame for having
brought about the murder of Overbury； thinking by that to absolve her
husband of any share in the plot。 She could not have known that her plea
of guilty would weaken Somerset's defence。 The woman who could go
to such lengths in order to win her husband was unlikely to have done
anything that might put him in jeopardy。 One can well imagine with
what fierceness she would have fought her case had she thought that by
doing so she could have helped the man she loved。
But Frances Howard； no less than her accomplice Anne Turner； was
the victim of a gross subversion of justice。 That she was guilty of a cruel
and determined attempt to poison Overbury is beyond question； and； being
guilty of that； she was thoroughly deserving of the fate that overcame
Anne Turner； but that at the last she was allowed to escape。 Her
confession； however； shackled Somerset at his trial。 It put her at the
King's mercy。 Without endangering her life Somerset dared not come to
the crux of his defence； which would have been to demand why Loubel
had been allowed to go free； and why the King's physician； Mayerne； had
not been examined。 To prevent Somerset from asking those questions；
which must have given the public a sufficient hint of King James's share in
the murder of Overbury； two men stood behind the Earl all through his
trial with cloaks over their arms； ready to muffle him。 But； whatever
may be said of Somerset； the prospect of the cloaks would not have
stopped him from attempting those questions。 He had sent word to King
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SHE STANDS ACCUSED
James that he was ‘‘neither Gowrie nor Balmerino；'' those two earlier
victims of James's treachery。 The thing that muffled him was the threat
to withdraw the promised mercy to his Countess。 And so he kept silent；
to be condemned to death as his wife had been； and to join her in the
Tower。
Five weary years were the couple to eat their hearts out there； their
death sentences remitted； before their ultimate banishment far from the
Court to a life of impoverished obscurity in the country。 Better for them；
one would think； if they had died on Tower Green。 It is hard to imagine
that the dozen years or so which they were to spend together could contain
anything of happiness for themshe the confessed would…be poisoner； and
he haunted by the memory of that betrayal of friendship which had begun
the process of their double ruin。 Frances Howard died in 1632； her
husband twenty…three years later。 The longer lease of life could have
been no blessing to the fallen favourite。
There is a portrait of Frances Howard in the National Portrait Gallery
by an unknown artist。 It is an odd little face which appears above the
elaborate filigree of the stiff lace ruff and under the carefully dressed bush
of dark brown hair。 With her gay jacket of red gold…embroidered； and her
gold…ornamented grey gown； cut low to show the valley between her
young breasts； she looks like a child dressed up。 If there is no great
indication of the beauty which so many poets shed ink over there is less
promise of the dire determination which was to pursue a man's life with
cruel poisons over several months。 It is； however； a narrow little face；
and there is a tight…liddedness about the eyes which in an older woman
might indicate the bigot。 Bigot she proved herself to be； if it be bigotry
in a woman to love a man with an intensity that will not stop at murder in
order to win him。 That is the one thing that may be said for Frances
Howard。 She did love Robert Carr。 She loved him to his ruin。
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IV： A MODEL FOR MR
HOGARTH
On a Sunday； the 5th of February； 1733； there came toddling into that
narrow passage of the Temple known as Tanfield Court an elderly lady by
the name of Mrs Love。 It was just after one o'clock of the afternoon。
The giants of St Dunstan's behind her had only a minute before rapped out
the hour with their clubs。
Mrs Love's business was at once charitable and social。 She was
going； by appointment made on the previous Friday night； to eat dinner
with a frail old lady named Mrs Duncomb； who lived in chambers on the
third floor of one of the buildings that had entry from the court。 Mrs
Duncomb was the widow of a law stationer of the City。 She had been a
widow for a good number of years。 The deceased law stationer； if he had
not left her rich； at least had left her in fairly comfortable circumstances。
It was said about the environs that she had some property； and this fact；
combined with the other that she was obviously nearing the end of life's
journey； made her an object of melancholy interest to the womenkind of
the neighbourhood。
Mrs Duncomb was looked after by a couple of servants。 One of them；
Betty Harrison； had been the old lady's companion for a lifetime。 Mrs
Duncomb； described as ‘‘old；'' was only sixty。＇16＇ Her weakness and
bodily condition seem to have made her appear much older。 Betty； then；
also described as ‘‘old；'' may have been of an age with her mistress； or
even older。 She was； at all events； not by much less frail。 The other
servant was a comparatively new addition to the establishment； a fresh
little girl of about seventeen； Ann （or Nanny） Price by name。
＇16＇ According to one account。 The Newgate Calendar （London
1773） gives