How the latter managed to escape a more serious
implication
in
the trial it is difficult to conceive.
the trial it is difficult to conceive.
Ben Jonson - The Devil's Association
16, 1615, we find Dr.
Savery
examined on a charge of 'spreading Popish Books. ' 'Savery
pretends to be a doctor, but is probably a conjurer. ' And again
under the same date he is interrogated as to his relations with
Mrs. Turner and Forman. Under Oct. 24 he replies to Coke. 'Oct.
? ' we find Dr. Savery questioned as to his 'predictions of
troubles and alterations in Court. ' This is the last mention
of him.
Just what connection Gresham and Savory had with the Overbury
plot is a difficult matter to determine. Both are spoken of as
following Forman immediately, and of neither is any successor
mentioned except the actual poisoner, Franklin. It seems
probable that Gresham was the first to be employed after Forman,
and that his own speedy death led to the selection of Savory.
How the latter managed to escape a more serious implication in
the trial it is difficult to conceive.
=1. 2. 6-9 christalls, . . . characters. = As in other fields,
Jonson is well versed in magic lore. Lumps of crystal were one
of the regular means of raising a demon. Bk. 15, Ch. 16 of
Scot's _Discovery of Witchcraft_, 1584, is entitled: 'To make a
spirit appear in a christall', and Ch. 12 shows 'How to enclose
a spirit in a christall stone. '
Lilly (_History_, p. 78) speaks of the efficacy of 'a
constellated ring' in sickness, and they were doubtless
considered effective in more sinister dealings. Jonson has
already spoken of the devil being carried in a thumb-ring
(see note P.
examined on a charge of 'spreading Popish Books. ' 'Savery
pretends to be a doctor, but is probably a conjurer. ' And again
under the same date he is interrogated as to his relations with
Mrs. Turner and Forman. Under Oct. 24 he replies to Coke. 'Oct.
? ' we find Dr. Savery questioned as to his 'predictions of
troubles and alterations in Court. ' This is the last mention
of him.
Just what connection Gresham and Savory had with the Overbury
plot is a difficult matter to determine. Both are spoken of as
following Forman immediately, and of neither is any successor
mentioned except the actual poisoner, Franklin. It seems
probable that Gresham was the first to be employed after Forman,
and that his own speedy death led to the selection of Savory.
How the latter managed to escape a more serious implication in
the trial it is difficult to conceive.
=1. 2. 6-9 christalls, . . . characters. = As in other fields,
Jonson is well versed in magic lore. Lumps of crystal were one
of the regular means of raising a demon. Bk. 15, Ch. 16 of
Scot's _Discovery of Witchcraft_, 1584, is entitled: 'To make a
spirit appear in a christall', and Ch. 12 shows 'How to enclose
a spirit in a christall stone. '
Lilly (_History_, p. 78) speaks of the efficacy of 'a
constellated ring' in sickness, and they were doubtless
considered effective in more sinister dealings. Jonson has
already spoken of the devil being carried in a thumb-ring
(see note P.
