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Devereux with the queen. He offered to advise Elizabeth when the news of the disaster at Blackwater (14 Aug.) in Ireland arrived, but an audience was refused him. To Lord-keeper Egerton he wrote, proudly protesting that he alone was the injured party in the recent dispute in the council, and that the queen had nothing to complain of. About 18 Oct. Essex received the queen's pardon, but the reconciliation was not very genuine.

Affairs in Ireland were growing critical; the rebellion of 0'Neil, earl of Tyrone, was threatening the English dominion, not only in Ulster, out in Munster, Connaught, and Leinster. It was therefore resolved to despatch thither a larger army than had ever been collected in Ireland. Francis Bacon had since 1597 strongly urged Essex to study Ireland, the statesman's puzzle, and when the choice of a commander was under consideration in October 1598, Essex allowed his name to be freely mentioned in connection with it. He had misgivings about the policy of accepting a post in which failure was probable, and into which his enemies at court were therefore anxious to thrust him. But his father's misfortunes spurred him on, and his jealous disposition allowed him to support no rival candidate. He vigorously opposed the appointment of Lord Mountjoy, who was undoubtedly better fitted for the post. On 8 Nov. Chamberlain reported that Essex was going to Ireland, but in December the queen was still hesitating, and it was rumoured that a new quarrel was brewing with reference to the debts to the queen, which Essex's father had never paid. In January, while the matter was still unsettled, Elizabeth treated the earl with favour, and danced with him at a twelfth-night ball. On 6 March 1598-9 his father's debt to the crown was pardoned, and on 25 March instructions were issued to him as lieutenant and governor-general of Ireland. Essex manifested boyish exultation. His army was to consist of sixteen thousand foot and thirteen hundred horse ; nearly sovereign powers were delegated to him, and he was ordered to grant Tyrone his life if he honestly submitted to Elizabeth. Essex left his clerk Reynolds to represent him at court in his absence, and Reynolds informed his master soon afterwards that he had only three friends in the council, Egerton, Archbishop Whitgift, and his uncle Sir William Knollys. Bacon had for many months held aloof from Essex, doubtless from a feeling of disappointment at his inability to maintain an influential position at court. But before the Irish appointment was definitely made, Bacon wrote in encouraging terms of the greatness of the honour conferred on his patron, and presaged success. After Essex's death. Bacon untruthfully asserted that he had discouraged the earl from accepting the command of the expedition (, Bacon and Essex, 111-ll5). Friend and foe at court alike asserted that in the queen's present temper failure would mean complete ruin for Essex (cf., Nugæ i. 240).

On 27 March 1599 Essex left London amid marked displays of popular enthusiasm, although as he passed through Islington a great thunderstorm broke forth, ` which some held as an ominous prodigie '. Three poems by Thomas Churchyard—`A wished Reformation of Wicked Rebellion' (1598), ` A Fortunate Farewell' (1599), and `A Welcome Home' (1599)—were all written in honour of Essex, and testify to his personal popularity and to the popular belief that he alone was able to cope with the persistent Irish difficulty. While Essex was actively engaged in Ireland, Shakespeare's `Henry V ' was first performed, and in the chorus to the fifth act an enthusiastic reception is promised him on his return to London : — Were now the general of our gracious empress, As in good time he may, from Ireland coming. Bringing rebellion broached on his sword, How many would the peaceful city quit To welcome him ! Essex marched slowly towards Beaumaris, and after a rough passage he arrived at Dublin, 15 April. His letters to the council, when he was halting on the journey at Helbre, on the Dee, show him to have been little sanguine as to the result, and the unwillingness of the queen to allow Sir Christopher Blount to serve with him on the Irish council annoyed him. An immediate advance on the rebels in Ulster was proposed by Essex and rejected by the Irish council, on the ground that it was impossible to feed an army there. On 10 May Essex left Dublin for the south with three thousand foot and three hundred horse. Ormonde joined him the next day with nine hundred men. Lords Mountgarret and Cahir came in and made their submission while Essex was marching to Kilkenny (20 May). Many castles surrendered on the road, and English garrisons were placed in them. The guerrilla warfare to which the native Irish were accustomed prevented an open engagement. The Irish council had directed Essex to confine his operations to Leinster, but he quickly marched into Munster, contrary to the official plan of campaign. Although the English autuorities had not sanctioned the movement. Sir Robert Cecil knew of it as early as 23 May (, i. 40). From Kilmallock he went to 