es with Robert Cecil. During his absence,
the lord admiral had been advanced to the dignity of earl of Nottingham,
and he now discovered that by a clause in the patent this honor was
declared to be conferred upon him in consideration of his good service
at the taking of Cadiz, an action of which Essex claimed to himself the
whole merit. To make the injury greater, this title, conjoined to the
office of lord high admiral, gave the new earl precedency of all others
of the same rank, Essex amongst the rest. To such complicated
mortifications his proud spirit disdained to submit; and after
challenging without effect to single combat the lord admiral himself or
any of his sons who would take up the quarrel, the indignant favorite
retired a sullen malcontent to Wanstead-house, feigning himself sick.
This expedient acted on the heart of the queen with all its wonted
force;--she showed the utmost concern for his situation, chid the Cecils
for wronging him, and soon after made him compensation for the act which
had wounded him, by admitting his claim to the hereditary office of earl
marshal, with which he was solemnly invested in December 1597; and in
right of it once more took place above the lord admiral.

It was during this summer that the arrogant deportment of a Polish
ambassador, sent to complain of an invasion of neutral rights in the
interruption given by the English navy to the trade of his master's
subjects with Spain, gave occasion to a celebrated display of the spirit
and the erudition of the queen of England. Speed, the ablest of our
chroniclers, gives at length her extemporal Latin reply to his harangue;
adding in his quaint but expressive phrase, that she "thus lion like
rising, daunted the malapert orator no less with her stately port and
majestical deporture, than with the tartness of her princely checks: and
turning to the train of her attendants thus said, 'God's death, my
lords,' (for that was her oath ever in anger,) 'I have been inforced
this day to scour up my old Latin, that hath lain long in rusting.'" The
same author mentions, that the king of Denmark having by his ambassador
offered to mediate between England and Spain, the queen declined the
overture, adding, "I would have the king of Denmark and all princes
Christian and Heathen to know, that England hath no need to crave peace;
nor myself indured one hour's fear since I attained the crown thereof,
being guarded with so valiant and faithful subjects."