The nature of Spauish feeling and policy was shown in the case of the Primrose, 150 tons, of London, Foster, master. On May 26th. 15, the ship, a trader, lay off Bilbao, and was visited by even Spaniards, including the corredor, or chief magistrate, of the province. After these people had been hospitably entertained, four of them, including the corregidor, returned to the shore. ,_Presently a ])oat containing seventy people, with another containing four-and- twenty, was observed approaching the vessel. The people looked like merchants. They betrayed a desire to go on board; but Foster, being suspicious, and having only twenty-seven men with him, refused to admit more than the corregidor, who was of the party, and three or four others; and he nmde the rest promise to remain in their boats. But, instead of doing so, they all, in a short time produced hidden arms and boarded, tile corregidor smnmoning Foster to yield and causing hiln to be seized. The men, however, determined to rescue their captain, and, attacking gallantly, killed many of the enemy and drove the rest overboard. Four of them, who were wounded and drowning, were taken up again, one being the corredor; and they were carried prisone to England. Asked for explanations of his treacherous conduct, the official produced a cronmission from the King of Spain for a general embargo upon all English, Netherlands, and German shipping Mong the coast. Thenceforward, the two countries were in a state of war, although, for a time, Spain still postponed her grand stroke. Another case was that of the engagement in the 5Iediterranean, on July lath, 15815, between some vessels of the Turkey Company and thirteen Spanish craft. Not content with the produce of the embargo which he had laid on ships in his ports, Philip had ordered his galleys in the Levant to take all English ships which they could meet with, the intention being to utilise for the service of the Armada, then preparing, all croft that might be deemed suitable for the purpose. The Turkey Company, in consequence, took care to send only xvell-built ships to sea; to arm and man them thoroughly; and to oblige several of them to sail in company. Five left England together iu November, 1.585, the Mcrchau! Itoyal, the Toby, the Edward I3onaccnture, the ll'illiam aml John, and the Susan. Off

This year Drake led an expediti,,n to the West hldies. ,_%e ('hap. XVL 

e H:tklu)t, ii. P. ii. 112. l.l,,ul,tless by error, the afltir is anributed to 3Iay 26th, and Philip's commissiun uf embargo, tu 5Iay 29tl, 1585. The latter was, of course,

auteri,r tu the furuer.