and sacrificed her resentment to the public
service.

Elizabeth affected extremely the praise of clemency; and in every great
example which she had made during her reign, she had always appeared
full of reluctance and hesitation: but the present situation of Essex
called forth all her tender affections, and kept her in the most
real agitation and irresolution. She felt a perpetual combat between
resentment and inclination, pride and compassion, the care of her own
safety and concern for her favorite; and her situation, during this
interval, was perhaps more an object of pity than that to which Essex
himself was reduced. She signed the warrant for his execution; she
countermanded it; she again resolved on his death; she felt a new return
of tenderness. Essex's enemies told her, that he himself desired to die,
and had assured her, that she could never be in safety while he lived:
it is likely that this proof of penitence and of concern for her would
produce a contrary effect to what they intended, and would revive all
the fond affection which she had so long indulged towards the unhappy
prisoner. But what chiefly hardened her heart against him was his
supposed obstinacy, in never making, as she hourly expected, any
application to her for mercy; and she finally gave her consent to his
execution. He discovered at his death symptoms rather of penitence
and piety than of fear; and willingly acknowledged the justice of the
sentence by which he suffered. The execution was private in the Tower,
agreeably to his own request. He was apprehensive, he said, lest the
favor and compassion of the people would too much raise his heart in
those moments, when humiliation under the afflicting hand of Heaven was
the only proper sentiment which he could indulge.[***] And the queen no
doubt, thought that prudence required the removing of so melancholy a
spectacle from the public eye.

* Winwood, vol. i. p. 300.

** Winwood, vol. i. p. 302.

*** Dr. Barlow's Sermon on Essex's Execution. Bacon, vol.
iv. p. 534

Sir Walter Raleigh, who came to the Tower on purpose, and who beheld
Essex's execution from a window, increased much by this action the
general hatred under which he already labored: it was thought, that his
sole intention was to feast his eyes with the death of an enemy; and
no apology which he could make for so ungenerous a conduct could be
accepted by the public. The cruelty and animosity with which he urged