DEVEREUX

From Agepedia

DEVEREUX, Robert, earl of Essex, was bom in 1567, and educated at Cambridge. In his 17th year, he was introduced at court; in 1586, distinguished himself at the battle of Zutphen, so as to be created a knight banneret, and on his return became master of the horse. The queen assembling her army at Tilbury, to resist the Spanish invasion, Essex was appointed general of the horse, and received the order of the garter. In 1591, he was sent, with 4000 men, to the assistance of Henry IV, then lighting against the league, but effected nothing of consequence. He, however, retained the queen's favor, was soon after created a privy counsellor, in 1596 was appointed joint commander with lord Howard, in a successful expedition to the coast of Spain, and on his return was made mastergeneral of the ordnance. In 1597, he was created earl marshal of England. On the breaking out of the rebellion of Tyrone, Essex was appointed governor of Ireland. He attempted to quell a rebellion at Munster, before he proceeded against Tyrone, which so much reduced his army, that, not being able to meet the Irish leader, he entered into a negotiation. These transactions displeased the queen, and several sharp letters passed, which determined him to confront his enemies at home. He accordingly left Ireland, contrary to orders, and hastened to the court, without changing his dress, where, finding the queen in her bedchamber, he fell upon his knees, and was received better than he expected. He was, however, soon after strictly examined by the council, and deprived of all his employments but that of master of the horse.He might, however, have regamed the queen's favor, had not her refusal to renew to him a monopoly of sweet wines so irritated him, that he indulged himself in freedoms of speech concerning her, which she could never forget. He also carried on a secret correspondence with the king of Scotland, the object of which was, to procure a public declaration of his right of succession to the English throne ; and he would have engaged his friend, lord Mountjoy, deputy of Ireland, to bring over troops to compel this measure. He then entered into a conspiracy to seize on the queen's person, remove his enemies, and settle a new plan of government. Believing that this was discovered, he endeavored to raise the city of London in his favor: here, however, he was disappointed ; for, instead of meeting with friends, he was proclaimed a traitor, and the streets were barricadoed against his return. He was soon invested by the queen's forces, and obliged to surrender at discretion. He was committed to the Tower, with the eari of Southampton, his chief adherent, and a jury of peers was appointed for their trial. Being found guilty, he received his sentence like a man prepared for his fate. The queen long hesitated as to signing the warrant for his execution, but, being persuaded by his enemies that he wished to die, and interpreting his silence into obstinacy, at length signed it; and the earl was executed within the Tower, on the 25th of February, 1601. In the height of his favor, he had received a ring from the queen, as a pledge, on the return of which she would pardon any offence he might commit. This ring he is said to have intrusted to the countess of Nottingham, his relation, but the wife of his enemy, the admiral, who would not surfer her to deliver it to the queen, and thereby the proffered clemency was frustrated. The countess, on her deathbed, having confessed the secret to the queen, the latter was greatly agitated, and told her "that God might forgive her, but she never could." Essex was rash, violent and presumptuous, but at the same time brave, generous and affectionate. He was the friend and patron of literature, and wrote well himself in prose, and attempted verse, though without much success. He erected a monument to Spenser, gave an estate to Bacon, and encouraged Wotton and other men of learning. His fate has formed the subject of four tragedies.