Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 63.djvu/167

 temper. One evening in that month Ralegh with Southampton and a courtier named Parker were playing at primero in the presence chamber, but when Ambrose Willoughby, an esquire of the body, requested them to desist on the queen's withdrawal to her bedchamber, Southampton struck Willoughby, and during the scuffle that ensued ‘the esquire pulled off some of the earl's locks.’ Next morning the queen thanked Willoughby for what he did (Sydney Papers, ii. 83). Later, in 1598, Southampton accepted a subordinate place in the suite of the queen's secretary, Sir Robert Cecil, who was going on an embassy to Paris. Before leaving London he entertained his new chief with a dramatic entertainment. While in Paris he learned that his mistress, Elizabeth Vernon, was about to become a mother, and, hurrying home, he secretly made her his wife during the few days he remained in England. When the news reached the queen she was full of anger and issued orders for the arrest of both the bride and bridegroom. ‘The new-coined countess’ was at first dismissed with much contumely from her place at court and then committed to ‘the best-appointed lodging in the Fleet’ (Chamberlain to Carleton). A few weeks later Southampton, on his return from France, was carried to the same prison. Although he was soon released from gaol, all avenues of the queen's favour were thenceforth closed to him.

Early in 1599 he sought employment in the wars in Ireland, and accompanied thither his friend Essex, who had been appointed lord-deputy. Essex nominated Southampton general of his horse, but Elizabeth refused to confirm the appointment, and Essex, after much resistance, was obliged to cancel it in July. In the autumn of 1599 Southampton was idling in London with his friend, Lord Rutland. His love of the drama was his only resource. He avoided the court, and ‘passed away the time merely in going to plays every day’ (Sydney Papers, ii. 132). As soon as Essex was committed to custody on his return to England from Ireland in October 1599, Southampton was in frequent communication with him, and was gradually drawn into the conspiracy whereby Essex and his friends designed to regain by violence their influence at court. In July 1600 Southampton revisited Ireland, in order to persuade the new deputy, Lord Mountjoy, to return to Wales with an army that might be used to serve Essex's interests, but Mountjoy proved unconciliatory. As soon as Essex regained his liberty in August, he and his associates often met at Southampton's house to devise a scheme of rebellion. On Thursday, 5 Feb. 1600–1, Southampton sent a message and forty shillings to the players at the Globe Theatre, bidding them revive for the following Saturday Shakespeare's play of ‘Richard II’ so as to excite the London public by presenting on the stage the deposition of a king. The performance duly took place. Next morning, Sunday, 8 Feb., there followed the outbreak which Essex and Southampton had organised to remove their enemies from the court. The rising failed completely. Southampton was arrested and sent to the Tower, and on 19 Feb. was brought with Essex to trial on a capital charge of treason before a special commission of twenty-five peers and nine judges sitting in Westminster Hall. Southampton declared in the course of the trial that the queen's secretary, Sir Robert Cecil, had told him that the Spanish infanta was Elizabeth's rightful successor. Cecil hotly denied the damaging allegation. Both defendants were convicted and condemned to death. Cecil interested himself in securing a commutation of Southampton's sentence. He pleaded that ‘the poor young earl, merely for the love of Essex, had been drawn into this action,’ and his punishment was commuted to imprisonment for life. Further mitigation was not to be looked for while the queen lived. Essex sent Southampton a pathetic letter of farewell before his execution on 25 Feb.

Essex had been James's sworn ally, and the king's first act on his accession to the crown of England was to set Southampton free (10 April 1603). After a confinement of more than two years, Southampton thus resumed, under happier auspices, his place at court. Popular sympathy ran high in his favour. Samuel Daniel and John Davies of Hereford offered him congratulations on his release in verse, Bacon addressed him a prose epistle of welcome, and Shakespeare's sonnet 107 may well be associated with the general joy.

As soon as Southampton was at liberty, he was given high honours. On 2 July 1603 he was created K.G. Five days later he was appointed captain of the Isle of Wight and Carisbrooke Castle, as well as steward, surveyor, receiver, and bailiff of the royal manors in the island. He was re-created Earl of Southampton (21 July 1603), and on 18 April 1604 was fully restored in blood by act of parliament. On 10 Dec. 1603 he became keeper of the king's game in the divisions of Andover, Sawley, and Kingsclere, Hampshire. He was made lord lieutenant of Hampshire, jointly with the Earl of Devonshire, on 10 April 1604, and