Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/171

 VOYAGE OF SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. S4 The secret and unconjecturable deductions being thus accomplished, a return was given to the ambassa- dor of twenty tons of silver bullion, five blocks of gold, each eighteen inches long, 1 and a quantity of pearls and other precious stones. The chests were first stored in Saltash Castle, from whence they were removed to Lon- don, and were formally deposited in the Tower. 2 The seizure of the Spanish treasure in Plymouth and Southampton Water twelve years before, an act in many respects similar to that which had been accom- plished by Drake, had been sanctioned and perhaps ad- vised by Burghley for reasons of State. It was going to Alva to pay his army at a moment when if that army had been able to move it might have crushed the Prince of Orange for ever; the English Catholics, instigated by Don Gruerau de Espes, were at the same time on the eve of insurrection, and Elizabeth was unable to resolve^ to condemn Mary Stuart. The money itself was formally the property of Genoese bankers, to whom the Crown of England was ready to answer. Even then perhaps, ending as that matter had ended in lies and equivoca- rathcr diminish his own portion than leave any of them unsatisfied. And for his mariners and followers, I have been an eyewitness, and have heard with mine ears upon the shutting up of these matters such certain show of goodwill as I cannot yet see that many of them will leave his company wheresoever. His whole course of his voyage hath showed him to be of great valour, but my hap has been to see some particularities, and namely in this discharge of his company, as doth assure me that he is a man of great government, and that by the rules of God and his Book. So as proceeding upon such a foundation, his doings cannot but prosper.' 1 Depth and breadth not men- tioned. 2 Descifrada de Don Bernardino, Octubre 30 : MSS. Simancas.