m to account for his unauthorised return and
the hazard to which he had committed all things in Ireland; and four
privy-councillors were appointed by her to examine him that night and
hear his answers: but by them nothing was concluded, and the matter was
referred to a full council summoned for the following day, the earl
being in the meantime commanded to keep his chamber. Notwithstanding the
natural impetuosity of his temper, Essex now armed himself with patience
and moderation, and answered with great gravity and discretion to the
charges brought against him, which resolved themselves into the
following articles. "His contemptuous disobedience of her majesty's
letters and will in returning: his presumptuous letters written from
time to time: his proceedings in Ireland contrary to the points resolved
upon in England, ere he went: his rash manner of coming away from
Ireland: his overbold going the day before to her majesty's presence to
her bed-chamber: and his making of so many idle knights[133]." The
council, after hearing his defence, remained awhile in consultation and
then made their report to her majesty, who said she should take time to
consider of his answers: meanwhile the proceedings were kept very
private, and the earl continued a prisoner in his own apartment. An
open division now took place between the two great factions which had
long divided the court in secret. The earls of Shrewsbury and
Nottingham, lords Thomas Howard, Cobham, and Grey, sir Walter Raleigh,
and sir George Carew, attended on the secretary; while Essex was
followed by the earls of Worcester and Rutland, lords Montjoy, Rich,
Lumley, and Henry Howard; the last of whom however was already suspected
to be the traitor which he afterwards proved to the patron whom he
professed to love, to honor, and almost to worship. Sir William Knolles
also joined the party of his nephew, with many other knights and
gentlemen, and lord Effingham, though son to the earl of Nottingham, was
often with him, and "protested all service" to him. "It is a world to be
here," adds Whyte, "and see the humors of the place." On October the
second, Essex was "commanded from court," and committed to the lord
keeper, with whom he remained at York house. At his departure from court
few or none of his friends accompanied him.

[Note 133: Rowland Whyte in Sidney Papers.]

"His lordship's sudden return out of Ireland," says Whyte, "brings all
sorts of knights, captains, office