:

Baronet Portman," of Sommersetshire, hathe maried the Earl of

Darbye's eldest daughter.

b

August.-The Ladie Chandos hathe made her Lorde the father August. of a fayre daughter.

tenced.

Peachampe, the Minister of Sommersetshire, thatt was in prison Peacham senbefore your departure for writinge of a sermon against the King and the present government, hathe beene arraygned att Taunton, and receved iudgement to be hangd, drawne, and quartered; but the execution is stayed.

The Bishoppe of Winchester,d att the intercession of the Erle of Sommerset, is sworne a counsellor.

Sir Brian Obrien,e the Erle of Tomond's second sonne, is maried to the Ladie Sanquer.

Edward Lord Russell, eldest son and heir apparent of Francis second Earl of Bedford, and uncle of the then Earl.

a Sir Henry Portman, 2d Baronet, married Lady Anne Stanley, daughter of William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby, and died s.p. 1621.

b Anne, daughter and coheir of Ferdinando Earl of Derby, wife of Grey Brydges, 5th Lord Chandos, who, notwithstanding her marriage with a Baron, obtained, in 1623, a special patent of precedency as an Earl's daughter. She had two daughters. The elder, Elizabeth, married the Earl of Castlehaven, and Anne, the younger, a gentleman of the name of Totteson.

Edmund Peacham, Rector of Hinton St. George, co. Somerset. As early as 1603 he was accused of uttering in a sermon seditious and railing words against the King, and more particularly against his Councillors, the Bishops, and Judges. In 1614 he was again in trouble. Upon being asked what he would give to the Benevolence upon the Princess's marriage, he answered that he would say with St. Peter, gold and silver he had none, but that he had he would give, which was his prayers for the King. He was committed to the Tower, and upon his papers being searched a sermon of a seditious and treasonable character was discovered. He died in Taunton gaol in 1614, and Chamberlain says, “he left behind him a most wicked and desperate writing, worse than that he was convicted for."-Birch, vol. i. p. 393.

d Thomas Bilson, born 1574, Prebendary of Winchester 1576, Bishop of Worcester 1596, Bishop of Winchester 1597, died 1686. He took a very active part in the divorce of the Earl and Countess of Essex; hence his favour with Somerset.

e Sir Barnabas O'Brien, 2d son of Donogh 4th Earl of Thomond. He took his seat in the House of Peers upon the death of his elder brother, as 6th Earl of Thomond, on 19 March, 1639. For his fidelity and services to King Charles I. during the Civil Wars,

1615. September.

October.

Death of Sir Thomas Overbury.

September 1615.-The Lords Willoghbye and Norris, meetinge att the Bathe, in communication fell to yll words, and foughte in the churche yard, where swordes beinge drawne on ether side, a man of the Lord Willoghbies was slayne by the Lord Norris. The jurye found itt to be manslaughter, for the which the Lord Norris hathe a pardon.

The Ladie Arbella © is dead in the Tower, and by night buried in her grandmother's tombe in King Henry 7 Chapple.

The old Ladie Dorset,d widdow to the olld Threasurer Dorset, is dead, which hath geven a great addition to the now Erle of Dorsett's

estate.e

The Erle of Lincolne is dead, and Sir Arthur Gorges is in possession of his house in Chelsey.

October.-The Kinge beinge at Beaulye," the Erle of Southampton's house, Mr. Secretarye Winwoodi informed the Kinge thatt by indirect and mallitious meanes, Sir Thomas Overburie was poysoned in the Tower. The Kinge, who is vnpartiallye just in all his wayes, (although the information poynted att the Erle of Somerset,) gave

he was created Marquess of Billing, co. Northampton, but as, in consequence of the troubles of the time, his patent never passed under the great seal, his posterity did not enjoy the dignity. He married Mary widow of James Lord Sanquhar, daughter of Sir George Fermor.

a Robert Lord Willoughby de Eresby.

b Francis Lord Norris, of Bisham.

c Arabella Stuart, daughter of Charles Earl of Lennox, cousin of the King.

d Cicely, daughter of Sir John Baker, of Cissenhurst, co. Kent, married Thomas Sackville, afterwards Baron Buckhurst, and Earl of Dorset; Lord High Treasurer 1603-8. e Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl.

