early discoveries of a rising genius. In 1595, the 14th year
of his age, he became a gentleman commoner in Queen's-College in
Oxford, and in 1598, as a 'squire's son, he took the degree of
batchelor of arts; he removed from thence to the Middle-Temple, in
order to study the municipal law, but did not long remain there[2].
His genius, which was of a sprightly kind, could not bear the
confinement of a student, or the drudgery of reading law; he abandoned
it therefore, and travelled into France, where he so improved himself
in polite accomplishments, that when he returned he was looked upon as
one of the most finished gentlemen about court.

Soon after his arrival in England, he contracted an intimacy, which
afterwards grew into friendship with Sir Robert Carre, a Scotch
gentleman, a favourite with king James, and afterwards earl of
Somerset. Such was the warmth of friendship in which these two
gentlemen lived, that they were inseparable. Carre could enter into no
scheme, nor pursue any measures, without the advice and concurrence of
Overbury, nor could Overbury enjoy any felicity but in the company of
him he loved; their friendship was the subject of court-conversation,
and their genius seemed so much alike, that it was reasonable to
suppose no breach could ever be produced between them; but such it
seems is the power of woman, such the influence of beauty, that even
the sacred ties of friendship are broke asunder by the magic energy of
these superior charms. Carre fell in love with lady Frances Howard,
daughter to the Earl of Suffolk, and lately divorced from the Earl
of Essex[3]. He communicated his passion to his friend, who was too
penetrating not to know that no man could live with much comfort, with
a woman of the Countess's stamp, of whose morals he had a bad opinion;
he insinuated to Carre some suspicions, and those well founded,
against her honour; he dissuaded him with all the warmth of the
sincerest friendship, to desist from a match that would involve him in
misery, and not to suffer his passion for her beauty to have so much
sway over him, as to make him sacrifice his peace to its indulgence.

Carre, who was desperately in love, forgetting the ties of honour as
well as friendship, communicated to the lady, what Overbury had said
of her, and they who have read the heart of woman, will be at no loss
to conceive what reception she gave that unwelcome report. She knew,
that Carre was immoderately attached to Ove