"Is it robbery, demanded others, to take from Spain what Spain has stolen from us? How else can a man get his rights? Has not Philip taken our ships, hindered our commerce, captured our sailors, and tortured them to make them give up the true faith? Have we not a clear right to take reprisal when and where we can?" "It is a lawful prize," reasoned others, "and if war is to come, this Spanish gold will save taxes and fight many a battle for us." The Spanish ambassador went straight to the queen and said gravely, "I present from my master, the king of Spain, a request that the pirate Drake be surrendered to him." "The king of Spain is generous with his presents," answered Elizabeth flippantly. "For this one I return him all due thanks." "Your Majesty," said the ambassador, "this man Drake has sunk our ships, stolen our treasure, and interfered with our possessions in the New World." "If you can prove his misdeeds to my satisfaction," rejoined the queen with a little yawn, "this wonderful treasure of yours shall be restored, though one might think it was but fair payment for the rebellions that Spain has caused in Ireland--or does my good friend Philip claim Ireland too for his own? As for his possessions in the New World, I don't know what right the Pope has to give away continents. The sea and the air are free to all, and neither Pope nor Spain can keep my brave captains from sailing the ocean, I doubt whether I could keep them from it myself. Shall we talk of other matters? You have an excellent taste in music, and here is a rare bit of song that has but newly come to me:-- "'The little pretty nightingale Among the leaves green--'" "Your Majesty," broke in the exasperated ambassador, "if I report this scene to King Philip, matters will come to the cannon." "You really shouldn't say such things," said Elizabeth with a coquettish glance at the enraged Spaniard, and she added quietly, "If you do, I shall have to throw you into one of my dungeons." Elizabeth made Drake a knight, she wore his jewels in her crown, and she dined with him on board the _Golden Hind_. She often had him at court, and never wearied of hearing the story of his adventures. [Illustration: Elizabeth signing the death warrant of Mary Stuart.--_From painting by Liezen-Mayer._] "Tell me of the savages," she commanded, and Drake began:--