The English too were disappointed in an attempt on Panama, under sir Francis Drake, which so affected that brave man, that it threw him into a distemper, of which he died.

The danger and uncertainty attending these distant expeditions, determined the English to attack their enemy nearer home. A powerful fleet of one hundred and seventy vessels, carrying upwards of seven thousand soldiers, besides a considerable number of Dutch auxiliaries, setting sail from Plymouth, after making a fruitless attempt to land at St. Sebastian, on the western side of Cadiz, determined to attack the ships and gallies in the bay. This enterprise was chiefly adopted on the strenuous recommendation of Essex, a young nobleman of great gallantry, and who had been rapidly rising into favour with his mistress. Effingham, the commander in chief, appointed sir Walter Raleigh and lord Thomas Howard to lead the van in this attack; but the impetuosity of Essex led him to press forward, contrary to the injunctions of the admiral; and having landed his men, they immediately marched to Cadiz, which the irresistible valour of the English soon carried, sword in hand. Essex, no less humane than brave, put a stop to the slaughter as soon as possible: the plunder was immense; but a much greater was lost, by the Spanish admiral setting fire to the ships, that they might not fall into the hands of the enemy.

Soon after, Raleigh alone, made a daring and successful attack upon Fyal, one of the Azores, by which he excited the jealousy of Essex, who had been appointed general in that expedition, and could not endure that glory should be snatched from his grasp; and, though a reconciliation

ciliation took place between them, this laid the first foundation of that violent animosity which afterwards broke out.

Essex, indeed, had gained such an ascendant over the queen, that he could not brook any rival either in glory or influence. Henry the fourth having made peace with Philip, Burleigh advised Elizabeth to take this opportunity of finishing the war on equitable terms. This measure was violently opposed by Essex, who urged, that her majesty had no reason to fear the issue of the contest; and that it would be dishonourable for her to desert the Hollanders, till their affairs were placed in a state of greater security. The counsels of Essex proved most agreeable to Elizabeth; and had Essex been endowed with temper and prudence, he might soon have engrossed the entire confidence of his mistress; but presuming too much on royal favour, on a certain occasion, meeting with opposition in coun cil, he was so heated by argument, and so forgetful of the rules of decency and civility, that he turned his back upon her in a contemptuous manner. Elizabeth, naturally prone to anger, instantly gave him a box on the ear, adding a passionate expression, suitable to his impertirence; when, instead of an apology, he clapped his hand on his sword, swearing he would not bear such usage, were it from Henry the eighth, and immediately withdrew from court.

The queen, however, was soon induced to pardon his indiscretion; and Burleigh dying Soon after, equally regretted, both by his sove reign and the people, he was left without a val.

The death of this profound and sagacious statesman, was soon followed by that of Philip the second; who, wearied of contending with his revolted subjects, had transferred the Netherlands to his daughter, married to the archduke Albert: but as this did not materially alter the title, all engagements formerly entered into between Elizabeth and the revolters were confirmed; and nothing less than absolute independence was the object contended for.

During these transactions, a rebellion A. D. began to be organized in Ireland, where 1599. the authority of England had hitherto

been little more than nominal, and no care had been taken to make the interests of both nations the same. Instead of being incited to adopt the civilized customs of their conquerors, the Irish were every where marked out as aliens and enemies; and the hard and injurious treatment they met with, eventually made them such. Insurrections had been frequent in former reigns; and from the accession of Elizabeth, Ireland had been continually disturbed by the revolts of the native chieftains. The most formidable of these was O'Neale, the head of a potent clan; and who, disdaining the title of earl of Tyrone, with which Elizabeth had invested him, assumed the rank and appellation of king of Ulster, and entered into a correspondence with Spain, from whence he procured a supply of arms and ammunition.

By retiring within the bogs and fastnesses of the country, O'Neale had successively baffled the military skill of sir John Norris, and sir Henry Bagnall; and had even obtained a victory over

the

the latter, in which one thousand five hundred English, and the general himself, were left dead on the spot.

The queen, sensible that some vigorous measures were become absolutely necessary, appointed Essex as her deputy in Ireland, and gave him the command of twenty thousand foot, and two thousand horse. The first act of his government was generous, but indiscreet; as he gave his intimate friend, the earl of Southampton, the command of the horse, in violation of an express injunction from his mistress. When reprimanded for this, he had the audacity to remonstrate; and it was not till the queen reiterated her commands, that he could be prevailed on to super sede his friend.

Essex was no less impolitic in the conduct of his campaign. He wasted the best part of the season for action, in reducing Munster; and when at last he marched against Tyrone, in Ulster, his army was reduced by sickness and desertion, and terrified with the reputation of the Irish rebel.

Convinced, from all these untoward circumstances, that it would be impossible, for the present, to make any impression on Tyrone, he listened to overtures for a conference, which accordingly took place. The generals met without any attendants: a river ran between them; but Tyrone, as a mark of submission, entered it a considerable way, while Essex stood on the bank. A suspension of hostilities was agreed upon till next spring, renewable from time to time; but which might be broken by either party, on a fortnight's notice being given. Essex also received proposals of peace from Tyrone, which

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were couched in such high terms, that it was suspected they never would have been delivered, had not some secret understanding taken place between the generals.

Elizabeth was highly provoked at the unex pected issue of this great and expensive enterprise; and Essex was no sooner certified of her displeasure, than he hastened to throw himself at her feet. He arrived unexpected by any one; and, covered as he was with dirt and sweat, he found his way into the queen's bed chamber, just as she was risen. After some private conversation, he retired, satisfied with his reception; but, though the queen had thus been taken by surprise to forgive his misconduct, she afterwards judged it proper to confine him to his house.

Essex, on this occasion, professed an entire submission to the queen's will, and declared his intention of retiring from the court; but, though he affected to be cured of ambition, the agitation of his mind, which was increased by the triumph of his enemies, threw him into a distemper, which seemed to threaten his life. This revived all the queen's affection for her favourite: she sent her physicians to attend him, and added some kind messages, which were more efficacious in curing a wounded mind, than any medicines that could be prescribed.

Essex, now allowed the company of his countess and friends, passed his time in the pursuits of elegant literature; and all the world saw that he would speedily regain his ascendant at court. But Elizabeth, who wished to reclaim not to ruin him, on one occasion pushed her severity too far, in refusing him what might have been regarded