Though the signal advantages gained by the arms of Elizabeth over the Spaniards, and the uncontrouled authority which she exercised over her own subjects, gave complete security to her throne, she continued to regard her heir, the king of Scotland, with the same malignant jealousy which had influenced her conduct towards the unhappy Mary. James had, in deed, succeeded to all the claims of his mother ; but, as a Protestant prince, he did not possess the fa vour with the Catholics, which could render his preten dangerous; and his indolent, unambitious dispo sition, sufficiently secured her from any disturbance in the possession of the crown. Still, however, she cau tiously abstained from satisfying the nation by any de claration in favour of his title ; and was as anxious to prevent every circumstance which might augment his credit or power, as if he had been her immediate com petitor for the'kingdom.
The authority of the English in Ireland had been hi therto little more than nominal ; and the complete sub jugation of that country had been always deferred, by the necessity of watching the more formidable powers of the continent. But the rebellion in that kingdom having now risen, under the conduct of the Earl of Tyrone, to a more alarming height than at any former period, and the Spaniards having exerted themselves, as the most effectual mode of diverting the power of the English from their coasts, in sending succours to the natives, it was therefore resolved to push the war in that quarter with more vigorous measures ; and the young Earl of Essex, who had succeeded, since the death of the Earl of Leicester, to the queen's favour, obtained the government of Ireland, and the command of the army destined for its reduction. Having disgust ed the queen by his ill success and insolent behaviour, he returned suddenly to England to make his peace at court ; hut Lord Alountjoy, who was then appointed as deputy-governor to the command, by his able and in defatigable exertions, defeated the rebels in every quar ter, and at length compelled Tyrone to make an abso lute surrender of his life and fortunes to the queen's mercy.
Essex, in the mean time, who had long possessed a powerful hold of Elizabeth's affections, but whose un governable spirit she found it requisite to humble, was brought to trial before the privy-council, and condemn ed to retirement in his own house, till the queen should be pleased to restore him to office. He expressed in his defence the most dutiful submission to his sovereign's pleasure; and, as 'Elizabeth herself had openly declared that her severity was intended to correct and not to ruin him, it was generally expected that he would soon re gain all his ascendancy over her mind, and reappear a greater favourite than ever. Persuaded, however, by his enemies, that his lofty spirit was far from being sub dued, she pushed her rigorous treatment to a degree which impressed him with a belief that she was altoge ther inexorable, and drove his impatient temper to the most fatal extremities. He threw off all appearance of
duty and respect, and even indulged himself in great liberties of speech, respecting the queen's advanced age and decayed beauty. He used every art to increase his popularity, which was already greater than what any other subject enjoyed ; and he entered into a secret cor respondence with the King of Scotland, whose right of succession he proposed to compel Elizabeth to acknow ledge. Having formed a strong party of malecontents, and trusting chiefly to his great authority with the po pulace, he formed at length the desperate attempt of seizing the queen's person, removing his enemies from office, and settling, with the advice of his partizans, a new plan of government. Finding, however, that his designs were suspected, and the queen upon her guard, yet determined to make some open effort before they should be completely discovered, he adopted the wild project of raising the city of London in his favour ; and madly imagined, that by the mere good will of the mul titude, he should be able to overturn the wise and well established government of Elizabeth. Sallying forth with about 200 attendants, and calling aloud " for the queen ! for the queen ! a plot is laid for my life!" he proceeded to the house of the sheriff, upon whose aid he placed great reliance. The citizens, in the mean time, flocked around him in amazement, but discovered no disposition to join him in arms. Observing their coldness, and hearing that he was proclaimed a traitor, he began to despair of success, and to think of retreat ing to his own house. Attempting to force his way through the streets, which were now barricaded and guarded, he was beaten back and wounded in the thigh; but at length, by putting his followers on board of small boats, he escaped down the river to his house, which he proceeded to fortify in the best manner that he could, and proposed to defend to the last extremity. IIe was soon compelled. to surrender at discretion, brought to immediate trial, clearly convicted of high treason, and condemned to capital punishment. Eliza beth hesitated long between love and resentment, com passion for her favourite, and the care of her own safety. She signed the warrant for his execution ; then counter manded the order; again commanded it to proceed; and again yielded to a return of tenderness, in his fa vour. But, hardened against him at last, chiefly by his supposed obstinacy in making no application to her for mercy, she finally consented to his death. His proud heart having been humbled in the solitude of prison, not by fear, but by sentiments of religion, he made a full confession of his disloyalty, acknowledged the justice of his sentence, and testified on the scaffold the most suit able symptoms of penitence and piety.