on Essex's fate, even when Cecil relented,[*] were still regarded as the
principles of this unmanly behavior.

* Murdin, p. 811.

The earl of Essex was but thirty-four years of age, when his rashness,
imprudence, and violence brought him to this untimely end. We must here,
as in many other instances, lament the inconstancy of human nature,
that a person endowed with so many noble virtues--generosity, sincerity,
friendship, valor, eloquence, and industry--should, in the latter
period of his life, have given reins to his ungovernable passions, and
involved, not only himself, but many of his friends, in utter ruin. The
queen's tenderness and passion for him, as it was the cause of those
premature honors which he attained, seems, on the whole, the chief
circumstance which brought on his unhappy fate. Confident of her
partiality towards him, as well as of his own merit, he treated her with
a haughtiness which neither her love nor her dignity could bear; and as
her amorous inclinations, in so advanced an age, would naturally make
her appear ridiculous, if not odious, in his eyes, he was engaged, by an
imprudent openness, of which he made profession, to discover too
easily those sentiments to her. The many reconciliations and returns of
affection, of which he had still made advantage, induced him to venture
on new provocations, till he pushed her beyond all bounds of patience;
and he forgot, that though the sentiments of the woman were ever
strong in her, those of the sovereign had still in the end appeared
predominant.

Some of Essex's associates, Cuffe, Davers, Blount, Meric, and Davies,
were tried and condemned, and all of these except Davies, were
executed. The queen pardoned the rest; being persuaded that they were
drawn in merely from their friendship to that nobleman, and their
care of his safety, and were ignorant of the more criminal part of his
intentions.

Southampton's life was saved with great difficulty; but he was detained
in prison during the remainder of this reign.

The king of Scots, apprehensive lest his correspondence with Essex might
have been discovered, and have given offence to Elizabeth sent the
earl of Marre and Lord Kinloss as ambassadors to England, in order to
congratulate the queen on her escape from the late insurrection and
conspiracy. They were also ordered to make secret inquiry, whether any
measures had been taken by her for excluding him from the succession,
as well as to disco