I . Essex
a county in eastern England. Its administrative centre is Chelmsford.
II . the Earl of Essex
( Robert Devereux, second Earl of Essex 1566–1601)
an English soldier born to an important family who was for some years a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I . Some people think that she may have had a romantic interest in him. In 1601 he tried without success to make the people of London turn against Elizabeth. He was condemned to death and had his head cut off.