The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume I.Cibber, Theophilus
General
The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume I.
Cibber, Theophilus
Poets, English -- Biography -- Early works to 1800; Poets, Irish -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
Of all crimes which the heart of man conceives, as none is so enormous
as murder, so it more frequently meets punishment in this life than
any other. This barbarous assassination was soon revealed; for
notwithstanding what the conspirators had given out, suspicions ran
high that Sir Thomas was poisoned; upon which Weston was strictly
examined by Lord Cook, who before his lordship persisted in denying
the same; but the Bishop of London afterwards conversing with him,
pressing the thing home to his conscience, and opening all the terrors
of another life to his mind, he was moved to confess the whole. He
related how Mrs. Turner and the Countess became acquainted, and
discovered all those who were any way concerned in it; upon which they
were all apprehended, and some sent to Newgate, and others to the
Tower. Having thus confessed, and being convicted according to due
course of law, he was hanged at Tyburn, after him Mrs. Turner, after
her Franklin, then Sir Gervis Yelvis, being found guilty on their
several arraignments, were executed; some of them died penitent. The
Earl and the Countess were both condemned, but notwithstanding their
guilt being greater than any of the other criminals, the King, to the
astonishment of all his subjects, forgave them, but they were both
forbid to appear at court.
There was something strangely unaccountable in the behaviour of
Somerset after condemnation. When he was asked what he thought of
his condition, and if he was preparing to die, he answered, that he
thought not of it at all, for he was sure the King durst not command
him to be executed. This ridiculous boasting and bidding defiance to
his majesty's power, was construed by some in a very odd manner; and
there were not wanting those who asserted, that Somerset was privy
to a secret of the King's, which if it had been revealed, would have
produced the strangest consternation in the kingdom that ever was
known, and drawn down infamy upon his majesty for ever; but as nothing
can be ascertained concerning it, it might seem unfair to impute to
this silly Prince more faults than he perhaps committed: It is certain
he was the slave of his favourites, and not the most shocking crime
in them, it seems, could entirely alienate his affections, and it is
doubtful whether the saving of Somerset or the execution of Raleigh
reflects most disgrace upon his reign. Some have said, that the body
of Sir Thomas Overbury was thrown into an obscure pit; but Wood, says
it appears from the Tower registers, that it was interred in the
chapel; which seems more probable. There is an epitaph which
Winstanley has preserved, written by our author upon himself, which I
shall here insert, as it serves to illustrate his versification.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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