Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/157

 I 5 8o.] VOYAGE OF SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. 141 voyages, and he felt assured that the Queen would assist in enforcing their obligations. For himself he had done everything in his power to facilitate commerce between England and Spain. English seamen still complained that their boxes were searched by the Inquisition, but it was merely to prevent the introduction of forbidden books. Their other grievances had been all removed, and they had nothing to fear, notwithstanding the pre- sent provocation, but might come and go as usual.' 1 Nothing could prove. more clearly how t _ 8o anxious Philip was to avoid a quarrel. The J anuai 7- Inquisition however was less innocent than he pretended. Great naval preparations had notoriously been made at Cadiz. The Cardinal King of Portugal was not yet dead, and by some persons the Portuguese succession was sup- posed to be a mere pretence to cover an intended invasion of England and Ireland. Until Drake returned Men- doza was ordered to avoid appearance of menace, but his moderation upon a subject so notorious was in itself suspicious. England was arming also. The fleet was being set in order at Chatham. The musters and train- bands were drilling in town and country. Elizabeth was elaborately polite to Mendoza, but her conscience telling her how deeply she was implicated in Drake's performances, she determined to wheedle out of him the secret of his master's intentions. She invited him to a bear-bait. 2 She talked politics to him in the intervals 1 Puntos para responder a Don B. de Mendoza, December, 1579: MSS. Simancas. 2 Mendoza to Philip, January 13, 1580: MSS. Ibid.