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MARTIN FiiOBTSHER — Third Voyctge. 1578. 



The Queen and her court were so highly de- 

 lighted in " finding that the matter of the gold 

 ore had appearance and made shew of great riches 

 and profit, and the hope of the passage to 

 Cathaia by this last voyage greatly increased," 

 that after a minute examination by the commis- 

 sioners specially appointed, it was determined that 

 the voyage was highly worthy of being followed 

 up. The Queen gave the name of Meta mcog- 

 nita to the newly discovered country, on which it 

 was resolved to establish a colony. For this 

 purpose a fleet of fifteen ships were got ready, 

 and one hundred persons appointed to form the 

 settlement and remain there the whole year, keep- 

 ing with them three of the ships ; the other twelve 

 were to bring back cargoes of gold ore. Frobisher 

 was constituted admiral and general, and, on 

 taking leave, received from the Queen a gold 

 chain, and the rest of the captains had the honour 

 of kissing her Majesty's hand. 



The fleet sailed from Harwich on the 31st May, 

 1578, passed Cape Clear on the 6th June, and on 

 the 20th of that month discovered west Friesland, 

 which they now named IVest England; landed and 

 took possession thereof; but the natives abandoned 

 their tents and fled. The fleet then proceeded to 

 Frobisher's strait, giving to the last cliif in sight 



