choring unmolested in full view of the town.

Such an exploit was without precedent. The chivalry of Spain was as
enthusiastic in its admiration of Drake's feat of arms as it was
disgusted at the cumbrous organization which condemned it to inactivity.
A whole day Drake waited where he was, to try and exchange his prisoners
for English galley-slaves, but, getting nothing but high compliments and
dilatory answers for his pains, on the morrow he sailed. There was no
time to lose. By his captures he had discovered the whole of Philip's
plan. Out of the Mediterranean the divisions of Italy, Sicily, and
Andalusia were to come and join the head-quarters at Lisbon, where the
Grand Admiral of Spain, the Marquis de Santa Cruz, was busy with the
bulk of the armada. At Cape St. Vincent was the road where ships coming
out of the Straits waited for a wind to carry them north, and there he
had resolved to take his stand, and fight everything that attempted to
join Santa Cruz's flag in the Tagus.

Such light airs prevailed that it was not till the end of the month that
the fleet reached the road. By that time its water was exhausted, and,
as every headland was crowned with works commanding the anchorage and
the watering-places, Drake at once saw he must take them. In his usual
off-hand way he summoned his council, and told them over the dinner-table
what he was going to do. It was more than the vice-admiral's dignity and
caution could endure. In high dudgeon he returned to his ship, and, in
the midst of a gale which suddenly arose and drove the fleet to the north
of the cape, he indited a long and solemn protest, not only against the
contemplated operation, but against the unprecedented despotism with
which Drake was conducting the whole expedition. Borough, though no
doubt jealous of Drake, certainly believed he was doing nothing beyond
his right and duty. He felt he had been attached to the expedition as
the most complete sailor in the kingdom, and he valued and deserved his
reputation. In the scientific knowledge of his art he was unrivalled,
and he was the only officer in the service who had fought and won a
purely naval action. No one, therefore, can fairly blame him for
resenting the revolutionary manner in which his commander was ignoring
him in contempt of the time-honored privileges of the council of war.

Drake, in his hot self-confidence, thought otherwise. As he rode out the
gale under the lee of St. Vincent, and the tempe