OVERBURY (Sir Thomas), a learned and worthy English gentleman, was born in 1581; and studied at Queen's college, Oxford, after which he removed to the Middle-temple London. He afterwards travelled for some time, and returned a most accomplished per-
son 3
Overbury. son; when he contracted an intimate acquaintance
Over. with Sir Robert Carr, knight of the bath, who be-
ing soon after taken into his majesty's favour, had Mr
Overbury knighted at Greenwich. Sir Thomas per-
ceiving the familiarity which subsisted between his
patron Carr, now made viscount Rochester, and the
lady Frances, the wife of Robert earl of Essex, was
so much displeased at it, that he endeavoured to dissuade
him from keeping her company, and from proceeding
in the base design he had formed of having her first
divorced from her husband, and then marrying her.
The viscount, resenting this honest advice, told what
he had said to the lady, who was as remarkable
for her wickedness as for her beauty; on which they
immediately resolved on his destruction. About this
time, the king wanting to send an ambassador abroad,
the viscount recommended Sir Thomas Overbury.
His majesty approving the choice, the viscount im-
parted the king's intentions to Sir Thomas; but,
under a treacherous shew of friendship, dissuaded him
from accepting of that employment, as it might
hinder him from a better way of advancement; pro-
mising that he would prevent his majesty from being
displeased at his refusal. The viscount then went
to the king, and artfully incensing his majesty against
Sir Thomas for refusing to obey his commands, that
gentleman was committed to the tower for his con-
tempt, on the 21st of April 1613, where he con-
tinued till he was dispatched by poison on the 15th
of September following, and his body was interred
in the tower-chapel the same day. About two years
after, the whole contrivance of his death was disco-
vered. On this several persons were condemned
and executed; but tho' Carr, earl of Somerset, and the lady
Frances his countess, were condemned to death for
contriving the murder, and hiring the persons who
were concerned in it, the king only banished them
from court, and afterwards pardoned them. Sir Tho-
mas Overbury wrote several poems, &c. and an account
his travels.