Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/167

 1580.] VOYAGE OF SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. l$i planations. She was standing so far on honourable ground, and Burghley was extremely reluctant that she should forego her advantage. The ambassador on the other hand determined either to make Elizabeth restore the spoil, or force her to ap- pear before the world as the avowed protectress of piracy. He sent word into the city that unless repara- tion was made they must look for immediate war. Leicester, whose interests were deeply involved, told him that if he forced a quarrel the Queen would marry Alen9on immediately, and make an offensive alliance with France. Mendoza insisted on seeing and speaking with her himself. He was a soldier, he said, more ac- customed to use his hands than his tongue. She must do as she pleased about her marriages and alliances, but he recommended her not to provoke his master too far. Spain was not afraid of England and France combined, and he insisted peremptorily on being admitted to her presence. One resolution only had been definitely formed by Elizabeth. She disliked ' paying back ' as heartily as Falstaff, and would not hear of it. For the rest she decided to face out the matter first with a general denial, and if driven from her ground to go off upon the Irish rebellion. She sent a secretary to Mendoza to say that she understood he resented the reception which had been given to Drake. She had called him to her presence, as she was bound to do, to learn the particulars of his voyage, and she had ascertained that he had done no injury to any subject of the King of Spain in any part