his power, God hath given you upon earth; and
how many ways he giveth occasion to you to exercise these divine offices
upon us, that are your vassals. This confession best fitteth me of all
men; and this confession is most joyfully and most humbly now made by me
of all times. I acknowledge upon the knees of my heart your majesty's
infinite goodness in granting my humble petition. God, who seeth all, is
witness, how faithfully I do vow to dedicate the rest of my life, next
after my highest duty, in obedience faith and zeal to your majesty,
without admitting any other worldly care; and whatsoever your majesty
resolveth to do with me, I shall live and die

"Your majesty's humblest vassal,

"ESSEX."

* * * * *

The earl abased himself in vain; those courtiers who had formerly
witnessed her majesty's tenderness and indulgence towards him, now
wondered at the violence of her resentment; and somewhat of mystery
still involves the motives of her conduct. At one time she deferred his
liberation "because she heard that some of his friends and followers
should say he was wrongfully imprisoned:" and the French ambassador who
spoke for him, found her very short and bitter on that point. Soon
after, however, on hearing that he continued very sick and was making
his will, she was surprised into some signs of pity, and gave orders
that a few of his friends should be admitted to visit him, and that he
should be allowed the liberty of the garden. Alarmed at these
relentings, Raleigh, to whose nature the basest court arts were not
repugnant, thought proper to fall sick in his turn, and was healed in
like manner by a gracious message from the queen. The countess of Essex
was indefatigable in her applications to persons in power, but with
little avail; all that was gained for the dejected prisoner was effected
by the intercession of some of the queen's favorite ladies, who obtained
leave for his two sisters to come to court and solicit for him. Soon
after, the storm seemed to gather strength again;--a warrant was made
out for the earl's committal to the Tower, and though it was not carried
into force, "the hopes of liberty grew cold." About the middle of
November lord Montjoy received orders to prepare for Ireland.

The appearance of the first part of a history in Latin of the life and
reign of Henry IV. by sir John Hayward, dedicated to the earl of Essex,
was the unfortunate occasion of fresh offence to