Earl of Effex's Relation to Queen Elizabeth.

The Hon. Mr. We's Hiftory of Queen
Elizabeth's Paffion for the Earl of Effex.
Extracted from the Catalogue of Royal and
Noble Authors.

Tth

O enter into all the particulars of A this remarkable perfon's life, would be writing a Hiftory of the fixteen or eighteen laft years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth: Yet I fhall touch many paffages of his ftory, and enter into a larger difcuffion of fome circumftances relating to him, than may be agreeable to persons who B are not curious about fuch minute facts as do not compose the hiftory of illuftrious men, though they in a great meafure compose their character. It is effential to the plan of this work to examine many particulars of this Lord's ftory, because it was not choice or private amusement, but the caft of his publick life that converted him into an author. Having confulted a great variety of writers who defcribe or mention him, I may perhaps be able to unfold fome of the darker parts of his history: At least, fome anecdotes, though of a trifling fort, will appear in a ftronger light than, I think, they have hitherto done. These fheets are calculated for the closets of the idle and inquifitive: They do not look up to the shelves of what Voltaire fo happily calls, "La Bibliotheque du

monde."

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I do not date this paffion from her first fight of him, nor impute his immediate rife to it, as fome have done, who did not obferve how nearly he was related to the Queen, as appears by the following short table:

THOMAS BOLEYN, Earl of Wiltshire.
N

Robert Earl of Effex. CHis Mother being Coufin to the Queen, and Wife of her great favorite, Leicester, eafily accounted for young Eflex's fudden promotion: It went on rapidly without those fupports. At twenty he was made Mafter of the Horfe; the next year General of the Horfe at the camp at Tilbury, and Knight D of the Garter. On thefe dignities were afterwards heaped the great posts of Master of the Ordnance, Earl Marshal, Chancellor of Cambridge, and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland- Lofty diftinctions from a Princefs fo fparing of her favours-Of what she was ftill more fparing, he obtained to the value of 300,000l. (a). In one of her letters the reproached him with her great favours be ftowed without his defert: In every inftance but in his and Leicester's, fhe was not wont to over-pay services (b).

E

The elegant perfpicuity, the concifenefs, the quick ftrong reasonings, and the engaging good breeding of his Letters, carry great marks of genius. — Yet his youth gave no promife of parts; his Father died with a mean opinion of him. The malicious fubtleties of an able court were an over-match for his impetuous fpirit: Yet he was far from wanting art; but was fo confident of the Queen's partiality, that he did not bend to her as his enemies did, who had not the fame hold on her tender paffions: He trufted to being always able to mafter her by abfenting himself: His enemies embraced thofe mo- G ments to ruin him. I am aware that it is become a mode to treat the Queen's paffion for him as a Romance. Voltaire laughs at (b) Biogr. Brit. p. 1661, in the notes. it, and obferves, that when her struggle a- (c) Sir Charles Blount, afterwards Earl of Debout him must have been the greatest [the vonshire, a very comely young man, having ditime of his death] fhe was fixty eight.-ftinguished himself at a tilt, her Majefty fent him Had he been fixty eight, it is probable the Ha Chefs-queen of gold enamelled, which he tied upon his arm with a crimson ribband. Effex perwould not have been in love with him. As ceiving it, faid with affected fcorn, "Now I pera great deal turns upon this point, and as "ceive every Fool must have a Favour!" On this there are the strongest prefumptions of the Sir Charles challenged, fought him in Marybonereality of her Majefty's inclination for him, park, difarmed and wounded him in the thigh. Ifhall take leave to enter into the difcuffion. Bacon-papers, vol. 2. p. 191.

His early marriage with the Widow of Sir Philip Sidney, did not look as if he himF felf had any idea of her Majefty's inclination for him: Perhaps he had learned from the example of his Father-in-law, that her Majefty's paffions never extended to matrimony. Yet before this he had infulted Sir Charles Blount, on a (c) jealousy of the Queen's partiality. Instead of fentimental

VOL. II. January, 1759.

(a) So Lord Treasurer Buckhurst computed. Vide Sir Henry Wotton's Parallel, p. 175.

foftness,

D

That her court and cotemporaries had an uniform opinion of her paffion is evident from many paflages. Sir Francis Bacon, F in a () letter of moft fenfible advice to the E in which he difiuades him from popular courfes, which the Queen could not brook in her greateft favorites, fays to him, "Win the Queen; I will not now speak "of favour or affection, but of other correfpondence and agreeableness."-That G is, do not be content with her prepoffeffion in your favour, but humour and make your felt agreeable to her. "How dangerous," adds he, "to have her think you a man "not to be ruled; that has her affection "and knows it; that feeks a popular re

putation and a military dependence." He H" pects it, and is greatly unquiet (o)." I

Caufes of Effex's Ruin.

think there can be no doubt but that the fairest B. and the fair Mrs. Bridges were the fame: If fo, it is evident why the felt the weight of her Majefty's difpleasure.

