IN 1578 the Spanish Ambassador in London protested against English outrages “beyond the line.” Queen Elizabeth replied
that the Spaniards by their hard dealing with the English, whom they had prohibited commerce, contrary to the laws of nations, had drawn these mischiefs upon themselves; moreover, that she understood not why her, or any prince’s subjects should be debarred from the trade of the Indies, which she could not persuade herself the Spaniards had any just title to by the donation of the Bishop of Rome (in whom she acknowledged no prerogative, much less any authority in these cases); not yet by any other claim, than as they had touched here and there upon the coasts; built cottages and given name to a river or a cape; which things could not entitle them to a propriety; so that this donation of what is another man’s (which is of no validity in law), and this imaginary propriety, cannot hinder other princes from trading in those countries, and (without breach of the law of nations) from transporting colonies into those parts thereof where the Spaniards do not inhabit;…