QUEEN ELIZABETH (_laughing_). English Colours. Ha! Ha! Ha! Every one knows that Pirates show as many colours as the dying Dolphin—no doubt Spanish when it suits them. Well, I suppose the crews taken were Spaniards, and the Corsairs Flemish, driven to the sea by the persecutions of Alva, and who have dealt to their enemies the measure of mercy, that he has shown their murdered families. You see your faithless mode of warfare makes war to the knife! Look what happened at Rotterdam. The town in terror, shut its gates against Alva’s Stadtholder. Bossu entreated them to allow his men only to pass through, and solemnly swore that no hurt should be done to any one. The Burghers consented. What better disposition could be shown by loyal subjects? Well, how were they treated? Humanity recoils from the thought. Men, women and children were put to the sword with the practice of the most brutal atrocities, (_with great emotion_). Defenceless women! Innocent children. What robbers? What Corsairs ever disgraced their manhood like this? (_She walks about indignant_). Talk no more of Tom Cobham making a winding sheet of a mainsail, or of flinging men into the sea in just vengeance against your tyranny. Their acts are mercy when compared with the civilised warfare of Spanish Generals. AMBASSADOR. Promises made to rebels are not binding after they have answered their purpose. QUEEN ELIZABETH. Oh! Oh! You throw the responsibility on your master. Just so! Just so! (_with a sarcastic laugh_), just what I expected. Perjury! Treachery! Open premeditated lying are legitimate strategy in Spanish warfare. We read in history of Punie faith. Now we know the faith of Spain. Carthage is outdone in Perfidy (_she walks aside with a sarcastic laugh_). How often have I said, and said justly, that I decline to interfere with Corsairs that keep the peace in my own realm. Your master must take care of his own. (_With emphasis_). My merchantmen don’t ask either him or me for protection, though they have been attacked in the Mediterranean by the Royal Navy of Spain. They repelled the attacks in defiance of all odds against them. English sailors know how to take their own part, and scorn to lower their flag to any numbers. Your master’s complaints are a sham to cover his own delinquencies. ’Tis I that have a right to complain. Twenty six of my subjects burned at the stake in one year by the Inquisition in your Master’s dominions, hundreds rotting in their dungeons. My ears are wounded! My heart bleeds to hear the cries of their widows and orphans. (_She storms about_). AMBASSADOR (_hurriedly_. _Anxious to get away_). Your Majesty will pardon me for declining to go into this subject. I have no instructions, I will now take leave. (_Aside going out_). It is useless remonstrating with this Tigress. I must try what I can do with her secretary. Perhaps I can bully Cecil.