Family and Feuding at the Court of James I

In early 1618, Anne Cecil (nee Lake), Lady Roos, accused Frances Cecil, countess of Exeter, of having committed adultery and incest with her husband, the countess's step grandson, William Cecil, Lord Roos.The countess had attempted to poison her twice, first with a poisoned enema, and later with a poisoned syrup of roses.With the help of the countess, Lord Roos secretively fled England for Catholic Italy, leaving his wife and family behind.Now, the murderous countess was again planning to poison Lady Roos, and perhaps also her father, Sir Thomas Lake, the king's Secretary of State.The countess vehemently denied these sensational charges, fell on her knees before the king, and asked for justice and restoration of her damaged honour.The accusations and the countess's defence quickly became a public scandal.The king and council investigated and ordered the matter be solved in the Court of Star Chamber.The Lake and Cecil families promptly sued and counter-sued each other for slander.The tr