esteem or resentment, is strictly governed by the consideration of
her own exalted rank.

In depicting the affliction, which the queen endured upon the execution
of Essex, and more especially at the news that he had implored her mercy
in vain, the dramatist has fallen infinitely below the historian. Hume
relates, that when Nottingham, having in her last illness requested to
see the queen, revealed her fatal secret, and entreated her majesty's
forgiveness, the queen shook the dying countess in her bed, and
exclaimed--"God may forgive you, but I never will." The most dismal
melancholy, as it is alleged, succeeded this rage.--But, from whatever
cause, it is certain that an almost unheard-of despondency concluded the
reign of this great princess, whose mind was masculine; and who,
throughout her long career of government, never evinced one feminine
weakness, which was not the effect of love, or of that vanity, which
hoped to inspire the passion.

At this era, in the short space of two years, the hand of death snatched
from the court of Great Britain, all these its most remarkable
personages--Essex, Nottingham, and the queen. It is probable, that the
decease of the first, hastened that of the second, as well as of the
last, character; for the countess's remorse for political stratagem is
reported to have been dreadfully severe.

The earl died in his thirty-fourth, and the queen in her seventieth
year.--In a subject, her majesty's unseasonable love might have formed a
comic, instead of a tragic, drama.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

EARL OF ESSEX _Mr Holman._
SOUTHAMPTON _Mr Betterton._
BURLEIGH _Mr Murray._
RALEIGH _Mr Claremont._
LIEUTENANT _Mr Thompson._

QUEEN ELIZABETH _Mrs Pope._
LADY RUTLAND _Mrs Esten._
LADY NOTTINGHAM _Mrs Litchfield._

_SCENE,--London._

THE EARL OF ESSEX.

ACT THE FIRST.

SCENE I.

_An Antichamber in the Palace._

_Enter BURLEIGH and RALEIGH._

_Bur._ The bill, at length, has pass'd opposing numbers,
Whilst crowds, seditious, clamour'd round the senate,
And headlong faction urged its force within.

_Ral._ It has, my lord!--The wish'd-for day is come,
When this proud idol of the people's hearts
Shall now no more be worshipp'd.--Essex falls.
My lord, the minute's near, that shall unravel
The mystic schemes of this aspiring man.
Now fortune, with officious hand, invites us
To her, and opens wide the gates of greatness,
The way to pow