The result was, that by the time the invincible armada had made its way through the Channel, and had passed the Straits of Dover, it was so dispersed, and shattered, and broken, that its commanders, far from feeling any disposition to sail up the Thames, were only anxious to make good their escape from their indefatigable and tormenting foes. They did not dare, in attempting to make this escape, to return through the Channel, so they pushed northward into the German Ocean. Their only course for getting back to Spain again was to pass round the northern side of England, among the cold and stormy seas that are rolling in continually among the ragged rocks and gloomy islands which darken the ocean there. At last a miserable remnant of the fleet--less than half--made their way back to Spain again.
Character of Essex.--Death of Leicester.--Essex becomes the queen's favorite.--Cecil and Essex.--Elizabeth's regard for Essex.--His impulsive bravery.--Essex's ardor for battle.--His duel.--Elizabeth's remark upon the duel.--She gives Essex a ring.--The quarrel.--The box on the ear.--Mortification of Essex.--He and Elizabeth reconciled.--Essex sent to Ireland.--Curious negotiations.--The queen's displeasure.--Essex's sudden return.--Essex is arrested.--Resentment and love.--Essex's anger and chagrin.--He is taken sick.--Nature of Essex's sickness.--The queen's anxiety.--The queen's kindness to Essex.--They are reconciled again.--Essex's promises.--The queen's ungenerous conduct.--Essex's monopoly of wines.--The queen refuses to renew it.--Essex made desperate.--His treasonable schemes.--Ramifications of the plot.--It is discovered.--Anxious deliberations.--The rising determined upon.--The hostages.--Essex enters the city.--The proclamation.--Essex unsuccessful.--Essex's hopeless condition.--He escapes to his palace.--Essex made prisoner, tried, and condemned.--His remorse.--Elizabeth's distress.--The ring not sent.--The warrant signed.--The platform.--Essex's last words.--The closing scene.--The courtier.--His fiendish pleasure.
The lady whom the Earl of Leicester married was, a short time before he married her, the wife of the Earl of Essex, and she had one son, who, on the death of his father, became the Earl of Essex in his turn. He came to court, and continued in Leicester's family after his mother's second marriage. He was an accomplished and elegant young man, and was regarded with a good deal of favor by the queen. He was introduced at court when he was but seventeen years old, and, being the step-son of Leicester, he necessarily occupied a conspicuous position; his personal qualities, joined with this, soon gave him a very high and honorable name.