I cannot conclude without my humble acknowledgment of the public debt to Mr. Froude, who has done so much to vindicate the character of Elizabeth and the glory of his country from the foul aspersions of a party alike hostile to England and humanity; and my personal obligation, for through his great History, suggesting the subject, and so much of the material for the construction of my Drama. WILLIAM MAC OUBREY. DRAKE: OR THE TRANSFER OF THE TRIDENT. ACT I. SCENE I.—PLYMOUTH—A STREET ALONG THE QUAY. _The harbour and ships_, _sailors swaggering about with a bold_, _saucy_, _defiant air_, _richly dressed_, _displaying a profusion of silks_, _gold_, _and jewelry_; _their women also flaunting in rich dresses_.—_Enter an English spy_. ENGLISH SPY, (_In a serious musing attitude_)—I have watched this game from its beginning, when Mary married Philip. With all the might of Spain and Rome to back her she failed to crush a seeming helpless girl. The young Nobility, the proud hold chivalry of England took her part! On high paced steeds they rode her escort, or thronged her house with levies which shamed the deserted Court. Where’er she moved abroad, the roaring multitude surged round her, unbonneted to their idol as she passed. I saw that Church and Spain must lose! Elizabeth would be Queen at last! (_He walks a few steps with a satisfied air_.) When Mary’s reign was closed, what shouts of joy broke from emancipated London! A pall as black as death seemed lifted off men’s souls. What tables of rejoicing lined the streets! What blazing bonfires reddened all the walls! Catholic and Protestant forgot their creeds to hail the rising sun of Liberty! I said Priests and Monks may plot. There is one only party in the State. England for herself against the WORLD! So hath it been of yore, so let it be for ever. No foreign Despot will she ever brook. (_He walks proudly_). What experience has been mine? Poverty! Power! Influence! rare companions! meeting only in the Monk—and he a Jesuit, a Missionary; what lands I have visited, what dangers and hardships encountered! hunger, thirst, travel, fatigue; frozen in the snows of Siberia, burnt to a living cinder in the Torrid Zone; perils by sea and land, the barbarous savage with open violence or poisoned weapon; still worse the pestilence that walketh in darkness. All have I endured. (_His reverie is interrupted_—_startled by tremendous shouts and cheers of a violent crowd rapidly approaching_). CROWD, (_behind the scenes_). Hurrah for England! Down with Spain and her inquisition! Hurrah for the El Dorado! Hurrah for the General! (_Startled_) What terrible hurly, burly now? Another gust of the rising tempest that is to shake the nations!