l. This action, universally imputed
to a barbarous desire of glutting his eyes with the blood of the man
whom he hated and had pursued with a hostility more unrelenting than
that of Cecil himself, was never forgiven by the people, who detested
him no less than they loved and admired his unfortunate rival. Several
years after, when Raleigh in his turn was brought to the same end in the
same place, he professed however, and perhaps truly, that the sorrowful
spectacle had melted him to tears: meantime, he at least extracted from
the late events large gratification for another ruling passion of his
breast, by setting to sale his interest in procuring pardons to
gentlemen concerned in the insurrection. Mr. Lyttleton in particular is
recorded to have paid him ten thousand pounds for his good offices, and
Mr. Bainham a sum not specified. The life of the earl of Southampton was
spared, at the intercession chiefly of Cecil, but he was confined in the
Tower till the death of the queen: others escaped with short
imprisonments and the imposition of fines, few of which were exacted;
sir Fulk Greville having humanely made it his business to represent to
the queen that no danger was to be apprehended from a faction which had
lost its leader. Four only of the principal conspirators suffered
capitally; sir Christopher Blount and sir Charles Davers, both
catholics, sir Gilly Merrick and Henry Cuff.

Those ambassadors from the king of Scots on whose co-operation Essex had
placed his chief reliance, now arrived; and finding themselves too late
for other purposes, they obeyed their master's instructions in such a
case by offering to the queen his warmest congratulations on her escape
from so foul and dangerous a conspiracy. They were further charged to
make secret inquiry whether James's correspondence with Essex and
concurrence in the late conspiracy had come to her knowledge; and
whether any measures were likely to be taken in consequence for his
exclusion from the succession. The confessions of Essex to the
privy-councillors had indeed rendered Elizabeth perfectly acquainted
with the machinations of James; but resolute to refrain during the
remnant of her days from all angry discussions with the prince whom she
saw destined to succeed her, she had caused the earl to be not only
requested, but commanded, to forbear the repetition of this part of his
acknowledgements on the scaffold. She was thus left free to receive with
all those demonst