forthathisfriendswereexertingthemselvestosoftentheKing’sdispleasure。Stillpretendingtheextremeofsympathyforhim，hefollowedupthelettersbypresentsofpastryandotherdelicacies，whichcouldnotbeprocuredintheTower。Thesearticleswereallpoisoned。Occasionally，presentsofasimilardescriptionweresenttoSirJervisElwes，withtheunderstandingthatthesearticleswerenotpoisoned，whentheywereunaccompaniedbyletters:ofthesetheunfortunateprisonernevertasted。Awoman，namedTurner，whohadformerlykeptahouseofillfame，andwhohadmorethanoncelentittofurthertheguiltyintercourseofRochesterandLadyEssex，wastheagentemployedtoprocurethepoisons。TheywerepreparedbyDr。
Forman，apretendedfortune-tellerofLambeth，assistedbyanapothecarynamedFranklin。Boththesepersonsknewforwhatpurposesthepoisonswereneeded，andemployedtheirskillinmixingtheminthepastryandotheredibles，insuchsmallquantitiesasgraduallytowearouttheconstitutionoftheirvictim。Mrs。Turnerregularlyfurnishedthepoisonedarticlestotheunder-keeper，whoplacedthembeforeOverbury。Notonlyhisfood，buthisdrinkwaspoisoned。
Arsenicwasmixedwiththesaltheate，andcantharideswiththepepper。Allthistime，hishealthdeclinedsensibly。Everydayhegrewweakerandweaker；andwithasicklyappetite，cravedforsweetsandjellies。Rochestercontinuedtocondolewithhim，andanticipatedallhiswantsinthisrespect，sendinghimabundanceofpastry，andoccasionallypartridgesandothergame，andyoungpigs。Withthesauceforthegame，Mrs。Turnermixedaquantityofcantharides，andpoisonedtheporkwithlunar-caustic。Asstatedonthetrial，Overburytookinthismannerpoisonenoughtohavepoisonedtwentymen；buthisconstitutionwasstrong，andhestilllingered。Frank]in，theapothecary，confessedthathepreparedwithDr。Formansevendifferentsortsofpoisons；viz。aquafortis，arsenic，mercury，powderofdiamonds，lunar-caustic，greatspiders，andcantharides。OverburyheldoutsolongthatRochesterbecameimpatient，andinalettertoLadyEssex，expressedhiswonderthatthingswerenotsoonerdespatched。
OrderswereimmediatelysentbyLadyEssextothekeepertofinishwiththevictimatonce。Overburyhadnotbeenallthistimewithoutsuspicionoftreachery，althoughheappearstohavehadnoideaofpoison。Hemerelysuspectedthatitwasintendedtoconfinehimforlife，andtosettheKingstillmorebitterlyagainsthim。Inoneofhisletters，hethreatenedRochesterthat，unlesshewerespeedilyliberated，hewouldexposehisvillanytotheworld。Hesays，“YouandI，ereitbelong，willcometoapublictrialofanothernature。“*
**“Drivemenottoextremities，lestIshouldsaysomethingthatbothyouandIshouldrepent。“***“WhetherIliveordie，yourshameshallneverdie，buteverremaintotheworld，tomakeyouthemostodiousmanliving。“***“Iwondermuchyoushouldneglecthimtowhomsuchsecretsofallkindshavepassed。“***“Bethesethefruitsofcommonsecrets，commondangers？“