Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/574

$54 kElGtt OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 62. pected Leinster dukedom for an African grave. An- other year passed away. The cloud between Spain and England again cleared : Mendoza came to London, and the council, who had been seriously afraid for Ireland, were beginning to be reassured, when news came from across the Atlantic first vague and indefinite, then sharp, clear, and formal that Francis Drake was plundering the Spanish colonies on the Pacific, burning churches, profaning the sacred vessels, and seizing the King's bullion. The history of Drake's expedition will be told in another chapter. It is enough to say at present that Mendoza could obtain no satisfaction from the Queen. She first questioned the fact, then denied that Drake was acting by orders from herself, and to nothing which the ambassador could say could she be brought to give serious attention. The patience of Spain, already tried severely, was almost exhausted. Fierce expressions of indignation were heard in Court and country at the King's remissness. An alliance was now formed between the Guises, the refugees at Rheims, and the Pope, and without waiting further on Philip's pleasure, and with the avowed approbation of the Spanish people, Fitzmaurice and Sanders prepared to sail. Sanders had bought a ship at Lisbon. His com- panions, with the help of the Governor of Galicia, had procured two others at Ferrol. The first was detained by order from the King. 1 The vessels at Ferrol escaped, and the little party who were to conquer Ireland set 1 Examination of Friar James O'Hay, August 17, 1580: Carew Papers.