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Devereux means of checking Spanish aggression. Lord Howard of Effingham supported him. Burghley hesitated, but events proved in favour of Essex's plan. Drake's last expedition had failed ; the disaffected in Ireland were expecting Spanish assistance; on 7 April Calais was taken by the Spaniards, and Essex went to Dover to prepare the necessary measures of defence. A letter (23 April) from Henry IV entreating Essex to obtain a large English force to attack the Spaniards in France failed to meet Essex's views, much to the irritation of the envoys from France. In May Essex was at Plymouth personally superintending the fitting out of a fleet to bear a great army to the Spanish coast. In his anxiety to obtain the office of leader of the expedition, he forgot 'those reverent forms' with which he ought to have addressed the queen, and angrily reproached her with her indecision The queen at last yielded to his importunity, and appointed him commander of the land forces, or general-in-chief. She took leave of him in a pathetic letter, and forwarded a prayer of her own composition for his success. Essex secured the valuable services of Sir Walter Raleigh, after some delay attributed to Raleigh's unwillingness to serve under his rival. While making, with extraordinary energy, his final arrangements, Essex found time to write to Lord-keeper Egerton, Lord Buckhurst, and Sir John Fortescue, urging them to use their influence to promote Francis Bacon to the mastership of the rolls, then just vacant. On 1 June the ships sailed from Plymouth. In a long letter to the council Essex promised to cripple Spain by intercepting her treasure fleet from the Indies, by harrying her coasts, and by leaving a thorn in her side. By the thorn Essex obviously intended the capture of Cadiz. The four squadrons included in all ninety-three ships and nearly thirteen thousand men. Essex commanded the first squadron. His colleagues were Lord Howard of Effingham, Lord Thomas Howard, and Raleigh. A fifth squadron was sent out by the Dutch.

On 20 June the fleet was westward of Cadiz. After some dispute among the commanders an attack on the Spanish fleet drawn up in the bay was resolved upon, in accordance with Raleigh's suggestions and against the wish of Essex, who urged an immediate advance by land upon the town. To Essex's annoyance the duty of leading the attack was entrusted by the council of war to Raleigh. When the battle commenced he thrust his ship, the Ark Royal, close to Raleigh's vessel, and, excited by the prospect of immediate action, flung his heavily plumed hat into the sea. After a few hours fierce fighting, the enemy's fleet was utterly defeated. Essex thereupon found his opportunity. He put to land with three thousand men, dashed at the Spanish soldiers on shore, and drove all before him until he entered the market-place at Cadiz. The town surrendered, and on 22 June his flag floated from the citadel. The exploit excited general admiration, and was performed, according to his colleagues, `in great order and discipline.' Raleigh wrote to Cecil that `the earl hath behaved himself both valiantly and advisedly in the highest degree; without pride; without favour; and hath gotten great favour and much love of all.' Some pillage was allowed, but outrages were few, and those were attributed on good grounds to the Dutch allies. As soon as the capture of Cadiz was assured, Essex advised a march into Andalusia, but his companions deprecated attacks by land, and on 5 July the fleet left Cadiz, making comparatively easy terms with the enemy. At Faro more shipping was destroyed, and Essex seized the library of Jerome Osorio, bishop of Algarve, which afterwards passed to the Bodleian (1603). Off Lisbon Essex entreated his colleagues to entrust him with twelve ships in order to prosecute the war at sea and intercept the treasure fleet. The request was refused. The expedition passed Corunna and Ferrol, where no Spanish shipping was visible, and then turned homewards. Essex arrived at Plymouth on 10 Aug. with the prizes, which were valued at about 13,000l. (cf. Relation of Cadiz, for full account of the expedition and other narratives, in ).

Essex was the popular hero of the campaign. At a thanksgiving service held at St. Paul's he was eulogised from the pulpit amid applause. But at court his rivals had gained strength in his absence. Sir Robert Cecil was now the queen's secretary, and when Essex appeared at court he was, he wrote to Anthony Bacon, 'more braved by your little cousin than ever I was by any one in my life' (8 Sept.) His late colleagues complained of his high-handed speeches. Cuffe drew up a reply to these attacks under Essex's direction, but the council forbade its circulation, and Elizabeth gave him no opportunity of justifying himself. A tract by Essex, entitled 'Omissions of the Cales Voyage,' in which the failure to intercept the treasure fleet is bitterly commented on, was published from a manuscript belonging to the Marquis of Stafford in Hakluyt's 'Voyages' (1812), V. 593-5. With characteristic meanness the queen complained of the smallness of the booty, and haggled relentlessly over its disposal. The wife of Lord Howard asserted