Ancient and Medieval Traitors - Back-stabbers, turncoats and conspirators (True Crime) by Gordon Kerr

time Robert had established himself as a favourite of the queen and by 1590 he had impressively built up such a successful relationship with the monarch that he effectively had replaced his late stepfather’s own intimate standing with her. Their relationship was not a simple one, mainly because Elizabeth was thirty-four years his senior, and the pair were often found arguing upon matters of foreign policy and even trivial personal difficulties. Despite their differences, they remained great friends and the queen seemed to offer an almost maternal devotion to the young Devereux.
    Robert’s fiery temper and readiness to cause tensions amongst his rivals also caused trouble for him shortly after he joined the Privy Council in 1591. His direct rival, Robert Cecil had followed in the footsteps of his father and in 1591 had also become a member of the Privy Council. The Earl of Essex was not comfortable with Cecil’s growing closeness as adviser to the queen, and was not best pleased when he discovered that Cecil was to be the new Secretary for the State as he was ultimately appointed in 1596. The two men continually fought for Elizabeth’s approval and argued over religious and military policy. Luckily for Devereux though, he was clearly Elizabeth’s favourite and was bestowed with many important roles, the first being the Master of the Horse. Robert was quick to fall from the queen’s favour in 1590 when he was joined in marriage to Frances, the widow of his cousin Philip Sydney, and daughter of the late Sir Francis Walsingham. Elizabeth I was greatly displeased by this union and hoped her annoyance would act as a warning to the impulsive young man.
    Later that year he was given the opportunity to prove himself again to the queen, as he was put in charge of an important expedition to encourage the French king Henry IV to reject the efforts of the Catholic league. Early the next year he was able to offer assistance to the Protestant king, acting to forge a strong relationship between England and France. In 1596 the Earl of Essex reached the peak of his military career when he assisted with the command of an expedition that captured Cadiz from the Spanish. He was greeted in England as a national hero and at this point in his life was most revered by the Queen of England.

    T HE  R EBELLION IN  I RELAND

    As recognition for his impressive victory in Cadiz, Devereux was able to appoint himself as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1599. He had clearly proved his merits in battle and the queen was eager to send him to Ireland in the hope of a similar level of success. However, he was not prepared for the fact that this would actually lead to his eventual downfall. Elizabeth’s aim was to use the Earl of Essex to suppress a rebellion led by the Earl of Tyrone. He was backed very well in terms of the military force behind him; 17,000 troops were sent with him. Clearly Queen Elizabeth I viewed the situation in Ireland as being a great threat and she did not expect Robert Devereux to think otherwise.
    Unfortunately for this earl, the campaign seemed doomed from the start. Shortly after the departure of his forces, many were overcome by disease and subsequently perished. This meant that Devereux was forced to lead a somewhat less impressive army to Ireland. It was as if he had lost his mind when he directed his party via a tortuous route through Munster which allowed his opposition, the Earl of Tyrone, to greet him face on as he headed northwards. Understandably this put him in a compromising position, but what he did next ensured that he was never to regain the queen’s favour. The Earl of Essex entered into a foolish truce with the Earl of Tyrone, not only against the wishes of the queen but also in her own name. Word of this imprudence quickly spread to England and he was summoned by the queen immediately.
    She forced him to explain his conduct instantly and he was deprived of all his offices and placed under house arrest. This