394

ESSEX MASTER OF THE ORDNANCE.

the house of lady Russel; a busy puritan, who was one of the learned daughters of sir Anthony Cook. "Wearied," says Whyte, "with not knowing how to please, he is not unwilling to listen to those motions made him for the public good." He was soon after so much offended with her majesty for giving the office of warden of the cinque ports to his enemy lord Cobham, after he had asked it for himself, that he was about to quit the court; but the queen sent for him and, to pacify him, made him master of the ordnance.

It is mentioned about this time, that the queen had of late "used the fair Mrs. Bridges with words and blows of anger." This young lady was one of the maids of honor; and the same referred to in a subsequent letter, where it is said; "it is spied out by envy that the earl of Essex is again fallen in love with his fairest B." On which Whyte observes, "It cannot choose but come to the queen's ears; and then is he undone, and all that depend upon his favor." A striking indication of the nature of the sentiment which the aged sovevereign cherished for her youthful favorite!

In May our intelligencer writes thus: "Here hath been much ado between the queen and the lords about the preparation to sea; some of them urging the necessity of setting it forward for her safety; but she opposing it by no danger appearing towards her any where; and that she will not make wars but arm for defence; understanding how much of her treasure was already spent in victual, both for ships and soldiers at land. She was extremely angry with them that made such haste in it; and at Burleigh for

FRESH EXPEDITION AGAINST SPAIN.

395

suffering it, seeing no greater occasion. No reason nor persuasion by some of the lords could prevail, but that her majesty hath commanded order to be given to stay all proceeding; and sent my lord Thomas (Howard) word that he should not go to sea. How her majesty may be wrought to fulfil the most earnest desire of some to have it go forward, time must make it known."

...But the reconciliation brought about by Raleigh between Essex and the Cecils, rendered at this time the war-party so strong, that the scruples of the queen were at length overruled; and a formidable armament was sent to sea, with the double object of destroying the Spanish ships in their harbours and of intercepting their homeward-bound West India fleet. Essex was commander in chief by sea and land; lord Thomas Howard and Raleigh vice and rear admirals; lord Montjoy was lieutenant-general; sir Francis Vere, marshal. Several young noblemen attached to Essex joined the expedition as volun teers; as lord Rich his brother-in-law, the earl of Rutland, afterwards married to the daughter of the countess of Essex by sir Philip Sidney; lord Cromwel and the earl of Southampton. The last, whose friendship for Essex afterwards hurried him into an enterprise still more perilous, appears to have been attracted to him by an extraordinary conformity of tastes and temper. Like Essex, he was brave and generous; but impetuous and somewhat inclined to arrogance-like him, a munificent patron of the genius which he loved. Like his friend again, he received from her majesty

396,

ILL SUCCESS OF THE VOYAGE.

tokens of peculiar favor which she occasionally suspended on his giving indications of an ungovernable temper or too lofty spirit; and which she finally withdrew, on his presuming to marry without that consent which to certain persons she could never have been induced to accord. This earl of Southampton was grandson of that ambitious and assuming but able and diligent statesman, lord chancellor Wriothesley; appointed by Henry VIII. one of his executors; he was father of the virtuous Southampton lord treasurer; and by him, grandfather of the heroical and ever-memorable Rachel lady Russel.

A storm drove the ill-fated armament back to Plymouth, where it remained wind-bound for a month; and Essex and Raleigh, posted together up to court for fresh instructions. Having concerted their measures, they made sail for the Azores; and Raleigh with his division arriving first, attacked and captured the isle of Fayal without waiting for his admiral. Essex was incensed; and there were not wanting those about him who applied themselves to fan the flame; and even urged him to bring sir Walter to a court-martial: but he refused; and his anger soon evaporating, lord Thomas Howard was enabled to accommodate the difference and the rivals returned to the appearance of friendship. Essex was destitute of the naval skill requisite for the prosperous conduct of such an enterprise: owing partly to his mistakes and partly to several thwarting circumstances, the West India fleet escaped him; and three rich Havannah ships, which served to defray

LORD ADMIRAL MADE EARL OF NOTTINGHAM. 397

most of the expenses, were the only trophies of his "Island Voyage;" from which himself and the nation had anticipated results so glorious.

The received him with manifest dissatisfacqueen tion; his severity towards Raleigh was blamed; and it was evident that matters tended to involve him in fresh differences with Robert Cecil. During his absence, the lord admiral had been advanced to the dignity of earl of Nottingham; and Essex now discovered that by a clause in the patent this honor was declared to be conferred upon him in consideration of his good service at the taking of Cadiz ; an action of which he claimed to himself the whole merit. To make the injury greater, this title, conjoined to the office of lord high admiral, gave thẻ new earl precedency of all others of the same rank; Essex amongst the rest. To such complicated mortifications his proud spirit disdained to submit; and after challenging without effect to single combat the lord admiral himself or any of his sons who would take up the quarrel, the indignant favorite retired a sullen malcontent to Wansteadhouse, feigning himself sick. This expedient acted on the heart of the queen with all its wonted force; -she showed the utmost concern for his situation chid the Cecils for wronging him; and soon after made him compensation for the act which had wounded him, by admitting his claim to the hereditary office of earl marshal, with which he was solemnly invested in December 1597; and in right of it once more took place above the lord

admiral.

It was during this summer that the arrogant de

398 QUEEN'S REPLY TO THE KING OF DENMARK.

portment of a Polish ambassador; sent to com plain of an invasion of neutral rights in the inter ruption given by the English navy to the trade of his master's subjects with Spain; gave occasion to a celebrated display of the spirit and the erudi tion of the queen of England. Speed, the ablest of our chroniclers, gives at length her extemporal Latin reply to his harangue; adding in his quaint but expressive phrase; that she, "thus lion like rising, daunted the malapert orator no less with her stately port and majestical deporture, than with the tartness of her princely checks: and turning to the train of her attendants thus said, 'God's death, my lords,' (for that was her oath ever in anger;) • I have been inforced this day to scour up my old Latin, that hath lain long in rusting.' 999 The same author mentions, that the king of Denmark having by his ambassador offered to mediate between England and Spain, the queen declined the overture; adding, "I would have the king of Denmark and all princes Christian and Heathen to know, that England hath no need to crave peace; nor myself indured one hour's fear since I attained the crown thereof, being guarded with so valiant and faithful subjects." Such was the lofty tone which Elizabeth, to the end of her days, maintained towards foreign powers; none of whom had she cause to dread or motive to court! Yet her cheer fulness and fortitude were at the same time on the point of sinking under the harassing disquietudes of a petty war supported against her by an Irish chief of rebels.

The head of the sept O'Neal, whom she had in