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 Devereux that Essex had not secured a fair share for her husband. Personally Essex was wholly indifferent as to the amount of spoil to be assigned to him. When news arrived that the Spanish treasure fleet entered the Tagus only two days after the English ships, contrary to Essex's wish, quitted it, Essex s policy was vindicated. This practical vindication, wrote Anthony Bacon with reference to Burghley, ` hath made the old Fox to crouch and whine.' A great entertainment (13 Nov.) to Bouillon, Henry IVs envoy, and a promise to support the despatch of another expedition to the French king's aid, renewed Essex's friendly relations with France.

On 4 Oct. 1596 Francis Bacon sent Essex his first extant letter of political advice. He was recommended to win the queen at all hazards; to give up military ambition; to remove the impression that he was self-opinionative ; to seek the highest offices of state ; to disguise his feelings ; and to curry favour at court by cultivating an apparent willingness to yield his personal inclinations at his sovereign's will. It was impossible for a man of Essex's impulsive and frank temperament to gain much from such counsel. In accordance with it, he seems to have applied for the vacant posts of governor of the brill and warden of the Cinque ports (March 1596-7); both were refused. The latter was bestowed on Lord Cobham, who henceforth was one of Essex's chief enemies. Essex expostulated with Elizabeth in a private audience (10 March), and was appointed master of the ordnance (19 March 1597). He had been suffering from a severe attack of ague, a malady to which he was repeatedly subject, and had prolonged his seclusion from court, for a fortnight. Lady Bacon, meanwhile, charged him (1 Dec. 1596) with misconduct with a court lady ; he denied the charge, but admitted similar errors. Religious scruples seemed to be troubling him, and he was reported to be hearing many sermons. It is more difficult to explain his new attitude towards Cecil and Raleigh. The old quarrels were to all appearance at an end. Early in 1597 Essex was much in their company, and was frequently entertaining them at Essex House. Probably he was trying to obtain the command of another expedition against Spain. At any rate this was the only visible sign of their intercourse. He declined the offer of a co-ordinate command, and on 15 June 1597 was nominated commander of a fleet of twenty ships, carrying six thousand men. Bacon strongly warned Essex not to exaggerate the value of military glory, and obviously thought his conduct in pressing for the command imprudent. The fleet reached Plymouth from Sandwich 10 July; Sir Walter Raleigh joined it as rear-admiral, and Lord Thomas Howard as vice-admiral. The object of the expedition was (as before) to intercept a Spanish treasure fleet, to destroy Spanish shipping at Ferrol, and to seize the Azores. Essex's correspondence on the subject with Sir Robert Cecil is couched in the friendliest terms, and his parting letter to the queen embodies the boldest flattery. The expedition is known as the Islands' or Azores' Voyage.

On the 13th a storm scattered the fleet and did the ships terrible havoc. Essex was forced to put in at Falmouth (19 July), and Raleigh, who had parted company with him, returned to Plymouth. At the end of July Lord Thomas Howard rejoined the fleet there, but contrary winds delayed the second departure till 17 Aug. Many soldiers deserted in the interval, and the reduced number necessitated a change of plan. It was resolved to rely chiefly on fireships for purposes of destruction, but under restrictions which deprived these tactics of much effect. Essex visited the queen while the fleet was refitting, and Sir Robert Cecil wrote to him (26 July); `The queen is now so disposed to have us all love you, as she and I do talk every night like angels of you.' On 23 Aug. the fleet arrived salely off Cape Ortegal, but a storm there injured the only vessels which it was allowable to use as fireships, and the projected attack on Ferrol, where a formidable Spanish armada was awaiting him, was abandoned. Raleigh's squadron parted company with Essex off Ferrol, but rejoined him at Flores. An attack on the Azores was resolved upon. Essex, deeming himself too weak to attempt the capture of Terceira, the stronghold of the group of islands, undertook to capture Fayal. But, to his indignation, Raleigh unexpectedly anticipated him in this operation. Raleigh was reprimanded by the council of war, but Lord Thomas Howard brought about an apparent reconciliation, and, according to Gorges's narrative, Essex and Raleigh were subsequently on good terms (, Pilgrimes, 1625, iv. 1950). The Indian treasure fleet, with much Spanish shipping, passed the English expedition at night, and although four heavily laden vessels were captured, an attempt to engage the enemy next day failed. Thereupon Essex landed at Villa Franca in St. Michaels Isle without meeting resistance, and after three days' stay there sailed home (15 Oct.), without adventure and with little booty. The Spanish fleet from Ferrol had already reached Falmouth with the intention of intercepting Essex on his return ; but a terrible storm dispersed it, and Essex, whose ships were