Wearied," says White, "with not knowing how to please, he is not
unwilling to listen to those motions made him for the public good." He
was soon after so much offended with her majesty for giving the office
of warden of the cinque ports to his enemy lord Cobham, after he had
asked it for himself, that he was about to quit the court; but the queen
sent for him, and, to pacify him, made him master of the ordnance.

It is mentioned about this time, that the queen had of late "used the
fair Mrs. Bridges with words and blows of anger." This young lady was
one of the maids of honor, and the same referred to in a subsequent
letter, where it is said, "it is spied out by envy that the earl of
Essex is again fallen in love with his fairest B." On which White
observes, "It cannot choose but come to the queen's ears; and then is he
undone, and all that depend upon his favor." A striking indication of
the nature of the sentiment which the aged sovereign cherished for her
youthful favorite!

In May our intelligencer writes thus: "Here hath been much ado between
the queen and the lords about the preparation to sea; some of them
urging the necessity of setting it forward for her safety; but she
opposing it by no danger appearing towards her any where; and that she
will not make wars but arm for defence; understanding how much of her
treasure was already spent in victual, both for ships and soldiers at
land. She was extremely angry with them that made such haste in it, and
at Burleigh for suffering it, seeing no greater occasion. No reason nor
persuasion by some of the lords could prevail, but that her majesty hath
commanded order to be given to stay all proceeding, and sent my lord
Thomas (Howard) word that he should not go to sea. How her majesty may
be wrought to fulfil the most earnest desire of some to have it go
forward, time must make it known."

But the reconciliation, whether sincere or otherwise, brought about by
Raleigh between Essex and the Cecils, rendered at this time the
war-party so strong, that the scruples of the queen were at length
overruled, and a formidable armament was sent to sea, with the double
object of destroying the Spanish ships in their harbours and
intercepting their homeward-bound West India fleet. Essex was commander
in chief by sea and land; lord Thomas Howard and Raleigh vice and rear
admirals; lord Montjoy was lieutenant-general; sir Francis Vere,
marshal. Several young noblemen attached to Essex j