she stands accused(她是被告)-第12节
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of the contemporary writers in assuming that Anne was a spy in the pay of
the Lord Privy Seal； the Earl of Northampton。 If this was so there is
further ground for believing that Anne and Lady Essex had earlier contacts；
for Northampton was Lady Essex's great…uncle。 The longer association
would go far in explaining the terrible conspiracy into which； from soon
after that time； the two women so readily fell togethera criminal
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conspiracy； in which the reader may see something of the ‘‘false nurse'' in
Anne Turner and something of Jean Livingstone in Frances Howard； Lady
Essex。
＇10＇ Fisher Unwin； 1925。 ＇11＇ State Trials （Cobbett's edition）。 ＇12＇
Antony Weldon。
It was about this time； 1610…1611； that Lady Essex began to find
herself interested in the handsome Robert Carr； then Viscount Rochester。
Having reached the mature age of eighteen； the lovely Frances had been
brought by her mother； the Countess of Suffolk； to Court。 Highest in the
King's favour； and so； with his remarkably good looks； his charm； and the
elegant taste in attire and personal appointment which his new wealth
allowed him lavishly to indulge； Rochester was by far the most brilliant
figure there。 Frances fell in love with the King's minion。
Rochester； it would appear； did not immediately respond to the lady's
advances。 They were probably too shy； too tentative； to attract
Rochester's attention。 It is probable； also； that there were plenty of
beautiful women about the Court； more mature； more practised in the arts
of coquetry than Frances； and very likely not at all ‘blate'as Carr and his
master would put itin showing themselves ready for conquest by the
King's handsome favourite。
Whether the acquaintance of Lady Essex with Mrs Turner was of long
standing or not； it was to the versatile Anne that her ladyship turned as
confidante。 The hint regarding Anne's skill in divination will be
remembered。 Having regard to the period； and to the alchemistic nature
of the goods that composed so much of Anne's stock…in…trade at the sign of
the Golden Distaff； in Paternoster Row； it may be conjectured that the
love…lorn Frances had thoughts of a philtre。
With an expensive lover and children to maintain； to say nothing of
her own luxurious habits； Anne Turner would see in the Countess's appeal
a chance to turn more than one penny into the family exchequer。 She
was too much the opportunist to let any consideration of old acquaintance
interfere with working such a potential gold…mine as now seemed to lie
open to her pretty but prehensile fingers。 Lady Essex was rich。 She
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was also ardent in her desire。 The game was too big for Anne to play
single…handed。 A real expert in cozening； a master of guile； was wanted
to exploit the opportunity to its limit。
It is a curious phenomenon； and one that constantly recurs in the
history of cozenage； how people who live by spoof fall victims so readily
to spoofery。 Anne Turner had brains。 There is no doubt of it。 Apart
from that genuine and honest talent in costume…design which made her
work acceptable to such an outstanding genius as Inigo Jones； she lived by
guile。 But I have now to invite you to see her at the feet of one of the
silliest charlatans who ever lived。 There is； of course； the possibility that
Anne sat at the feet of this silly charlatan for what she might learn for the
extension of her own technique。 Or； again； it may have been that the
wizard of Lambeth； whom she consulted in the Lady Essex affair； could
provide a more impressive setting for spoof than she had handy； or that
they were simply rogues together。 My trouble is to understand why； by
the time that the Lady Essex came to her with her problem； Anne had not
exhausted all the gambits in flummery that were at the command of the
preposterous Dr Forman。
The connexion with Dr Forman was part of the legacy left Anne by Dr
Turner。 Her husband had been the friend and patron of Forman； so that
by the time Anne had taken Mainwaring for her lover； and had borne him
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
