chid him severely for having waited
the result of his further representations and entreaties, after once
learning her pleasure on the point. Success in the main object of his
expedition might still have procured him a triumph over his
court-enemies and a sweet reconciliation with his offended sovereign,
but fortune had no such favor in store for Essex. The necessity of
quelling some rebels in Leinster again impeded his march into Ulster;
for which expedition he was obliged to solicit a further supply from
England of two thousand foot, which was immediately forwarded to him, as
if with the design of leaving him without excuse should he fail to
reduce Tyrone. But by this time the season was so far advanced, and the
army so sickly, that both the earl and the Irish council were of opinion
that nothing effectual could be done; and at the first notice of his
intended march great part of his forces deserted. He nevertheless
proceeded, and in a few days during which a little skirmishing took
place, came in sight of the rebel's main army, considerably more
numerous than his own; Tyrone however would not venture to give him
battle, but sent to request a parley. This, after some delay, the lord
deputy granted; and a conference was held between them, Essex standing
on the bank of a stream which separated the two hosts, while the rebel
sat on his horse in the middle of the water. A truce was concluded, to
be renewed from six weeks to six weeks, till terms of peace should be
agreed on; those proposed by Tyrone containing several arrogant and
unreasonable articles. At a second meeting with the Irish chief, Essex
was attended by some of his principal officers; but it was afterwards
proved that previously to the first conference, he had opened a very
unwarrantable correspondence with this enemy of his queen and country,
who took upon himself to promise that if Essex would come into his
measures he would make him the greatest man in England. During the whole
of this time, sharp letters were passing between Elizabeth and her
privy-council and the earl; and it is hard to say on which side the
heaviest list of grievances was produced. The queen remonstrated against
his contemptuous disobedience of her orders, and the waste in frivolous
enterprises of the vast supplies of men and money which she had
intrusted to her deputy for a specific and momentous object;--the earl,
in addition to his usual murmurings against the sinister suggestions of
h