Queen (thoughtfully). The great unknown ocean, without chart or pilot!
Drake (with an air of confidence). My Liege, I had the stars of Heaven, and Him who set them in their courses, whose law I proclaimed from my deck to every line of longitude on His globe! (Looking up with reverence). Thus, Your Majesty’s little ship, having ploughed a furrow round the earth, arrived safe in Plymouth with a nation’s wealth in her hold.
Queen (eagerly). Tell me all! Tell me all. Strange sights, strange men, strange lands, a tale of wonder; (she muses thoughtfully).
Drake. Your Majesty will have much to hear. The story is long as well as full of wonder. Strange lands, I saw and took possession; there flies your Royal Standard, I proclaimed you Queen. The people flocked around and swore allegiance, (with much animation), a land, my Liege, richer than all the realms of Spain, a land whose streams flow over sands of gold, whose very soil is gold. ’Tis but to dig and wash.
Queen (incredulous she rebukes, what she thinks exaggeration, with a shake of her head). Drake! Drake.
Drake. It is true! my Liege—I have dug, and brought it home. (He throws down a bag on the floor and kneels upon it). I kneel upon the soil, and hail Your Majesty, Queen of California—the future goldfield of the world! (He rises and presents her with the bag). I have the honour to deliver to Your Majesty thus, part for the whole, legal possession of California. (She takes the bag with curiosity and surprise).
Queen. Is this gold? It is heavy!
Drake. There needs only to wash it in a basin—your Majesty will see the gold at the bottom.
Queen. This beats Alchemy. It is miracle! I’ll wash it with my own hands. Drake, I am proud of you. England is proud of you. Men’s minds are filled with your name, astounded by your achievements. You have covered your country with glory, thrown over her a mantle of power. The nations look up to us now and begin to think we can beat the world. Philip is alarmed, and when we all thought you were lost, he could not sleep for fear. He expected you to come on the winds of heaven, to make descents upon his coast.
Drake (kneeling to her). Your Majesty’s approval is my reward. That is the pride and glory of an Englishman.