THE EARL OF ESSEX. 279 



the course held, the other a vehement and over 

 ruling persuasion of the council there, though he 

 were indeed as absolutely freed from opinion of the 

 council of Ireland, as he was absolutely tied to her 

 majesty s trust arid instructions. Nevertheless., her 

 majesty not unwilling to admit any extenuation of 

 his offence ; and considering the one point required 

 advertisement out of Ireland, and the other further 

 expectation of the event and sequel of the affairs 

 there, and so both points asked time and protrac 

 tion ; her majesty proceeded still with reservation, 

 not to any restraint of my lord according to the 

 nature and degree of his offence, but to a commit 

 ment of him, &quot; sub libera custodia,&quot; in the lord- 

 keeper s house. 



After, when both parts of this defence plainly 

 failed my lord, yea, and proved utterly adverse to 

 him, for the council of Ireland in plain terms disa 

 vowed all those his proceedings, and the event made 

 a miserable interpretation of them, then her majesty 

 began to behold the offence in nature and likeness, 

 9S it was divested from any palliation or cover, and 

 in the true proportion and magnitude thereof, im 

 porting the peril of a kingdom : which consideration 

 wrought in her majesty a strange effect, if any thing 

 which is heroical in virtue can be strange in her na 

 ture ; for when offence was grown unmeasurably 

 offensive, then did grace superabound ; and in the 

 heat of all the ill news out of Ireland, and other 

 advertisements thence to my lord s disadvantage, her 

 majesty entered into a resolution, out of herself and 



