Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/166

 15o REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 64. the beginning of October, having marked a furrow with her keel round the globe. Eighteen months had passed since Drake had last been heard of. His return had ceased to be looked for, uncl politicians had congratulated themselves on having escaped from an awkward complication ; yet here he was once more, with a monarch's ransom in his hold. The national sympathy of England with an extraordin- ary exploit successfully performed is always irresistible. A shout of admiration rose over the whole country. The Protestants exulted in the blow which had been dealt to their enemy, careless whether it was fair or foul. Elizabeth could not conceal her delight at the greatness of the prize, and she had a genuine enjoyment of daring actions. She sent for Drake to the Court, and received him with the most distinguished honour, while London rung with his praises. A few statesmen however, and especially Burghley, could not share in the general satisfaction. If there was to be war with Spain he would have preferred war in a better cause than the defence of what the law of nations could only call buccaneering, and he knew Elizabeth too well to hope that she could be brought to part with money on which she had once closed her hands. The moment was particularly critical. The second detach- ment of Italians and Spaniards had landed three weeks before at Smerwick, and assuming that they could not have sailed from a Spanish port without Philip's cognisance, if not with his direct sanction, the Queen had declined to see Mendoza or listen to his excuses and ex-