with the Earl of Leicester. That had to be kept secret because she was married and Leicester was the Queen's great favourite. But Robert's father, the Earl of Essex, found out about the affair, and fell out with his wife and Leicester.
In 1576, Robert's father was serving in Ireland when he fell ill and died. At the end, he sent to Queen Elizabeth to ask her to 'be as a mother to my children'. His heir, Robert, was just nine when he became Earl of Essex after his father's death. He had been brought up in the house of William Cecil, the Queen's chief minister, and the Queen now put him under William Cecil's care.
In 1578, Robert's mother Lettice married the Earl of Leicester. Queen Elizabeth never quite forgave Leicester for this, and would not allow Lettice into her presence. In 1584, when Robert, Earl of Essex, was eighteen, Leicester brought him to court, where his good looks and manners 'won him the hearts of both Queen and people'. Yet it would be some time before Elizabeth came to see Essex as more than just a nice, polite boy.
In 1585, when Leicester led an army into Holland, Essex went with him as General of the Horse. He did so well in the jousts in honour of Leicester's coming that 'he gave all men hope he would be noble and forward in arms'. In 1586, he fought bravely in battle and was knighted by Leicester. They came back to England later that year.
Leicester returned to Holland in 1587 and, while he was away, Essex became closer to Queen Elizabeth. Essex was a good Protestant, with old royal blood in his veins. He was gallant, bold and generous, very tall, with reddish-brown hair and a beard. He wrote poems, was a good letter-writer and acted well in court plays. Women loved him.
Elizabeth found him charming and wanted him with her all the time. She knew he was not wise in state matters, but in other ways he was her idea of the perfect man. They went for walks and rides by day, and played cards all night to the sound of music.
By then Elizabeth was fifty-three, thirty-three years older than Essex, but that did not stop him paying court to her and acting as if he were in awe of her looks. The Queen thrived on his praise, as she had put about the myth that her beauty would never die, but she was now wearing wigs and heavy make-up to maintain it. With Essex, she seemed to have regained her lost youth.
But there was a darker side to Essex. He could be moody, lordly, spoilt and sulky, and, in a temper, would act without thinking. He never hid his feelings, and it was said that 'he carries his love and his hatred on his face'. He was a dreamer who rushed through life. He slept around, like any other young buck of the court, but then went to church to think on his sins.
He wanted to be a leader of men, but he never had the money to make that dream come true. He lived well beyond his means, leaving the Queen to pay his debts. He wanted glory in the field of battle, but was too rash and careless to make a great commander.
Essex and the Queen were two strong people, and often clashed. There would be sharp words, then Essex would sulk. Elizabeth needed him more than he needed her, so she always gave in. He would not allow her to rule him. He even ordered her about, and she let him do it. People were amazed that he got away with such conduct. But Elizabeth drew a firm line at giving him the high office that he really wanted. Sparks flew, but he could not bully her into agreeing.
In 1588, after England drove off the Spanish Armada, Leicester died. Elizabeth was bowed with grief, and after a time she turned to Essex, who soon became the most favoured man at court. He was liked by the people, even to the point of making the Queen jealous. The chief minister, William Cecil, tried to take him under his wing and teach him state affairs, but Essex wanted to get to the top as fast as possible.
When Elizabeth smiled on other young men at court, Essex made scenes and picked fights with them. In 1589, he was keen to go with Sir Francis Drake to destroy the Spanish fleet, but Elizabeth forbade it. He went anyway, much to her fury. The attack failed, but it was Drake who felt the Queen's anger, not Essex, whom she forgave.
William Cecil's son Robert was now one of the leading men at court, but Essex hated him. The Cecils stood for peace and stable rule, while Essex and his friends wanted war with Spain and the glory it would bring. The two parties became bitter rivals.
In 1590, Essex married in secret. His bride was Frances Sidney. Elizabeth thought Frances was not good enough for him, and raged for two weeks when she found out. Clad in black, Essex staged a funeral at court to show he was in disgrace. After that, Elizabeth took him back into favour. Frances stayed in the background.
