but, says Monson, "the Earl of Essex offered, in the greatness of his mind, to supply Raleigh's want of men and victuals, and to exchange ships: but all proposals were in vain; for the riches of Cadiz kept them that had got much from attempting more." So little ground was there for imputing jealousy or any unfriendly feeling on the part of Essex towards Raleigh.

It required both time and management on the part of Raleigh to secure his own restoration to the Queen's good graces; and he succeeded in accomplishing it, by first effecting a reconciliation between Essex and the Secretary Cecil. On the 4th of March, Rowland White writes to Sir Robert Sidney-"Sir Walter Raleigh hath been very often private with the Earl of Essex, and is the manager of a peace between him and Sir Robert Cecil."* Again, on the 9th of April, he writes-" Sir Walter is daily at court; and hope is had that he shall be admitted to the execution of his office, as Captain of the Guard, before his going to sea. His friends, you know, are of the greatest authority and power here; and the Earl of Essex gives it no opposition, his mind being full, and only carried away with the business he had in his head, of conquering and overcoming the enemy."t

The Queen very shortly afforded him an opportunity of trying to effect this. She had received * Sidney Papers. † Ibid.

information that Philip was bent upon vengeance for the losses and disgrace which he had sustained at Cadiz, and was earnestly making preparations in Galicia and at Lisbon, collecting all his scattered forces in the Groyne and Ferrol, with an intention of invading Ireland. She therefore directed the Lord Admiral to prepare a powerful fleet, with the view of finding Philip employment at home, and also to intercept his carracks and galleons at the islands. When ready it consisted of seventeen or eighteen of her Majesty's ships, with more than a hundred transports with troops, store-ships, and victuallers; and the sole command was conferred on Essex, the second in command being Lord Thomas Howard, and the third Sir Walter Raleigh. But the detail of their proceedings appears under the memoir of Essex and the event, therefore, which caused an irreparable breach between the two favourites will alone be mentioned here.

The affair of Sir Walter Raleigh having attacked the island of Flores in the absence of the Earl of Essex has already been noticed, and need not be repeated here, except merely to observe, that although Essex, by the intercession of Lord Thomas Howard, was perfectly satisfied, and indeed apologized to Raleigh, yet it was generally supposed that the latter never forgave him for the censure passed on his conduct. According to strict military discipline, disobedience of orders is a high crime; but

circumstances and success go a great way towards excusing it, and these were in favour of Raleigh. When the immortal Nelson led his brave colleagues, contrary to orders, to attack and capture the Spanish squadron on the 14th of February; in the evening of that day, when Lord St. Vincent was speaking with his captain on the events of the morning, the latter seemed to insinuate that Nelson had disobeyed his orders, on which the noble Earl replied-" Perhaps so; and when you, Calder, do the same thing, and with the same effect, I will forgive you, as I do him."

The affair, however, alluded to appears to have reached the Court in an exaggerated shape. Rowland White says "I hear that the Earl's proceeding towards Sir Walter Raleigh, in calling his actions to public question before a council of war, where, by a full court, he was found worthy of death, is generally disliked here. Sir Walter is happy to have so good and constant friends, that are able by their wisdom and authority to protect him and comfort him."*

Sir Walter Raleigh had no reason to be displeased with his reception at court; and Essex and he, and the all-powerful Cecil, became apparently good friends. Raleigh expected, however, that some honour would be conferred on him; but the place of Vice-Chamberlain, that became vacant, was given * Sidney Papers.

to another. Disappointed in this object of his ambition, he retired to his seat at Sherborne, where he found many resources in the large fund he possessed of useful, intellectual, and elegant accomplishments. While the Queen's ministers were disputing and differing in their opinions regarding foreign policy, Raleigh, by dividing his time between Sherborne and the Court, continued to possess the favour of the Queen while Essex, by his absurd conduct, had entirely lost it. "From this moment there seems reason to believe that Sir Walter became Devereux's avowed enemy. There is, indeed, but too much reason to know it, by a secret and most disgraceful letter, under his own hand, to Cecil, urging him to put Essex out of the way.

After the death of Essex, Raleigh was called from Sherborne to undertake, in company with Lord Cobham, a secret mission to Flanders; and on his return was promoted to the government of Jersey, acting at the same time as Captain of the Queen's Guard. He also sat in the last Parliament of Elizabeth, as one of the Knights for Cornwall, in which he took an active part, and made several excellent speeches on a great variety of subjects. He still kept well at Court, but was out of favour with his pretended friends the Cecils. The time, however, was approaching when he was doomed to undergo a lamentable change. Early in January, 1602, the

* Tytler.

Queen, who had long been in a declining state, was seized with a dangerous illness, which ere long proved fatal. By this event the fortunes of Raleigh underwent a total reverse. At the very commencement of James's reign he experienced nothing but coldness, suspicion, and neglect.

It was strongly suspected that the very man, Cecil, whom Raleigh had urged to destroy Essex, was now employed in working upon the mind of the new sovereign, to induce him to do the same thing for Raleigh; and if so-whether by the King through Cecil, or whosoever the agent may have been, it was done effectually. He held lucrative appointments; and James had needy favourites. The honourable post of captain of the guard was taken from him; his wine-patent was withdrawn; but these were of little moment, for in less than three months he was involved in a charge of high treason. It seems that Lord Cobham, a friend of Raleigh, a vain, weak, and disappointed man, courted the society of the discontented, and held foolish discourse against the government; that he had made offers to Count Aremberg of his influence to further a peace with Spain; that he suggested Sir Walter Raleigh should be bribed with a pension, provided he laid aside his hostility to that power, and consented to promote their views; further, as was shown on the trial, that Lord Cobham offered Raleigh 8,000 crowns, which he, considering it to