These Persons Alleged, That
His Circumnavigation Of The Globe Served Only To Amuse The Minds Of The
Vulgar, While The Main Purpose Of The Voyage Had Been Plunder, Of Which
They Pretended He Had Acquired Sufficient To Exempt The Nation From
Taxes For Seven Years.
They also set forth, as war had not been
proclaimed against Spain, that it was dangerous to own such
An
adventurer, lest the nation might be made to pay dearly for his prizes:
For, as the merchants had great effects in Spain, their goods might
possibly be seized to make good his depredations.
The Spanish ambassador also assailed him with very warm memorials,
styling him the Master Thief of the Unknown World. The friends and
patrons of Drake, finding themselves wounded through his sides, took all
manner of pains to vindicate his conduct, alleging that he had the
queen's commission and authority to justify him in making reprisals;
that by so much wealth as he had brought home the nation would be
enriched; that the Spaniards had already done us much injury; and, if
the king of Spain were disposed to seize the effects of our merchants,
the public ought to receive this treasure as an equivalent; which, were
it returned, would break the spirit of our brave tars, who otherwise
were more likely to humble the pride of the Spaniards.
In the mean time, matters remained long in suspense, during which Drake
must have suffered considerable anxiety, lest, after all his toils
abroad, he might be deemed a pirate at home.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 77 of 825
Words from 20612 to 20868
of 224764