Elizabeth's Vanity.

35 a few weeks the quarrelled with him for demanding a poor fupply of one thousand foot and three hundred horse (v).

It is indeed a very trifling matter for what reafon a Prince chufes a Favourite; nor is it meant as any reproach to this A great Woman, that he could not diveft herfelf of all fenfibility: Her feeling, and mafering her paffion, adds to her character. The favourites of other Princes never fail to infufe into them their own prejudices against their enemies: That was not the cafe with Elizabeth: She was more jealous B of the greatnefs the bestowed, than her fubjects could be. How did the mortify Leicester, when the States heaped unusual honours on him! For Effex, it is evident, from multiplied inftances, that his very follicitation was prejudicial. Bacon (p) fays to his brother Antony, "Against me C "the is never peremptory but to my Lord "of Effex." Amongst the papers of the Bacons, is a moft extraordinary (9) letter from Lord Treasurer Burleigh to Lord Effex, recounting unmeasured abuse that he had received from the Queen, on her fufpecting Burleigh of favouring the Earl-D So quick was her nature to apprehend union where the loved to difunite, and with fuch refinement did old Cecil colour his inveteracy (r). Her Majefty was wont to accufe the Earl of opiniaftretè, and that he would not be ruled, but he would bridle and ftay bim (s). On another occafion, she said, E "She obferved fuch as followed Her; and "those which accompanied such as were " in her displeasure; and that they should "know as much before it were long (t)." No wonder the Earl complained, " that he "was as much diftafted with the glorious "greatness of a favourite, as he was before "with the fuppofed happiness of a cour"tier (u)." No wonder his mind was fo toft with contradictory paffions, when her foul, on whom he depended, was a compofition of tenderness and haughtiness! Nay, when even economy combated her affection! He profeffes, that her fond G "parting with him, when he fet out for "Ireland, pierced his very foul (x)."— In

(p) Bacon-papers, vol. 1. p. 196. (q) Ib. p. 146.

(r) It may be worth while to direct the reader to another curious letter, in which that wife man forgot himself moft indecently, fpeaking of Henry' the Fourth to his Embaffador in moft illiberal terms, and with the greatest contempt for the perfon of the Embassador himself. ib. p. 328.

(s) Ib. p. 5.
(u) Ih. p. 116,

(1) Ib. p. 389.

(x) Ib. p. 425.

Having pretty clearly afcertained the existence of the fentiment, it seems that the Earl's ruin was in great measure owing to the little homage he paid to a Sovereign, jealous of his perfon and of her own, and not accustomed to pardon the want of a proper degree of awe and adoration! Before his voyage to Ireland, the had treated him as he did the fair Mrs. Bridges-in fhort, had given him a box on the ear for turning his back on her in contempt. What must fhe have felt on hearing he had faid, "That the grew old and cankered, " and that her mind was become as crook"ed as her carcafe?" What provocation to a woman so difpofed to believe all the flattery of her court! How did the torture (z) Melville to make him prefer her beauty to his charming Queen's! Elizabeth's foible about her perfon was fo well known, that when the was fixty-feven, Veriken the Dutch Embassador told her at his audience," That "he had longed to undertake that voyage "to fee her Majefty, who for beauty and wif "dom excelled all other Princes of the "world (a)." The next year Lord Effex's Sifter, Lady Rich, interceding for him, tells her Majefty," Early did I hope this "morning to have had mine eyes blessed "with your Majelty's beauty. That her "Brother's life, his love, his fervice to her "beauties did not deferve fo hard a punish"ment. That he would be difabled from "ever ferving again his facred Goddess! "whofe excellent beauties and perfections "ought to feel more compaffion (b).” Whenever the weather would permit, the gave audience in the garden; her lines were trong, and in open day-light the fhades had lefs force. Vertue the Engraver had a pocket book of Ifaac Oliver, in which the latter had made a memorandum that the Queen would not let him give any shade to her features, telling him, "That shade was "an accident, and not naturally exifting " in a face." Her portraits are generally without any fhadow. There is another ftrongly prefumptive proof of this weaknefs: It is a fragment of one of her last broad pieces, reprefenting her horridly old

F

Н

and deformed: An entire coin with this image is not known: It is univerfally fuppofed that the die was broken by her command, and that some workman of the mint cut out this morfel, (which was purchased from the Cabinet of the late Earl of Oxford) which contains barely the face.

