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exercise of her talent and ambition her pride in it would drive her。 And
her pride was absolute。 It would； says a contemporary diarist； ‘‘make her
fly at any pitch rather than fall into the jaws of want。''＇9＇
＇9＇ Antony Weldon； The Court and Character of King James （1651）。
％ II
In his romance The Minion； Rafael Sabatini makes the first meeting of
Anne Turner and the Countess of Essex occur in 1610 or 1611。 With this
date Judge A。 E。 Parry； in his book The Overbury Mystery；＇10＇ seems to
agree in part。 There is； however； warrant enough for believing that the
two women had met long before that time。 Anne Turner herself； pleading
at her trial for mercy from Sir Edward Coke； the Lord Chief Justice； put
forward the plea that she had been ‘‘ever brought up with the Countess of
Essex； and had been a long time her servant。''＇11＇ She also made the like
extenuative plea on the scaffold。＇12＇ Judge Parry seems to follow some
of the contemporary writers in assuming that Anne was a spy in the pay of
the Lord Privy Seal； the Earl of Northampton。 If this was so there is
further ground for believing that Anne and Lady Essex had earlier contacts；
for Northampton was Lady Essex's great…uncle。 The longer association
would go far in explaining the terrible conspiracy into which； from soon
after that time； the two women so readily fell togethera criminal
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conspiracy； in which the reader may see something of the ‘‘false nurse'' in
Anne Turner and something of Jean Livingstone in Frances Howard； Lady
Essex。
＇10＇ Fisher Unwin； 1925。 ＇11＇ State Trials （Cobbett's edition）。 ＇12＇
Antony Weldon。
It was about this time； 1610…1611； that Lady Essex began to find
herself interested in the handsome Robert Carr； then Viscount Rochester。
Having reached the mature age of eighteen； the lovely Frances had been
brought by her mother； the Countess of Suffolk； to Court。 Highest in the
King's favour； and so； with his remarkably good looks； his charm； and the
elegant taste in attire and personal appointment which his new wealth
allowed him lavishly to indulge； Rochester was by far the most brilliant
figure there。 Frances fell in love with the King's minion。
Rochester； it would appear； did not immediately respond to the lady's
advances。 They were probably too shy； too tentative； to attract
Rochester's attention。 It is probable； also； that there were plenty of
beautiful women about the Court； more mature； more practised in the arts
of coquetry than Frances； and very likely not at all ‘blate'as Carr and his
master would put itin showing themselves ready for conquest by the
King's handsome favourite。
Whether the acquaintance of Lady Essex with Mrs Turner was of long
standing or not； it was to the versatile Anne that her ladyship turned as
confidante。 The hint regarding Anne's skill in divination will be
remembered。 Having regard to the period； and to the alchemistic nature
of the goods that composed so much of Anne's stock…in…trade at the sign of
the Golden Distaff； in Paternoster Row； it may be conjectured that the
love…lorn Frances had thoughts of a philtre。
With an expensive lover and children to maintain； to say nothing of
her own luxurious habits； Anne Turner would see in the Countess's appeal
a chance to turn more than one penny into the family exchequer。 She
was too much the opportunist to let any consideration of old acquaintance
interfere with working such a potential gold…mine as now seemed to lie
open to her pretty but prehensile fingers。 Lady Essex was rich。 She
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SHE STANDS ACCUSED
was also ardent in her desire。 The game was too big for Anne to play
single…handed。 A real expert in cozening； a master of guile； was wanted
to exploit the opportunity to its limit。
It is a curious phenomenon； and one that constantly recurs in the
history of cozenage； how people who live by spoof fall victims so readily
to spoofery。 Anne Turner had brains。 There is no doubt of it。 Apart
from that genuine and honest talent in costume…design which made her
work acceptable to such an outstanding genius as Inigo Jones； she lived by
guile。 But I have now to invite you to see her at the feet of one of the
silliest charlatans who ever lived。 There is； of course； the possibility that
Anne sat at the feet of this silly charlatan for what she might learn for the
extension of her own technique。 Or； again； it may have been that the
wizard of Lambeth； whom she consulted in the Lady Essex affair； could
provide a more impressive setting for spoof than she had handy； or that
they were simply rogues together。 My trouble is to understand why； by
the time that the Lady Essex came to her with her problem； Anne had not
exhausted all the gambits in flummery that were at the command of the
preposterous Dr Forman。
The connexion with Dr Forman was part of the legacy left Anne by Dr
Turner。 Her husband had been the friend and patron of Forman； so that
by the time Anne had taken Mainwaring for her lover； and had borne him
three children； she must have had ample opportunity for seeing through
the old charlatan。
Antony Weldon； the contemporary writer already quoted； is something
too scurrilous and too apparently biased to be altogether a trustworthy
authority。 He seems to have been the type of gossip （still to be met in
London clubs） who can always tell with circumstance how the duchess
came to have a black baby； and the exact composition of the party at
which Midas played at ‘strip poker。' But he was； like many of his kind；
an amusing enough companion for the idle moment； and his description of
Dr Forman is probably fairly close to the truth。
‘‘This Forman；'' he says；
was a silly fellow who dwelt in Lambeth； a very silly fellow； yet had
wit enough to cheat the ladies and other women； by pretending skill in
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