and her precious freight were in the corsair’s power.  The wreck was cut away; the ship was cleared; a prize crew was put on board.  Both vessels turned their heads to the sea.  At daybreak no land was to be seen, and the examination of the prize began.  The full value was never acknowledged.  The invoice, if there was one, was destroyed.  The accurate figures were known only to Drake and Queen Elizabeth.  A published schedule acknowledged to twenty tons of silver bullion, thirteen chests of silver coins, and a hundredweight of gold, but there were gold nuggets besides in indefinite quantity, and ’a great store’ of pearls, emeralds, and diamonds.  The Spanish Government proved a loss of a million and a half of ducats, excluding what belonged to private persons.  The total capture was immeasurably greater.

Drake, we are told, was greatly satisfied.  He thought it prudent to stay in the neighbourhood no longer than necessary.  He went north with all sail set, taking his prize along with him.  The master, San Juan de Anton, was removed on board the Pelican to have his wound attended to.  He remained as Drake’s guest for a week, and sent in a report of what he observed to the Spanish Government.  One at least of Drake’s party spoke excellent Spanish.  This person took San Juan over the ship.  She showed signs, San Juan said, of rough service, but was still in fine condition, with ample arms, spare rope, mattocks, carpenters’ tools of all descriptions.  There were eighty-five men on board all told, fifty of them men-of-war, the rest young fellows, ship-boys and the like.  Drake himself was treated with great reverence; a sentinel stood always at his cabin door.  He dined alone with music.

No mystery was made of the Pelican’s exploits.  The chaplain showed San Juan the crucifix set with emeralds, and asked him if he could seriously believe that to be God.  San Juan asked Drake how he meant to go home.  Drake showed him a globe with three courses traced on it.  There was the way that he had come, there was the way by China and the Cape of Good Hope, and there was a third way which he did not explain.  San Juan asked if Spain and England were at war.  Drake said he had a commission from the Queen.  His captures were for her, not for himself.  He added afterwards that the Viceroy of Mexico had robbed him and his kinsman, and he was making good his losses.

Then, touching the point of the sore, he said, ’I know the Viceroy will send for thee to inform himself of my proceedings.  Tell him he shall do well to put no more Englishmen to death, and to spare those he has in his hands, for if he do execute them I will hang 2,000 Spaniards and send him their heads.’