th her; where he was
so graciously received, that on his departure he was heard to express
great satisfaction, and to thank God that, though he had suffered much
trouble and many storms abroad, he found a sweet calm at home.[***]

* Birch's Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 453.

** Winwood, vol. i. p. 118.

*** Sidney's Letters, vol. ii. p. 127.

But this placability of Elizabeth was merely the result of her surprise,
and of the momentary satisfaction which she felt on the sudden and
unexpected appearance of her favorite: after she had leisure for
recollection, all his faults recurred to her; and she thought it
necessary, by some severe discipline to subdue that haughty, imperious
spirit, who, presuming on her partiality, had pretended to domineer
in her councils, to engross all her favor, and to act, in the most
important affairs, without regard to her orders and instructions. When
Essex waited on her in the afternoon, he found her extremely altered in
her carriage towards him: she ordered him to be confined to his chamber;
to be twice examined by the council; and though his answers were calm
and submissive, she committed him to the custody of Lord Keeper Egerton,
and held him sequestered from all company, even from that of his
countess, nor was so much as the intercourse of letters permitted
between them. Essex dropped many expressions of humiliation and sorrow,
none of resentment: he professed an entire submission to the queen's
will; declared his intention of retiring into the country, and of
leading thenceforth a private life remote from courts and business: but
though he affected to be so entirely cured of his aspiring ambition,
the vexation of this disappointment, and of the triumph gained by his
enemies, preyed upon his haughty spirit, and he fell into a distemper
which seemed to put his life in danger.

The queen had always declared to all the world, and even to the earl
himself, that the purpose of her severity was to correct, not to ruin
him;[*] and when she heard of his sickness, she was not a little alarmed
with his situation. She ordered eight physicians of the best reputation
and experience to consult of his case; and being informed that the issue
was much to be apprehended, she sent Dr. James to him with some broth,
and desired that physician to deliver him a message, which she probably
deemed of still greater virtue, that if she thought such a step
consistent with her honor, she would herself pa