she stands accused(她是被告)-第14章
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three children； she must have had ample opportunity for seeing through
the old charlatan。
Antony Weldon； the contemporary writer already quoted； is something
too scurrilous and too apparently biased to be altogether a trustworthy
authority。 He seems to have been the type of gossip （still to be met in
London clubs） who can always tell with circumstance how the duchess
came to have a black baby； and the exact composition of the party at
which Midas played at ‘strip poker。' But he was； like many of his kind；
an amusing enough companion for the idle moment； and his description of
Dr Forman is probably fairly close to the truth。
‘‘This Forman；'' he says；
was a silly fellow who dwelt in Lambeth； a very silly fellow； yet had
wit enough to cheat the ladies and other women； by pretending skill in
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telling their fortunes； as whether they should bury their husbands； and
what second husbands they should have； and whether they should enjoy
their loves； or whether maids should get husbands； or enjoy their servants
to themselves without corrivals： but before he would tell them anything
they must write their names in his alphabetical book with their own
handwriting。 By this trick he kept them in awe； if they should complain
of his abusing them； as in truth he did nothing else。 Besides； it was
believed； some meetings were at his house； wherein the art of the bawd
was more beneficial to him than that of a conjurer； and that he was a better
artist in the one than in the other： and that you may know his skill； he was
himself a cuckold； having a very pretty wench to his wife； which would
say； she did it to try his skill； but it fared with him as with astrologers that
cannot foresee their own destiny。
And here comes an addendum； the point of which finds confirmation
elsewhere。 It has reference to the trial of Anne Turner； to which we shall
come later。
‘‘I well remember there was much mirth made in the Court upon the
showing of the book； for； it was reported； the first leaf my lord Cook
＇Coke； the Lord Chief Justice＇ lighted on he found his own wife's name。''
Whatever Anne's reason for doing so； it was to this scortatory old scab
that she turned for help in cozening the fair young Countess。 The devil
knows to what obscene ritual the girl was introduced。 There is evidence
that the thaumaturgy practised by Forman did not want for lewdnessas
magic of the sort does not to this dayand in this regard Master Weldon
cannot be far astray when he makes our pretty Anne out to be the veriest
baggage。
Magic or no magic； philtre or no philtre； it was not long before Lady
Essex had her wish。 The Viscount Rochester fell as desperately in love
with her as she was with him。
There was； you may be sure； no small amount of scandalous chatter in
the Court over the quickly obvious attachment the one to the other of this
handsome couple。 So much of this scandalous chatter has found record
by the pens of contemporary and later gossip…writers that it is hard indeed
to extract the truth。 It is certain； however； that had the love between
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Robert Carr and Frances Howard been as chaste as ice； as pure as snow；
jealousy would still have done its worst in besmirching。 It was not； if the
Rabelaisian trend in so much of Jacobean writing be any indication； a
particularly moral age。 Few ages in history are。 It was not； with a
reputed pervert as the fount of honour； a particularly moral Court。 Since
the emergence of the lovely young Countess from tutelage at Audley End
there had been no lack of suitors for her favour。 And when Frances so
openly exhibited her preference for the King's minion there would be
some among those disappointed suitors who would whisper； greenly； that
Rochester had been granted that prisage which was the right of the absent
Essex； a right which they themselves had been quite ready to usurp。 It is
hardly likely that there would be complete abnegation of salty gossip
among the ladies of the Court； their Apollo being snatched by a mere chit
of a girl。
What relative happiness there may have been for the pair in their
lovingit could not； in the hindrance there was to their free mating； have
been an absolute happiness was shattered after some time by the return
to England of the young husband。 The Earl of Essex； now almost come
to man's estate； arrived to take up the position which his rank entitled him
to expect in the Court； and to assume the responsibilities and rights which；
he fancied； belonged to him as a married man。 In respect of the latter
part of his intention he immediately found himself balked。 His wife；
perhaps all the deeper in love with Rochester for this threat to their
happiness； declared that she had no mind to be held by the marriage forced
on her in infancy； and begged her husband to agree to its annulment。
It had been better for young Essex to have agreed at once。 He would
have spared himself； ultimately； a great deal of humiliation through
ridicule。 But he tried to enforce his rights as a husband； a proceeding
than which there is none more absurd should the wife prove obdurate。
And prove obdurate his wife did。 She was to be moved neither by threat
nor by pleading。 It was； you will notice； a comedy situation； husband not
perhaps amorous so much as the thwarted possessor of the unpossessable
wife frigid and a maid； as far； at least； as the husband was concerned； and
her weeping eyes turned yearningly elsewhere。 A comedy situation； yes；
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and at this distance almost farcicalbut for certain elements in it
approaching tragedy。
Badgered； not only by her husband but by her own relatives； scared no
doubt； certainly unhappy； unable for politic reasons to appeal freely to her
beloved Robin； to whom might Frances turn but the helpful Turner？ And
to whom； having turned to pretty Anne； was she likely to be led but again
to the wizard of Lambeth？
Dr Forman had a heart for beauty in distress； but dissipating the
ardency of an exigent husband was a difficult matter compared with
attracting that of a negligent lover。 It was also much more costly。 A
powder there was； indeed； which； administered secretly by small regular
doses in the husband's food or drink； would soon cool his ardour； but the
process of manufacture and the ingredients were enormously expensive。
Frances got her powder。
The first dose was administered to Lord Essex just before his departure
from a visit to his wife at Audley End。 On his arrival back in London he
was taken violently ill； so ill that in the weeks he lay in bed his life was
despaired of。 Only the intervention of the King's own physician； one
