Earl and Countess of Somerset found guilty of poisoning Overbury

Historical Context Note

Litencyc Editors (Independent Scholar - Europe)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.03: English Writing and Culture: Renaissance (Elizabethan and Jacobean periods) , 1485-1625.
Vol. editors: William M. Hamlin (Washington State University), J A Roe (University of York), Virginia Mason Vaughan (Clark University), Ema Vyroubalova (Trinity College Dublin)

Domains

Attempts, Assassinations, Executions

Dates

Date of occurrence 1616-05-24

Places

England (Location)

Resources

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Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset, and his wife Frances, face trial, accused of being implicated in the poisoning of Sir Thomas Overbury in 1613. Although they are found guilty, they get away with merely being banished from court, thanks to a pardon from the King. This episode reinforces the popular image of James I's court as a centre of corruption.

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Citation: Editors, Litencyc. "Earl and Countess of Somerset found guilty of poisoning Overbury". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 February 2011 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=15771, accessed 06 May 2024.]

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