By 1593, Essex had shown himself useful in setting up a spy service for the Queen, and at last, in reward, she gave him a seat on the council. 'He is a new man,' it was said, 'and has given up his former tricks.' But by 1596, Essex was bored with state duties and seeking action. Again, Elizabeth sent English ships to destroy Spain's new fleet. Essex carried out a daring raid on the port of Cadiz, causing dreadful damage. When a thrilled Elizabeth heard of it, she wrote to Essex, 'You have made me famous.'
It was Essex whose fame was sung far and wide. He had proved himself a hero, and was the man of the moment. When he got home, he was given a joyous welcome. No one was more loved by the people.
Elizabeth was jealous. When Essex came to her, she did not hail him as a victor, but asked what profit and gain he had brought from Cadiz. He had to admit there was none, and she snapped at him.
In truth, she feared he was a danger to her, being so loved by the people, and time would prove her right. She was now growing tired of him, and he of her. During one of their rows, he turned his back on her, she boxed his ears, and he even drew his sword and made to attack her. Anyone else would have been sent to the Tower, but Elizabeth did nothing. She feared how Essex might react.
In 1599, Essex was sent to Ireland to deal with the rebel Earl of Tyrone. His mission was a failure. He did not obey the Queen's orders to take to the field, and instead made a shameful peace with Tyrone. Elizabeth had told him to stay where he was, but he deserted his army, and hurried home on horseback to explain himself to her.
When he arrived at Nonsuch Palace, he burst into the Queen's rooms. Elizabeth was without her wig and make-up, and not yet dressed. Essex saw before him an ugly old woman. Elizabeth could not forgive that either. Essex was put under arrest, but no one thought the Queen would keep him locked up for long.
But Elizabeth had now heard how Essex had dined with the rebel Tyrone after making peace. That was the ruin of Essex. Kept under house arrest for a time, he fell ill. When he felt better, he began forming a party of young lords who felt they should have high office at court, and that England should fight Spain again. They began plotting against the council. In February 1601, they had the play Richard II staged in London. In this play, a king is toppled from his throne. That was a step too far.
The council knew what was going on, and feared what Essex might do. They put him under guard in his London house, but Essex got out and met up with his friends. With two hundred men, they tried to raise support for a revolt in London, but failed. Essex was again arrested, and taken to the Tower on the Queen's orders. Elizabeth would not go to bed until her orders had been carried out. She now saw Essex for what he was, but for all her courage during the revolt, she was 'much wasted', would not change her clothes, and kept a sword by her for fear of attack.
On 19 February 1601, Essex and the other young men were tried in Westminster Hall. They were charged with plotting against the Queen's crown and life, and with other crimes. Essex stood there smiling, but not for long. He pleaded not guilty, and said he had wanted to force the Queen to get rid of Robert Cecil.
'Will any man be so simple to take this as less than treason?' asked Sir Francis Bacon, acting for the Crown. No man was. Essex was condemned to a traitor's death. He seemed unmoved, and said he would not fawn and beg for himself, but that he had meant no harm to the Queen.
Many thought that if Essex pleaded for mercy, Elizabeth would spare him, but his pride would not allow it. The Dean of Norwich was sent by the council to get him to admit his guilt, but to no effect. On the day after Essex's trial, Elizabeth signed his death warrant in a firm hand.
On 21 February, Essex's chaplain saw him in the Tower and painted a fearful picture of the hell that was waiting for him if he did not own up to his sins. Now Essex did break down, and said he would confess in full all his crimes. The council went to see him, and he told them he was the most vile traitor that England had ever known. He admitted that the Queen would never be safe while he lived. He went over all his misdeeds in detail.
Essex's wife begged Cecil to ask the Queen to spare her husband's life, but Elizabeth would not, as 'he himself had shown he was not worthy of it'. She did grant that he could die in private, not on the public scaffold.
On 23 February, the death warrant was brought to the Tower. After it came a message from the Queen,
