The  long  expected  arrival  of  Drake  at  Plymouth  with
his  booty  took  place  in  October  1680,  almost  at  the  same
time  as    the  landing    in  Ireland    of  the    Papal  forces


INTEODUCTION.  OX

despatclied    from   Spain    to  the   aid   of    the   insurgents ;
and  during  tlie  rest  of  the  time  that  Mendoza  remained
at    Elizabeth's   court,    these    two    standing    subjects   of
complaint   wore  for  ever   being  pitted  one   against   the
other,  whilst  the  ambassador's  relations  with  the  Queen
and  her  people  became  more  and  more  acrimonious.     As
soon  as  Drake  arrived  Mendoza  sought  audience  of  the
Queen  to  claim  the  restoration  of  the  plunder,  but  he  was
told  that  until  she  had  got  to  the  bottom  of  the  Spanish
aid  to  the  Irish  insurgents  she  could  not   receive   him.
