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was taken violently ill； so ill that in the weeks he lay in bed his life was
despaired of。 Only the intervention of the King's own physician； one Sir
Theodore Mayerne； would appear to have saved him。
Her husband slowly convalescing； Lady Essex was summoned by her
family back to London。 In London； while Lord Essex mended in health；
she was much in the company of her ‘‘sweet Turner。'' In addition to the
house in Paternoster Row the little widow had a pretty riverside cottage at
Hammersmith； and both were at the disposal of Lady Essex and her lover
for stolen meetings。 Those meetings were put a stop to by the recovery
of Lord Essex； and with his recovery his lordship exhibited a new mood of
determination。 Backed by her ladyship's family； he ordered her to
accompany him to their country place of Chartley。 Her ladyship had to
obey。
The stages of the journey were marked by the nightly illness of his
lordship。 By the time they arrived at Chartley itself he was in a condition
little if at all less dangerous than that from which he had been rescued by
the King's physician。 His illness lasted for weeks； and during this time
her ladyship wrote many a letter to Anne Turner and to Dr Forman。 She
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was afraid his lordship would live。 She was afraid his lordship would die。
She was afraid she would lose the love of Rochester。 She begged Anne
Turner and Forman to work their best magic for her aid。 She was afraid
that if his lordship recovered the spells might prove useless； that his
attempts to assert his rights as a husband would begin again； and that there；
in the heart of the country and so far from any refuge； they might take a
form she would be unable to resist
His lordship did recover。 His attempts to assert his rights as a
husband did begin again。 The struggle between them； Frances constant
in her obduracy； lasted several months。 Her obstinacy wore down his。
At long last he let her go。
％ III
If the fate that overtook Frances Howard and Rochester； and with them
Anne Turner and many another； is to be properly understood； a brief word
on the political situation in England at this time will be neededor； rather；
a word on the political personages； with their antagonisms。
Next in closeness to the King's ear after Rochester； and perhaps more
trusted as a counsellor by that ‘‘wise fool；'' there had been Robert Cecil；
Lord Salisbury； for a long time First Secretary of State。 But about the
time when Lady Essex finally parted with her husband Cecil died；
depriving England of her keenest brain and the staunchest heart in her
causes。 If there had been no Rochester the likeliest man in the kingdom
to succeed to the power and offices of Cecil would have been the Earl of
Northampton； uncle of Lord Suffolk； who was the father of Lady Essex。
Northampton； as stated； held the office of Lord Privy Seal。
The Howard family had done the State great service in the past。 Its
present representatives； Northampton and Suffolk； were anxious to do the
State great service； as they conceived it； in the future。 They were；
however； Catholics in all but open acknowledgment； and as such were
opposed by the Protestants； who had at their head Prince Henry。 This
was an opposition that they might have stomached。 It was one that they
might even have got over； for the Prince and his father； the King； were not
the best of friends。 The obstacle to their ambitions； and one they found
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hard to stomach； was the upstart Rochester。 And even Rochester would
hardly have stood in their way had his power in the Council depended on
his own ability。 The brain that directed Robert Carr belonged to another
man。 This was Sir Thomas Overbury。
On the death of Cecil the real contenders for the vacant office of First
Secretary of Statethe highest office in the landwere not the wily
Northampton and the relatively unintelligent Rochester； but the subtle
Northampton and the quite as subtle； and perhaps more spacious…minded；
Thomas Overbury。 There was； it will be apprehended； a possible
weakness on the Overbury side。 The gemel…chain； like that of many links；
is merely as strong as its weakest member。 Overbury had no approach to
the King save through the King's favourite。 Rochester could have no real
weight with the King； at least in affairs of State； except what he borrowed
from Overbury。 Divided； the two were powerless。 No； more than that；
there had to be no flaw in their linking。
The wily Northampton； one may be certain； was fully aware of this
possible weakness in the combination opposed to his advancement。 He
would be fully aware； that is； that it was there potentially； but when he
began； as his activities would indicate； to work for the creation of that flaw
in the relationship between Rochester and Overbury it is unlikely that he
knew the flaw had already begun to develop。 Unknown to him；
circumstance already had begun to operate in his favour。
Overbury was Rochester's tutor in more than appertained to affairs of
State。 It is more than likely that in Carr's wooing of Lady Essex he had
held the role of Cyrano de Bergerac； writing those gracefully turned letters
and composing those accomplished verses which did so much to augment
and give constancy to her ladyship's love for Rochester。 It is certain； at
any rate； that Overbury was privy to all the correspondence passing
between the pair； and that even such events as the supplying by Forman
and Mrs Turner of that magic powder； and the Countess's use of it upon
her husband； were well within his knowledge。
While the affair between his alter ego and the Lady Essex might be
looked upon as mere dalliance； a passionate episode likely to wither with a
speed equal to that of its growth； Overbury； it is probable； found cynical
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amusement in helping it on。