thers to Tir Oen. While the one ifland flourished with Cecils, Walfinghams, Bacons, the other was fo buried in barbarism, that Rome ventured to reward its martyrs with the fpoils of an imaginary fowl! The Earl's intelligences, his fpies, A his penfioners in foreign Courts, were as numerous as the boasted informations of Walfingham (b). His munificence was unbounded. What fums did the (i) perjured Houfe of Bacon obtain or extort from him! He buried Spenfer; and, which was more remarkable, was heir to Sir Roger Willi. Bams (k), a brave Soldier, whom he brought to a religious and penitent death. But what deserved most, and must have drawn the Queen's affection to him, was his extreme attention to the fecurity of her perfon: Each year he (1) promoted fome Acts of Parliament for the defence of it; and Calone perfifted in unravelling the mysterious treafons of her Phyfician Lopez, who was fcreened and protected by the Cecils-not merely by the Son, whofe base nature was capable of any ingratitude.It is melancholy that faction could make even Burleigh careless of the fafety of his Queen, when detection of the treason would reflect honour on the profecutor! Yet this zealous Effex did the suffer her council to keep, kneeling, for eleven hours, at his examination; for this Man's liberty did the accept presents from his Mother and Sister, yet without vouchfafing to fee them, or E granting their fuit. Indeed she did permit

D

On whatever her favour was founded, it was by no means placed undefervedly: The Earl's courage was impetuous and heroick: To this was added, great talents for the State, great affection for literature and protection of learned men, and the greatest zeal for the fervice and fafety of his Mistress. At nineteen he diftinguished himself at the battle of Zutphen, where Sir Philip Sidney fell. At twenty-two he undertook, as a volunteer, to promote the restoration of Don Antonio to the throne of Portugal, ufurped by the Queen's black enemy, Philip; and challenged the Governor of Corunna by found of trumpet, or any of equal quality, to fingle combat. He treated Villars (c), the Governor of Rouen, in the fame style. In the expedition to Cadiz, he threw his hat into the fea for joy, that the Lord Admiral confented to attack the Spanish fleet. Few royal favourites are fo prodigal of life! His indignation against Philip rofe to the dignity of a perfonal averfion: In his letters he used to say, "I will "teach that proud King to know." As much reafon as fhe had to hate Philip, the Queen could not endure the Earl's affuming fuch arrogance against a crowned head. So formidable an (d) enemy he was, that, when the greatest offers could not bribe him from his duty, the Court of Spain attempted to have him poifoned;- luckily they addreffed their poifon to the arms of his great chair, which no more than the pummel (e) of a faddle are a mortal part. And as he fupported the enemies of the Spaniard, he endeavoured to difpoffefs the Pope of the Dutchy of Ferrara, fending the famous (f) Sir Anthony Shirley thither, to promote the interefts of a Bastard of the House of Efte. There was as much policy and activity of enterprize in this, as in his Ho. G linefs fending a (g) plume of Phænix fea

(e) In his letter to Villars the Earl faid, "Si " vous voulez combattre vous meme à cheval ou "à pied, je maintiendrai que la querelle du Roi (Henriiv.) eft plus jufte celle de la ligue; que "je fuis meilleur que vous; & que ma Maitreffe eft. "plus belle que la votre, &c." Elais biftor. fur Paris, par Saintfoix, vol. 2. p. 82.

que

(d) Bacon-papers, vol. 2. p. 307.

(e) Walpole, a Jefuit, was hanged for attempting to poifen the Queen's faddle. Camden, p. 561. (f) Wood's Athen. vol. 1. p. 551. (g) Bacon-papers.

(b) lb. vol. 2. p. 429, &c.

(i) Ib. vol. 2. p. 371; and Sir Henry Wotton's parallel. [We have confulted this paffage, and find that it proves the direct contrary of what it is brought to prove; that is, it proves that the BaFons did not extort money from Effex. As for their perjury, we must take it upon Mr. W's word, for he brings no proof of it.]

(k) He had been one of the ftanding Council of Nine, appointed to provide for defence of the Realm against the Spanish Armada. Biograph. vol. 4. p. 2287. He wrote a valuable history of the wars in the Low Countries, in which he had ferved with. great reputation, and where he was one of the introducers of a new military difcipline. Camd. Epift. P. 350. A Spanish Captain having challenged the General, Sir John Norris, Sir Roger fought him; afterwards affaulted the Prince of Parma's camp near Venlo, and penetrated to his very tent, and made a brave defence of Sluys. Fuller in Monmouth, p. 52. James the First lamented his death so much, that he wifhed rather to have loft five thoufand of his own fubjects; and intended to write his epitaph. Bacon-papers, vol. 1. pages 296.

