and a short
but interesting sketch in _Social England_ 4.
but interesting sketch in _Social England_ 4.
Ben Jonson - The Devil's Association
'
In the 'Heads of Charges against Robert, Earl of Somerset',
drawn up by Lord Bacon, we read: 'That the countess laboured
Forman and Gresham to inforce the Queen by witchcraft to favour
the countess' (Howell's _State Trials_ 2. 966). To this King
James replied in an 'Apostyle,' _Nothing to Somerset_. This
exhausts the references to Gresham that I have been able to
find. See note on Savory, 1. 2. 3.
=1. 2. 2. Fore-man. = Simon Foreman, or Forman (1552-1611)
was the most famous of the group of quacks here mentioned. He
studied at Oxford, 1573-1578, and in 1579 began his career as
a necromancer. He claimed the power to discover lost treasure,
and was especially successful in his dealings with women. A
detailed account of his life is given in the _DNB_.
and a short
but interesting sketch in _Social England_ 4. 87. The chief
sources are Wm. Lilly's _History_ and a diary from 1564 to 1602,
with an account of Forman's early life, published by Mr. J. O.
Halliwell-Phillipps for the Camden Soc. , 1843.
He is mentioned again by Jonson in _Silent Woman_, _Wks. _ 3.
413: '_Daup. _ I would say, thou hadst the best philtre in the
world, and couldst do more than Madam Medea, or Doctor Foreman. '
In _Sir Thomas Overbury's Vision_ (Harl. Ms. , vol. 7, quoted in
D'Ewes' _Autobiog.
In the 'Heads of Charges against Robert, Earl of Somerset',
drawn up by Lord Bacon, we read: 'That the countess laboured
Forman and Gresham to inforce the Queen by witchcraft to favour
the countess' (Howell's _State Trials_ 2. 966). To this King
James replied in an 'Apostyle,' _Nothing to Somerset_. This
exhausts the references to Gresham that I have been able to
find. See note on Savory, 1. 2. 3.
=1. 2. 2. Fore-man. = Simon Foreman, or Forman (1552-1611)
was the most famous of the group of quacks here mentioned. He
studied at Oxford, 1573-1578, and in 1579 began his career as
a necromancer. He claimed the power to discover lost treasure,
and was especially successful in his dealings with women. A
detailed account of his life is given in the _DNB_.
and a short
but interesting sketch in _Social England_ 4. 87. The chief
sources are Wm. Lilly's _History_ and a diary from 1564 to 1602,
with an account of Forman's early life, published by Mr. J. O.
Halliwell-Phillipps for the Camden Soc. , 1843.
He is mentioned again by Jonson in _Silent Woman_, _Wks. _ 3.
413: '_Daup. _ I would say, thou hadst the best philtre in the
world, and couldst do more than Madam Medea, or Doctor Foreman. '
In _Sir Thomas Overbury's Vision_ (Harl. Ms. , vol. 7, quoted in
D'Ewes' _Autobiog.
