The Execution of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex - 25 February 1601
- thedudleywomen
- Feb 25
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 3
On This Day (25 February) in 1601, 35 year-old Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, was taken, to a scaffold that had been erected within the Tower of London, and executed, after being found guilty of high treason for his primary role in the failed 'Essex's Rebellion' earlier in the month.
Essex found himself becoming the new 'favourite' of Elizabeth I on the death of his stepfather and mentor Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, in 1588. However, his favour and influence with Elizabeth had been on the decline since the disastrous campaign in Ireland, in his duty as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1599-1600, following which he was tried, stripped of his positions and initially placed under house arrest. Frustrated with recent events, and the perceived influence of Robert Cecil, Lord Salisbury, Elizabeth's Secretary of State, Essex started gathering support from other disgruntled and disillusioned men. In keeping with his wilful and often petulant nature, in significant contrast to that of his late stepfather, plans were subsequently made for a coup: the removal of Cecil's government and for the queen to be taken into 'safe custody' (Somerset, 1991; Tallis, 2017).
Essex's increasing discontent and 'unlawful assemblies' had become known to the Privy Council, and so had issued him a summons on 07 February to bring him in front of the council for questioning. Having only just been released from house arrest, the council felt that Essex was 'abusing' his freedom; Cecil later reported that the council had a desire for him to leave London and 'retire to the country'. However, Essex refused to answer the summons, and subsequently on the morning of 08 February, four men attended his Westminster home, the eponymous 'Essex House', on The Strand (Somerset, 1991; Folgerpedia, 2025).
The men were greeted with a fortified property, and were quickly taken in and prevented from leaving, whilst Essex and his supporters moved on to the next phase on their plan. Accompanied by his supporters, which included his stepfather of over a decade, Sir Christopher Blount and Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, the men rode out through the streets of London, in an attempt to gather support for their cause. This was ultimately unsuccessful, as the City of London's Lord Mayor had issued a degree warning anyone who joined Essex would be branded a traitor. Lacking support, and having their access blocked, the men retreated back to Essex House, where Christopher Blount was injured in the skirmish, acquiring head and facial injuries. The house was initially under siege, although Essex quickly surrendered the house and was arrested, along with his co-conspirators; they were placed in various prisons throughout the city, including Newgate, Ludgate and the Fleet prisons, whilst Christopher Blount remained at 'a citizen's house under the cure of surgeons'. Initially, Essex and Southampton were imprisoned at Lambeth Palace, due to the lateness of the hour; however, in the early hours of the following morning, both men were taken down river to the Tower of London (Weir, 1999; Layers of London, 2025).
Essex, along with Southampton, was taken from the Tower, to Westminster Hall on 19 February, where they were tried by a jury of their peers, including his uncle Thomas West, Baron De La Warr, and brother-in-law Robert, Lord Rich . The men and their co-conspirators were accused of plotting to deprive Elizabeth of her liberty and life, imprisoning the Privy Councillors at Essex House, inciting Londoners to rebellion and resisting arrest, with Essex accused of aiming to become 'Robert, the first of his name, King of England'. Whilst the men pleaded not guilty to the charges set to them, their peers found them to be guilty of high treason, and so was subsequently sentenced to a traitor's death: hanging, drawing, quartering and beheading (Weir, 1999; University of Michigan Digital Libraries, 2025).
Whilst Essex continued to deny any wrong doing, he accepted his sentence, replying that he was 'willing to die'; however, he pleaded to Cecil and the court for mercy on behalf of the 'foolish' Southampton, arguing that the younger man had been 'blinded' by his love and devotion to him. Essex's pleas were successful, as Southampton's death sentence was later commuted to that of life-imprisonment. He was subsequently released from the Tower on the accession of James I in 1603, resuming his position within the new Jacobean court. As a suprise to many, given her history of reluctancy in carrying out the sentences, Elizabeth signed Essex's death warrant the following day, 20 February. It was not delivered to the Tower for a further three days, as Cecil was continuing to question Essex about his planned rebellion, urging confessions from an already condemned man (Somerset, 1991; University of Michigan Digital Libraries, 2025).
At around 8 o'clock in the morning of 25 February, Essex was taken from his cell in the 13th century tower that would later bear his name, the 'Devereux Tower'. A scaffold had been erected in the courtyard of the Tower, outside the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, which housed many broken and decapitated bodies of condemned traitors that had gone before him. His execution had been delayed a day, on Elizabeth's orders, in order for the court to enjoy the traditional Shrove Tuesday festivities. However, it was now Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, and his execution day had arrived. Seating had been placed around the scaffold, where selected lords, knights and city's alderman had gathered; whilst Essex had been spared a public execution on Tower Hill, there were still many who were eager to see justice delivered. Essex was dressed in the traditional black: a black velvet gown over black satin doublet and breeches, topped with a black felt hat (Weir, 1999). It is known that Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford was one of those who had gathered for Essex's execution that day; in the preceeding years, Hertford had had his own difficulties, having been imprisoned in the Tower himself and then released into the custody of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Hertford had been one of the few courtiers not to have supported or corresponded with Essex during his favoured time at court, nor during his subsequent periods of defiance (Loades, 2015).
Once on the platform, Essex gave his final speech, in which he prayed for the Queen, denying any intent to harm her person, as well as praying to God, asking for his forgiveness. Removing his hat, ruff and doublet, Essex knelt next to the block, and maintaining composure, recited the Lord's Prayer the Creed with the accompanying clergyman. Whilst reciting the 51st Psalm, Essex gave the order "Executioner, strike home!", opening his arms out wide as the signal to strike; it took three blows for the executioner to complete his task (Somerset, 1991; Weir, 1999).
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