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Devereux scattered, was thus enabled by the merest chance to reach home in safety. That Essex's want of success was largely due to his inexperience and incapacity is amply proved by the various extant accounts of the expedition. Edward Squire and Richard Walpole, a Jesuit, were executed for conspiring to poison the queen and Essex in 1598. Squire admitted that he had sailed in the Islands' Voyage in Essex's ship, and had made an attempt, which failed, on the earl's life between Fayal and St. Michael's.

The queen received him coldly. She complained not only of the wastefulness of so inconclusive a campaign, but reproached him with ill-treating Raleigh. Essex went into seclusion at Wanstead, and insisted that his health was failing. He entreated Elizabeth in flattering letters to restore him to her favour. At court his companion Sir Francis Vere defended him. But Essex soon found an additional grievance. Lord Howard of Effingham was made Earl of Nottingham (22 Oct.), on account (according to the patent) of his services at Cadiz. The dignity of lord high admiral already in Howard's hands gave the new earl precedence over all other earls. Essex angrily asserted that he was dishonoured, and applied either for a commission to examine the justice of promoting another in the peerage on account of services which he himself had Tendered, or for a trial by combat between Nottingham, or any son of his, and himself. Nottingham wrote courteously to Essex. Hunsdon, Raleigh, and Burghley entreated him to reappear at court, but all was without eflect. When, however, the cause of his continued absence was explained to the queen, she took Essex's side, and protested that Burghley had misled her. After attempts to induce Nottingham to forego his right of precedency, Essex was made earl marshal (28 Dec. 1607), and thus, to Nottingham's annoyance, secured precedency of his rival. At the suggestion of Sir Robert Cecil, who was going to France on diplomatic business and desired to secure Essex's friendly support in his absence, the queen gave Essex early in 1598 a present of 7,000l. worth of cochineal—part of the booty of the last voyage. On St. David's day, 1598 the queen consented, at Essex's earnest solicitation, to receive his mother—the widow of the Earl of Leicester, and now the wife of Sir Christopher Blount—whose marriage with Leicester she had not forgiven, but the visit was never repeated. While Cecil was in France, Essex was much employed by Elizabeth in secretarial work. Bacon advised him to pay special attention to Irish affairs. On 14 Feb. Essex gave an elaborate entertainment to his friends at Essex House, and two plays were performed.

But Essex's peace with the court was short-lived. He abetted in August 1598 the secret marriage of his friend the Earl of Southampton with Elizabeth Vernon, a maid of honour, which caused Elizabeth intense annoyance, and scandal renewed its attack on Essex's manner of life, charging him with illicit relations with no less than four ladies of the court—Elizabeth Southwell, Elizabeth Brydges, daughter of the third Lord Chandos, Mrs. Russell, and Lady Mary Howard. Meanwhile in the council a peace with Spain had been under discussion (June). Essex strongly opposed it, and envoys from the States-General of Holland urged a continuance of the war. Burghley energetically supported the opposite view. In the heat of the debate Burghley drew a prayer-book from his pocket and called Essex's attention to the text from the Psalms, `The bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days.' Finally an agreement to continue the war was made with the States-General, to the discomfiture of the Cecils. Their attacks on Essex grew more bitter, and by way of reply the earl published a letter to Anthony Bacon refuting those who maliciously taxed him with being `the only hinderer of the peace and quiet of his country' (published in 1603). Elizabeth apparently disliked an appeal to the public, and treated him coolly when she next met him in council. The question of appointing a lord deputy in Ireland was under consideration about July 1598. The queen suggested Sir William Knollys; Essex with warmth ridiculed the proposal, and advised the appointment of Sir George Carew, a protégé of the Cecils, and a personal enemy of Essex. In the heat of the dispute Essex turned his back on the queen with a gesture of contempt. Sir Walter Raleigh asserted that he told her that 'her conditions were as crooked as her carcase.' Elizabeth, stung beyond endurance, struck him a violent blow on the ear, and bade him go and be hanged. Clasping his sword, Essex swore that he would not suffer this indignity in peace. He was induced to retire, but the ill-feeling produced by this scene was never completely effaced on either side.

Burghley died 4 Aug., and Essex, carrying 'the heaviest countenance of the company,' attended the funeral. He succeeded Burghley as chancellor of Cambridge University (10 Aug. 1598). In September and October he was occasionally at court; his mother and uncle. Sir William Knollys, and Lord-keeper Egerton entreated him to abandon his 'careless humour' and seek a genuine reconciliation