355:

(1) Lord Clarendon in anfwer to Sir Henry Wotton, p. 188

Grounds of the Offence taken by the Queen against Effex.

him to celebrate St. George's day alone (m): One should like to know how he played at this ceremony by himself. In short, this gallant, though rash Man, the delivered over to the executioner, becaufe his bit terest enemies had told her he had de

clared, That his life was inconfiftent with her fafety. A tale fo ridiculous, that it is amazing how most of our hiftorians can give credit to it!-How was he dangerous, or could he be !- His wild attempt on the city had demonftrated his impotence. Sa far from this declaration, on receiving fentence, he befought the Lords, "not to tell "the Queen that he neglected or flighted "her mercy." He died with devotion, yet undaunted. Marshal Biron derided his death, and died himself like a frantick coward. Raleigh imitated his death more worthily than he beheld it (n)!

A

B

D

The Queen at first carried her refent-C ment fo far, as to have a fermon preached at St. Paul's Crofs to blacken his memory (0). Besides the ridicule thrown on her perfon, many paffages in his behaviour had fhocked her haughtiness and combated her affection. His pretending to be Head of the Puritans, and to diflike Monarchy, in order to flatter the Dutch; his fpeaking of the King of Spain in terms too familiar; his prefuming to create Knights in fome of his Spanish expeditions; his blaming the Queen's parfimony in the affairs of Ire land, which She had once near loft for the, trifling fum (p) of two thousand pounds; E his treating with (4) Tir Oen to abridge

(m) Vide Sidney and Bacon-papers.

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(n) Sir Walter Raleigh was known to bear perfonal enmity to the Earl, and endeavoured to excufe his appearing at the execution, by pretending it was to clear himself if the Earl fhould tax him with any indirect dealings. One of their first quarrels was the Earl's braving Sir Walter at a tilt, and appearing there in defiance of him with two thousand orange tawney feathers; an affront not very intelligible at prefent. Vide Lord Clarendon's difpa rity, p. 190. However, it is certain that Sir Walter bore great malice to the Earl, and fell fick on G the apprehenfion of his being restored to the Queen's favour. Bacon-papers, vol. 2. p. 438 ; and Sidneypapers, vol. 2. p. 139.

(0) Clarendon's Disparity, p. 192. (p) Sidney-papers.

(9) The Earl's treaty with Tir Oen is a great blemish on his memory. Tho' the Irish General had an army of five thousand foot and five hundred H horfe, and Effex but two thousand five hundred foot and three hundred horfe, yet Tir Oen had difcovered evident marks of dreading the English; and as the Earl had received fuch unusual powers in his commiffion, it behoved him to do a little more than patch up a treaty with the Irish. There

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his own ftay in that ifland; his threatning that he would make the earth tremble under him; his boafting of one hundred and twenty Lords devoted to him; his popularity; his importunity for his friends; and his paying court to her Succeffor, probably exaggerated to her by Sir Robert Cecil, who was ten times more guilty in that refpect, all this had alienated her tenderness and imprinted an afperity, which it feems even his death could not foften.

On a review of his character, it appears, that if the Queen's partiality had not inflated him, he would have made one of the bravest Generals, one of the most active Statefmen, and the brightest (r) Mecanas of that accomplished age. With the zeal, though without the difcretion of Burleigh, he had nothing of the dark foul of Leicester. Raleigh excelled him in abilities, but came not near him in generofity. It was no fmall merit to have infifted on giving Bacon to that orb, from which one of Bacon's firk employments was to contribute to expel his benefactor. The Earl had a folemn tincture of religion, of which, his enemies availed themselves to work him to the greatest blemish of his life, the discovery of the abettors of his last rafh defign. He had fcarce a fault befides which did not flow from the noblenefs of his Nature. Sir Harry Worton fays he was delicate in his baths; it was a flight luxury, and proceeded fo little from any effeminacy in his perfon, that he read letters and attended to fuitors the whole time he was dreffing. Brutality of manners is not effentially neceffary to courage: Leonatus, one of Alexander's generals, no unmanly school, in all the marches of the army was followed by ca

even appeared on his trial fome Tymptoms of too ambitious defigns in his union with Tir Oen. Sir Christopher Blount, father-in-law of Effex, confeffed that there had been fome mention of tranfporting part of the Irish army into England, that they meditated no hurt to the Queen, yet rather than mifcarry, they would have drawn blood even from herself. Bacon-papers, vol. 2. p. 493. I fear, no practices of his enemies could justify Effex in fuch views! If it is true that Sir Robert Cecil, to draw him into an unwarrantable and hafty journey to England, stopped all veffels but one, which was to fpread a falfe report of the Queen's death, Cecil's art was equal to his iniquity. The paltry account he gives of Effex's infurrection in a letter to Sir G. Carew, is by no means of a piece with fuch capacity. ib. p. 468.

(r) As an inftance of his affection for learning, he gave to the University of Oxford his share of the library of the celebrated Bishop Oforius, which his Lordship got at the plunder of Faro. Bacon-papers, vol. 2. p. 58.

mels