Countess of Somerset
A European Rebel
Thomas Overbury, who had been imprisoned at the request of Frances’ family and James I, who loathed him, was found dead on the 15th September, just over a week before the annulment was granted. At first his death was said to be from ‘natural causes’ but then in July 1615 it was discovered that he had been poisoned. What followed was one of the greatest scandals of the seventeenth century when Frances and her new husband, by now the darlings of James I’s court were speedily implicated in Overbury’s murder and imprisoned in the Tower where they were tried and found guilty of murder. Frances would admit to being involved but Somerset refused to confess, despite angst ridden messages from James I begging him to confess his guilt so that he could pardon him. The couple were sentenced to death but were pardoned and remained in captivity until 1622.