place between these two gallant commanders.

Essex made next a disposition proper for intercepting the Indian
galleons; and Sir William Monson, whose station was the most remote of
the fleet, having fallen in with them, made the signals which had been
agreed on. That able officer, in his Memoirs, ascribes Essex's failure,
when he was so near attaining so mighty an advantage, to his want of
experience in seamanship; and the account which he gives of the
errors committed by that nobleman, appears very reasonable as well as
candid.[**]

* Monson, p. 173.

** Monson, p. 174.

The Spanish fleet, finding that the enemy was upon them, made all the
sail possible to the Terceras, and got into the safe and well-fortified
harbor of Angra, before the English fleet could overtake them. Essex
intercepted only three ships; which, however, were so rich, as to repay
all the charges of the expedition.

The causes of the miscarriage in this enterprise were much canvassed
in England, upon the return of the fleet; and though the courtiers took
part differently, as they affected either Essex or Raleigh, the people
in general, who bore an extreme regard to the gallantry, spirit, and
generosity of ihe former, were inclined to justify every circumstance
of his conduct. The queen, who loved the one as much as she esteemed
the other, maintained a kind of neutrality, and endeavored to share her
favors with an impartial hand between the parties. Sir Robert Cecil,
second son of Lord Burleigh, was a courtier of promising hopes, much
connected with Raleigh; and she made him secretary of state, preferably
to Sir Thomas Bodley, whom Essex recommended for that office. But not
to disgust Essex, she promoted him to the dignity of earl marshal of
England; an office which had been vacant since the death of the earl
of Shrewsbury. Essex might perceive from this conduct, that she never
intended to give him the entire ascendant over his rivals, and might
thence learn the necessity of moderation and caution. But his temper was
too high for submission; his behavior too open and candid to practise
the arts of a court; and his free sallies, while they rendered him
but more amiable in the eyes of good judges, gave his enemies many
advantages against him.

The war with Spain, though successful, having exhausted the queen's
exchequer, she was obliged to assemble a parliament; where Yelverton, a
lawyer, was chosen speaker of the house of commons.[*] [3