142 JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
something like twelve millions sterling, for by gross mismanagement 
on the part of the general and lord-admiral, the Spaniards were 
given the opportunity of destroying booty to that amount. Essex, 
on his return, employed himself in writing " A censure of omissions 
in this voyage," in which he endeavoured to throw the blame of 
his own shortcomings upon Ealeigh ; the country, however, knew 
better than to believe him. Ealeigh was now at the height of his 
glory ; authors dedicated their books to him, painters and sculptors 
appropriated this sea-fight to his portrait, and medals were struck 
in his honour. The Queen was incensed against Essex, and began 
to relent towards Ealeigh. On the 1st of June of the next year 
Cecil took him to Court, and he was completely restored to the 
Eoyal favour. "With a view to organizing another expedition 
against Spain, he thought it best to be on good terms with Essex ; 
and before six weeks had elapsed, after his reappearance at Court, 
he had set sail from this harbour, on an expedition known as " The 
Island Voyage.' ' 
Ealeigh in this expedition took Eayall with great gallantry, in 
the absence of Essex, for whom he had waited three days. Essex 
accused him of a breach of orders and articles by landing troops 
without his presence or consent; but finally the quarrel was 
patched up by the Vice- Admiral. Before returning to England 
the fleet contrived to secure several good prizes, and had a narrow 
escape of being wrecked off the Scilly Isles, owing to the obstinacy 
of Essex, who refused to pay any attention to the warnings given 
him by the master of Ealeigh' s ship. Essex was coldly received 
at Court, and indeed was so much annoyed at Lord Howard of 
Effingham being created Earl of Nottingham, which as Lord 
High Admiral gave him precedence, that Essex vowed he would 
never go to Court again. Ealeigh with great disinterestedness 
suggested a way out of the difficulty. He induced the Queen to 
revive the office of Lord-Marshal in Essex's favour, which reversed 
the position of things, and gave Essex precedence over the Lord- 
Admiral. This of course was very pleasant for Essex, but did not 
suit the Lord- Admiral at all; so Ealeigh, by pacifying Essex, 
contrived to make an enemy of Nottingham. 
In anticipation of a Spanish invasion Ealeigh was placed second 
in command of the fleet, while Essex was in Ireland as Lord- 
Deputy. In 1600 he was sent with Cobham on an embassy to 
Elanders ; and towards the end of August in the same year he 
