Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/169

 1580.] VOYAGE OF SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. 153 For once the Spanish ambassador found powerful support in many loyal members of the Queen's council. In the opinion of Burghley, Clinton, Sussex, and several others, who had no interest in the plunder, to force on a quarrel upon such a ground was to play into the hands of the Jesuits. If Philip ceased to interfere with Ireland they strongly advised restitution, insisting meanwhile that the treasure should be brought to the Tower, and an exact account be taken of it. Elizabeth's genius did not fail her. When remonstrance came from such a quarter as this it was evidently possible that she might have to yield. She could not refuse to allow the booty to be registered. The examination must be made in form before some public officer or officers, and she would be bound afterwards by her own return, and could not pretend that the amount was overstated. Yet she meant for all this to indemnify herself for her own outlay, to keep something handsome besides for her favourites, and to reserve ten thousand pounds for Drake himself and his company. As yet everj^thing remained as it had been brought home in the hold of the Pelican. She sent Drake back to Plymouth to superintend the land- ing of it. The registration was intrusted to Edmund Tremayne, who was a magistrate living in the neigh- bourhood, on whose discretion she knew that she could rely ; and she directed him in taking charge of the cargo not to be too inquisitive, and to give Drake an oppor- tunity of removing an unknown portion of the treasure before an inventory was made. A letter from Tremayne to Walsingham explains