Norwich bulletin., 1921-12-20
Famous Trials
FRANCES HOWARD

Of the long line of female criminals in England, there is hardly one more be- Witohing and odious than Frances How ard, Countess of Somerset When only l3 she was wed to Robert, Earl of Essex, 3 boy hardly older than herself. Later they were sent to school and when aft erward they met, the frivolous young CO., qpette gazed upon a grave young cour- tier graceful and a perfect knight.
 Seven years after the narriag, Essex met mysterious death. It is still open to argument whether he was murdered by his keeper while waiting In the lieu tenants house or whether he fell by his own hand.
 Frances Howard had many followers who were bewitched by her beauty among them Carr young favorite oe the King, the Earl of Somerset, and Sir Thomas Overbury. First the enchantress and Overbury planned to do away with Carr. They tried to hire assassins, to bring tales to his ears and would make him revolt at the name of Howard but he was level-headed and cool and kept his council.
 When Frances amour for Overbury was dead. to rid herself of him, she cir culated tales to the effect that thee king could not rule without Overbury by his oiNtNs 4N444B JehiiitS lOoh IL III tuG lA6ilN JL 1 challenge and swore a big oath that Overbury should be sent abroad. He
 would see whether he or his courtiers rul- ed his kingdomr' The plotters took care l that Overhury should refuse to go. and i the king incensed at his refusal of so- 1 high a trust had him thrown into the i Bloody Tower
 i Her love for Carr now deaG Frances took into her confidence the Earl of Som erset. She would never be safe till Over 1 bury was dead! So Somerset having
 considerable influence, at once discharg-
 ed the keeper Uf the Tower and set in his place Sir Gervase Helwyss, a ruined gambler Another disreputable charac- l ter, one Richard Weston, was made a
 keeper, by Sir Thomas Monson who how, thought it best to first consult the Privy Sedan act of prudence to which he afterward owed his life. From the night of Weston's installation Overbury's 1 strength began to fail. Though his of
 fense was only a contempt, he was con fined more strictly than men who were condemned to die. Helwyss, however.
 seems to have gotten "cold feet" for in
 stead of administering the poison as in.
 structed he poured it into the ground
 but still some jellies and sweetstuffs that
 the enchantress sent were delivered and
 each one was poisoned.
 Then James Franklin, an apothecary
 sold some poison to Frances Howard
 who gave it. to Lobei, a French apothe
 cary, and Reeve, his English hoy wht
 were opointed to do the deed. When al
 was ready Lobel made the glister, whicl
 his apprentice, Reeve applied.
 overbury was dead.
 Exactly eight years later to the da.
 when Frances Howard as a child, ha'
 married Essex, she and Somerset wer married amidst great pornp and cere
 mony Not long after the Earl 0 Northampton died from sore in his side in time but only just in time to say ) himself from the fate to which he ha } sent so rnany-a cell In the Tower
 Rurnors began to circulate to the effec , that Overbury had not died 9 natura death and to crown all, the apothecary' lad, died in Flanders with the news O his lips of the work he and his maste ? had been hired to do.
 5 Then followed & long series of trial l which involved nearly all the nobilit of Britain. Heiwyss made a confessio ? l was hanged In chains on Tower Kill, an 1 his gibbet left to stand a warning fo g l wrongdoers Mrs. Turner who had int g mate knowledge of the plot, was hun at Tyburn and Franklin and Westo e were strung up like dogs. Papers wer I seized from an inn, "Tfe Beaver Hat, : and sufficient evidence to hand the LOT :, and Lady thrice if the king had so wan ed. But instead they were both hel 6 and sent to the Tower. The cell occt o pied by Overbury being the only one vs
 cant, Sir George More bade them ente l Put me not in there" shriel1ed France l livid with horror. "I shall never slee p again, his ghost will haunt my bed" Sf . was then carried back to her apartmel l. until Raleighs place in the garden coul l. be prepared for her.
 e On May 24, 161s Frances held up h It hand in answer to her name in Wes