Queen. Oh Leicester! Leicester! (The Queen sinks upon a chair, overcome by the weight of thought and the tumult of her ideas). Prophetic Vision! Symboled Future! I am lost in a tumult of thoughts, and hopes, and fears. Call Ashley! Be quick! Quick, my Lord! Exhausted! Overcome! (Exit Leicester. She leans sobbing on the chair, her face buried in her hands).
Re-enter the Earl of Leicester with Mrs. Ashley, who rush to her assistance.
Curtain falls.
ACT II.
Scene I.—THE HARBOUR OF SAN JUAN DE ULLOA.
It is surrounded by high cliffs with batteries. An Island at the mouth. Spanish and English ships. The town. Deck of the “Jesus” of Lubeck.—Sir John Hawkins, Drake, Hampton, Bolton. A Council of War. Thunder! Lightning! Tempest!
Hawkins. Comrades, we may well thank God for this refuge. We had a narrow escape in that gale. I thought the “Jesus” of Lubeck would never weather it. Our voyage has been prosperous beyond expectations. Above a million and a half netted, with four hundred Negroes still on hands. To have left it all behind, with our bodies to the sharks, in the Gulf of Mexico, would have been a calamity. Now with our freight of enormous value, even if we were rid of our remaining Negroes, we could not move till we refit. This old hulk in her present condition, would never float to England. Besides, the possibility of falling in with a Spanish fleet—our canvas in rags, and spars in this state. Weigh it well, comrades!—Weigh it well.
Bolton. This is the very spot for us; we ride here in safety. Neither wind nor sea can touch us. And we are masters of the place. Our guns on the island command the entrance, the town is at our own mercy, the fortified heights are in our hands; we could sink the whole Navy of Spain in five minutes.
Drake. I should be very sorry to see the whole Navy of Spain for the present. There are twelve first-rate ships here, and two hundred thousand pounds worth of gold and silver in them, which with what we have already made, and our pearls, emeralds, and precious metals, would be a goodly return—say something like two millions. It would give us some weight in our native country! Heh! (He walks about with a smile, as they stare at him excited) Why Old England has not seen the like. How jolly Plymouth would shout with all her Tars. By St. George, I think I see the uproar when they should behold our Gallant Navy riding in the Sound. (He looks at them as they gaze in excitement—even Hawkins is surprised) It is a great temptation! Philip might threaten. Cecil might grumble and make notes; the Jesuits might plot; but England and our noble Queen would look at us with other eyes. I say, take the treasure and the ships; put the town to ransom; and let us be off! I don’t like the look of the place. Delays are dangerous. Action! action! for me. I hate Spain and her people. Treachery, perfidy, and cruelty make up the mind and character of a Spaniard.
Hawkins. Hitherto we have acted within law, and under treaty, solemnly made between Spain and England.