Henry Clinton, 2nd Earl, succeeded his father 1585. His only daughter, Elizabeth, was the wife of Sir Arthur Gorges.

g Beaulieu.

h Sir Ralph Winwood, made Secretary of State 1614, died 27th October, 1617. iSir Thomas Overbury was descended from an ancient Gloucestershire family. After receiving his education at Queen's College, Oxford, he entered at the Middle Temple. Knighted 1609. He was a man of many and varied accomplishments.

k Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset, made Gentleman of the Bedchamber and Lord

с

a

b

commandment for the enquirie of itt, wherevppon the Lietenant of the Tower, Sir Gervais Elvishe, was examined, who cast the aspersion of the fault vppon one Weston, who was his keeper and attended Overburie in his restraynt: he confessed the fact, beinge put to serve the lieutenant by Sir Thomas Monson, and confessed thatt the Countesse of Somerset was the procurer of itt, who by Mrs. Turner, (widdow of Doctor Turner, the phisitian,) att sundry tymes brought and sent vnto him poysons in tartes and gellye, which Overburye did eat; but those poysons not workinge the effect, a glister was administered vnto him by an apothecaryes boy, who had 20li for his reward, in the which there was mercurye and equafortis, which within a few howres dispatched him. He allso accused one James Franklin to be a dealer in this murder. For this horrible fact Weston was hanged att Tyburne; att whose death Sir John Hollis,e Sir John Wentworth, Sir John Lidcott, and Mr. Edward Sacke

g

Treasurer of Scotland 1611, created Baron of Branspeth and Viscount Rochester, a Privy Councillor and K.G. 1612, Earl of Somerset 1613, married the Countess of Essex 1613, made Lord Chamberlain 1613. Died 1645.

a Sir Gervais Elwes was of a Lincolnshire family, and a member of Lincoln's Inn. He was knighted at Theobalds 1603, (Nichols's Progresses, vol. i. p. 112,) and appointed Lieutenant of the Tower 1611.

b Sir Thomas Monson, eldest son of Sir John Monson, of Charleton, co. Kent, and brother of Sir William the celebrated Admiral. He was knighted 1588, and created a Baronet 1611, in which year he was Keeper of the Armoury. In 1612 he was Keeper of Naval and other warlike instruments and ammunition, and in 1618 Steward of the Duchy of Lancaster. (S.P.O. Dom. Corr.) Died in 1641, at an advanced age.

c Frances, 2nd daughter of the Earl of Suffolk, the divorced wife of Robert 3rd Earl of Essex.

d Her father's name was Norton. (Camden's Annals.) She is said to have been eminently beautiful, and to have been educated with the Countess of Somerset. Her brother was in the service of the prince.—Birch, vol. i. p. 377.

e Sir John Hollis, of Houghton, co. Northampton, was one of the Band of Gentlemen Pensioners under Queen Elizabeth and King James, and was Controller of the Household of the Prince of Wales. Created Baron Houghton 1616, and Earl of Clare 1624 Died 1637.

f Sir John Wentworth, of Gosfield, co. Essex, knighted 1603, created a Baronet 29th June, 1611. Died 1631, s. p.

g Sir John Lidcott, of Ruscombe, co. Berks, knighted at Hampton Court 1609. He was Overbury's brother-in-law.

November.

a

ville, for askinge of questions of Weston in some disorderlye manner, were committed by the Lords of the Counsayle, and Hollis and Went worthe were fined in the Starre Chamber, all the rest were onelye imprisoned. Lomesdon, the pentioner, for deliveringe to the Kinge a written paper, which in some sort did taske the proceedings of the Judges in the arraygnement of Weston, was likewise fined in the Starre Chamber, and sent prisoner to the Tower, where he remaynes, and so dothe Sir John Hollis in the Fleet; the rest above mentioned are att libertie.

Presentlye after the execution of Weston, the Erle of Somerset was first restrayned in his owne lodinge, and from thence within a few dayes comitted prisoner to the Dean of Westminster: and his ladie att the same tyme restrayned to her chamber, and shortly after sent prisoner to the Whitefriars, where Sir William Smith is her keeper.c

November, 1615.-The Duke of Lennox d made Lord Steward of the King's house.

