t claim
to the crown, he forfeited the certain prospect of his succession;
and revived that national animosity which the late peace and alliance
between the kingdoms had happily extinguished: that the whole gentry and
nobility of England had openly declared themselves for the execution of
the queen of Scots; and if James showed such violent resentment against
that act of justice, they would be obliged, for their own security, to
prevent forever so implacable a prince from ruling over them: and
that, however some persons might represent his honor as engaged to seek
vengeance for the present affront and injury, the true honor of a prince
consisted in wisdom, and moderation, and justice, not in following the
dictates of blind passion, or in pursuing revenge at the expense of
every motive and every interest.[*]

* Strype, vol. iii. p. 377. Spotswood.

These considerations, joined to the peaceable, unambitious temper of the
young prince, prevailed over his resentment, and he fell gradually into
a good correspondence with the court of England. It is probable that the
queen's chief object in her dissimulation with regard to the execution
of Mary, was, that she might thereby afford James a decent pretence for
renewing his amity with her, on which their mutual interests so much
depended.

While Elizabeth insured tranquillity from the attempts of her nearest
neighbor, she was not negligent of more distant dangers. Hearing that
Philip, though he seemed to dissemble the daily insults and injuries
which he received from the English, was secretly preparing a great navy
to attack her, she sent Sir Francis Drake with a fleet to intercept
his supplies, to pillage his coast, and to destroy his shipping. Drake
carried out four capital ships of the queen's, and twenty-six, great
and small, with which the London merchants, in hopes of sharing in the
plunder, had supplied him. Having learned from two Dutch ships which he
met with in his passage, that a Spanish fleet, richly laden, was lying
at Cadiz, ready to sail for Lisbon, the rendezvous of the intended
armada, he bent his course to the former harbor, and boldly, as well as
fortunately, made an attack on the enemy. He obliged six galleys, which
made head against him, to take shelter under the forts: he burned
about a hundred vessels laden with ammunition and naval stores; and he
destroyed a great ship of the marquis of Santa Croce. Thence he set sail
for Cape St. Vincent, and took