The Queen refuses to pay him when the Earl of Essex, the new national hero, returns with less riches than expected. He then travels to Ireland in order to put down a rebellion. He is not doing as well there as hoped. Elizabeth, however, doesn't allow him to come back home. To her dismay, he gives up and agrees on a ceasefire. Back in England, the Earl of Essex leads a rebellion against Queen Elizabeth. He and the other rebellion members are put in the tower after he they were unable to mobilize enough support. Eventually, Essex is executed.