216 CHARGE AGAINST ROBERT 



Overbury s part, he had threatened my lord, that 

 whether lie did live or die, my lord s shame should 

 never die, but he would leave him the most odious 

 man of the world. And farther, that my lord was 

 like enough to repent it, in the place where Over- 

 bury wrote, which was the Tower of London. He 

 was a true prophet in that : so here is the height of 

 the secrets. 



Thirdly, I will shew you, that all the king s bu 

 siness was by my lord put into Overbury s hands ; 

 so as there is work enough for secrets, whatsoever 

 they were : and like princes confederates, they had 

 their ciphers and jargons. 



And lastly, I will shew you that it is but a toy 

 to say that the malice was only in respect he spake 

 dishonourably of the lady ; or for doubt of breaking 

 the marriage : for that Overbury was a coadjutor to 

 that love, and the lord of Somerset was as deep in 

 speaking ill of the lady as Overbury. And again, 

 it was too late for that matter, for the bargain of 

 the match was then made and past. And if it had 

 been no more but to remove Overbury from disturb 

 ing of the match, it had been an easy matter to have 

 banded over Overbury beyond seas, for which they 

 had a fair way; but that would not serve their 

 turn. 



And lastly, &quot; periculum periculo vincitur&quot;, to go 

 so far as an impoisonment, must have a deeper malice 

 than flashes : for the cause must bear a proportion 

 to the effect. 



For the next general head of proofs, which con- 