The 9th of this monethe Mrs. Turner was condemned as guiltie of Overburies deathe.

The 2. of November Sir Gervais Elvishe was displaced, and Sir

a Mr. Edward Sackville, 3rd son of Robert 2d Earl of Dorset, and brother of Richard 3rd Earl, whom he succeeded in 1624.

b Holles and Wentworth were each fined 1,0007. (Camden,) and Lumsden 2,0001.

Sir William Smith, of Hill Hall, co. Essex, (nephew of Sir Thomas Smith, Secretary of State in the reign of Edward VI.) knighted 1603. The Countess was confided to his care on the 26th Oct., and was, at first, confined at the Cockpit, but on the following day, for better accommodation and security, was removed to the Lord d'Aubigny's house at Blackfriars. On the 17th Nov. Sir William Smith reported that the Countess threatened her own life; that she, laying her hand on her belly, sayd, "If I were ridd of this burden, it is my death that is looked for, and my death they shall have." (S.P.O. Dom. Corr.) So well did Smith execute his office, that on the 15th May in the next year he was granted the office of Marshal of the King's Bench. (S.P.O. Grant Book.) He died 1620. d Lodovick Stuart, second Duke of Lennox. He was High Chamberlain and Admiral of Scotland, Ambassador to France 1601, created K.G. 1603, Baron Setringham and Earl of Richmond 1613, and Duke of Richmond 1623. He filled the offices of Lord Steward and First Gentleman of the Bedchamber. Died 1624, s. p.

George Moore made Lieutenant of the Tower, and the same day the Erle of Sommersett was sent prisoner to the Tower.

The 14. Mrs Turner was hanged att Tibourne for Overburies deathe.

The 16. Sir Gervais Elvishe was condemned as a principall in the poysoninge of Overburie, who cast many aspertions vppon the Erle, but more pregnantlye vppon the Countesse of Sommerset, and allso vppon the Erle of Northampton," and Sir Thomas Monson, who was then allso prisoner in an alderman's house for the same cause; and vppon the 20 day followinge he was hanged vppon a gibbett on the Tower hyll.

с

The 27. James Franklin (afore mentioned) was condemned for the poysoninge as aforesayed. He accused bothe the Erle and his ladie, but principallye the Countesse, and he forgott not Sir Thomas Monson.

Sir John Leedes d and his wife, who is daughter to Sir Thomas Monson, for unreverent speeches of the Kinge, and speeking to muche of this poysoninge busines, were committed, but he was quicklye sett at libertie, but she remayned prisoner somme dayes after him.

Sir Thomas Challonere and the old Ladie Winsor f are dead.

a Sir George Moore, of Catteshall, co. Surrey, in right of which he claimed the office of Usher of the Chamber on the accession of James I. This claim, like many others of a similar nature, was left unexamined. (S.P.O. Dom. Corr. vol. ii. No. 76.) He was Chancellor of the Order of the Garter 1610-28, (Nicolas, Hist. of the Orders of Knighthood, vol. ii. 440,) and he held jointly with Sir Robert Moore the office of Constable of Farnham Castle. He was also Receiver-General in the Household of the Prince of Wales. He was a man of great abilities, and a frequent speaker in the House of Commons.

b Henry Howard, created Baron Howard of Marnhill, and Earl of Northampton, 1604, K.G. A man of very bad character. He died at his mansion at Charing Cross (now Northumberland House), June 15, 1614, s. p., just early enough to avoid an ignominious

end.

c Sir John Swinnerton's. He was Sheriff of London 1603, at which time he was knighted. Lord Mayor 1612.

b Sir John Leeds of Surrey, knighted 7th January, 1611. He was of the Sussex and Cambridge family of Leeds.

e Sir Thomas Chaloner, of Gisborough, co. York, and Steeple Claydon, co. Bucks. A man of eminent abilities, who first introduced the manufacture of alum into this country. f Anne, daughter and coheir of Thomas Rivell, of Chippenham, co. Cambridge, esq., widow of Henry fifth Baron Windsor, of Stanwell.