Edwin R Larson

The Matter of Devereux Edwin R Larson

The Essex Rebellion in 1699 was not an isolated event by a disgruntled courier. In what amounted to no more than a boisterous demonstration it was the last futile effort by Robert Devereux to pressure his mother the queen into declaring him Prince of Wales. Elizabeth was petrified of being controlled by a man and especially a Tudor and had placated Robert as long as she could. Roberts desperation was somewhat due to his bipolar like temperament but also because his older brother Francis Bacon had abdicated any interest in the throne because he knew it was impossible to reduce the power Robert Cecil had with the queen. Robert was able to turn Elizabeth against her sons (by Robert Dudley) by playing on her PTSD like fears. The "Matter of Devereux" is a Shakespeare play written within the plays written by Francis Bacon. It is a story more tragic that the play because the events actually happened. "The Matter of Devereux" is a continuation of "Murder of the Queen" and the second in a serious five blockbuster autobiographical sketches.