From Burboroata he went on to Rio de la Hacha, where the same scene was repeated.  The whole 400 were disposed of, this time with ease and complete success.  He had been rapid; and had the season still before him.  Having finished his business, he surveyed a large part of the Caribbean Sea, taking soundings, noting the currents, and making charts of the coasts and islands.  This done, he turned homewards, following the east shore of North America as far as Newfoundland.  There he gave his crew a change of diet, with fresh cod from the Banks, and after eleven months’ absence he sailed into Padstow, having lost but twenty men in the whole adventure, and bringing back 60 per cent. to the Queen and the other shareholders.

Nothing succeeds like success.  Hawkins’s praises were in everyone’s mouth, and in London he was the hero of the hour.  Elizabeth received him at the palace.  The Spanish ambassador, De Silva, met him there at dinner.  He talked freely of where he had been and of what he had done, only keeping back the gentle violence which he had used.  He regarded this as a mere farce, since there had been no one hurt on either side.  He boasted of having given the greatest satisfaction to the Spaniards who had dealt with him.  De Silva could but bow, report to his master, and ask instructions how he was to proceed.

Philip was frightfully disturbed.  He saw in prospect his western subjects allying themselves with the English—­heresy creeping in among them; his gold fleets in danger, all the possibilities with which Elizabeth had wished to alarm him.  He read and re-read De Silva’s letters, and opposite the name of Achines he wrote startled interjections on the margin:  ‘Ojo!  Ojo!’

The political horizon was just then favourable to Elizabeth.  The Queen of Scots was a prisoner in Loch Leven; the Netherlands were in revolt; the Huguenots were looking up in France; and when Hawkins proposed a third expedition, she thought that she could safely allow it.  She gave him the use of the Jesus again, with another smaller ship of hers, the Minion.  He had two of his own still fit for work; and a fifth, the Judith, was brought in by his young cousin, Francis Drake, who was now to make his first appearance on the stage.  I shall tell you by-and-by who and what Drake was.  Enough to say now that he was a relation of Hawkins, the owner of a small smart sloop or brigantine, and ambitious of a share in a stirring business.

The Plymouth seamen were falling into dangerous contempt of Philip.  While the expedition was fitting out, a ship of the King’s came into Catwater with more prisoners from Flanders.  She was flying the Castilian flag, contrary to rule, it was said, in English harbours.  The treatment of the English ensign at Gibraltar had not been forgiven, and Hawkins ordered the Spanish captain to strike his colours.  The captain refused, and Hawkins instantly fired into him.  In the confusion the prisoners escaped on board the Jesus and were let go.  The captain sent a complaint to London, and Cecil—­who disapproved of Hawkins and all his proceedings—­sent down an officer to inquire into what had happened.  Hawkins, confident in Elizabeth’s protection, quietly answered that the Spaniard had broken the laws of the port, and that it was necessary to assert the Queen’s authority.