ESSEX, ROBERT DEvEnEux, EARL OF, son of Walter Devereux, first earl of E., was born at Netherwood in Herefordshire, 10th Nov. 1567; entered Trinity College, Cam bridge, at the age of 10, where he remained for four years. Lord Burleigh, to whose guardianship he had been intrusted, introduced the handsome and gifted youth at court in 1584. Here, by his agreeable manners, his appearance, and talents, he established himself among troops of friends, and gained the special favor of Elizabeth. In 1585, he accompanied the earl of Leicester to Holland, where he distinguished himself at the battle of Zutphen, and on his return to England was. made master of the horse and knight of the garter. After the death of Leicester, E. continued to rise in the favor of Elizabeth, who loaded him with honors. In 1591, he commanded the forces sent to the assistance of Henry IV. of France against the Spaniards, but achieved no success. The next few years were spent in endeavoring to get the better of -Burleigh—the wisest, the most prudent, and the most politic of all Elizabeth's advisers. In 1596, he was ap pointed joint-commander with lord Howard in the expedition against Spain, to which Burleigh was strongly opposed; and though E. displayed all his wonted courage, and contributed to the capture of Cadiz, which caused immense loss to the Spaniards, yet the expedition resulted in nothing, and E. had to defend himself against various accu sations on his return. In 1597, he was made earl marshal of England, and, on the death of lord Burleigh, chancellor of Cambridge. In 1598 occurred the first fatal mis take in E.'s career. Presuming upon Elizabeth's admiration and feminine fondness for
his person, he differed from her about some trifling matter, and angrily and rudely turned his back upon her in the presence of some of the council, and her majesty, whose language was hardly more delicate than her father's, gave him a vigorous box on the ears, telling him to "go and be hanged." A violent quarrel ensued, which, though apparently smoothed up, was never really so. E. was afterwards, in 1599, sent to Ire land—part of which at that time was in a state of rebellion—as lord-lieutenant of that country; but here his government was ill-advised and ineffectual, and after a few unim portant undertakings, he concluded a truce with the rebels, which was regarded at court as high treason. hi order to confront his enemies, lie hastened back to London, con trary to the queen's express commands, and forced his way into Elizabeth's bedchamber. Justly offended, the queen deprived him of his dignities, and commanded that he should be called to account for his behavior. E., advancing from one degree of foolhardihood to another, tried to excite au insurrection in London. lie was imprisoned, tried, and found guilty. Elizabeth long delayed signing the warrant for his execution, in the hope that he would implore her pardon. He was beheaded on the 25th Feb., 1601, after defending himself with pride and dignity. E. was rash, bold, and presumptuous; but brave, generous, and affectionate, and the friend and patron of literary men.