RENEWAL OF SWEET WINES. Ixxxiii 



he was freed of her indignation, or presume to approach 

 the court, or her person, (m) 



Thus liberated, but not restored to the Queen s favour, 

 he walked forth alone, without any greetings from his 

 summer friends. (m) 



In the beginning of September Essex retired to the September 

 country, with the pleasing hope that the Queen s affection 

 was returning, and that he would not only be received into 

 favour, and restored to power, (x) but that, by the influence 

 of this affection he might secure an object of the greatest 

 importance, a renewal of his valuable patent for the mono 

 poly of sweet wines, which, after having enriched him for 

 years, was now expiring. 



Essex considered this renewal as one of the most critical 

 events of his life, an event that would determine whether 

 he might hope ever to be reinstated in his former credit 

 and authority; but Elizabeth, though capable of strong 

 attachments, inherited the haughty and severe temper of 

 her father, and, being continually surrounded by the ene 

 mies of Essex, was persuaded that his lofty spirit was 

 not sufficiently subdued; and when, at length, she was 

 more favourably disposed towards him, he destroyed all 

 that her own lurking partiality and the kindness of his 

 friends had prepared for him by a letter, which, professing 

 affection and seeking profit, was so deficient in good taste 

 and in knowledge of the Queen s temper, that she saw, 

 through all the expressions of his devotion and humility, 



(wz) Original letters of Secretary Cecil to Sir George Carew, in the Lam 

 beth Library, No. 604, fol. 23. 



(JP) Winwood s Memorials, vol. i. p* 254. Si* Henry Nevil to Mr. 

 Winwood, 9th Sept. 1600, a long letter upon different subjects, thus 

 concludes : &quot; The Earl of Essex is gone to Ewelme, not without hope of 

 some further grace shortly: there are many arguments that the Queen 

 begins to relent towards him, and to wish him near her.&quot; 



