ury being of a strong
constitution, held long out against their influence: his body broke
out in blotches and blains, which occasioned the report industriously
propagated by Somerset, of his having died of the French Disease. At
last they produced his death by the application of a poisoned
clyster, by which he next day in painful agonies expired. Thus
(says Winstanley) "by the malice of a woman that worthy Knight was
murthered, who yet still lives in that witty poem of his, entitled, A
Wife, as is well expressed by the verses under his picture."

A man's best fortune or his worst's a wife,
Yet I, that knew no marriage, peace nor strife
Live by a good one, by a bad one lost my life.

Of all crimes which the heart of man conceives, as none is so enormous
as murder, so it more frequently meets punishment in this life than
any other. This barbarous assassination was soon revealed; for
notwithstanding what the conspirators had given out, suspicions ran
high that Sir Thomas was poisoned; upon which Weston was strictly
examined by Lord Cook, who before his lordship persisted in denying
the same; but the Bishop of London afterwards conversing with him,
pressing the thing home to his conscience, and opening all the terrors
of another life to his mind, he was moved to confess the whole. He
related how Mrs. Turner and the Countess became acquainted, and
discovered all those who were any way concerned in it; upon which they
were all apprehended, and some sent to Newgate, and others to the
Tower. Having thus confessed, and being convicted according to due
course of law, he was hanged at Tyburn, after him Mrs. Turner, after
her Franklin, then Sir Gervis Yelvis, being found guilty on their
several arraignments, were executed; some of them died penitent. The
Earl and the Countess were both condemned, but notwithstanding their
guilt being greater than any of the other criminals, the King, to the
astonishment of all his subjects, forgave them, but they were both
forbid to appear at court.

There was something strangely unaccountable in the behaviour of
Somerset after condemnation. When he was asked what he thought of
his condition, and if he was preparing to die, he answered, that he
thought not of it at all, for he was sure the King durst not command
him to be executed. This ridiculous boasting and bidding defiance to
his majesty's power, was construed by some in a very odd manner; and
there were not wanting those who asserted