Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/170

 154 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 64. November. the instructions which he must have received, and the steps which he took in consequence. ' To give you some understanding,' he said, ' how I in particular proceeded with Mr Drake, I have at no time entered into the account, to know more of the very value of the treasure than he made me acquainted with. And to say truth I persuaded him to impart to me no more than need, for so I saw him com- manded in her Majesty's behalf, that he should reveal the certainty to no man living. I have only taken notice of so much as he has revealed, and the same I have seen to be weighed, registered, and packed, to be carried according as the counterpass thereof be or shall come to your hands. And to observe her Majesty's command for the secret delivery on leaving of the ten thousand pounds to remain in his hands, we agreed that he should take it to himself out of the portion that was landed secretly, and to remove the same out of the place before my son Henry and I should come to the weigh- ing and registering of that which was left ; and so it was done, and no creature living by me made privy to it but himself, and myself no privier to it than as you may perceive by this.' l ' Tremayne to Walsingliam, No- vember, 1580 : MSS. Domestic. Tremayne adds one or two more in- teresting particulars about Drake. ' And as,' he continues, ' by offer- ing to do more than this I might show myself a busy officer to go be- yond my commission to lead me, so in the matter general I see nothing to charge Mr Drake further than he is inclined to charge himself; and withal I must say, as I find by appa- rent demonstration, he is so inclined to advance the value to be delivered to her Majesty and seeking in general to recompense all men that have been in this case dealers Avith him, as I dare take an oath with him he will