J 577. MARTIN FROBISHIlR. B5 



little barkes likewise, the one called the Gabriel^ 

 whereof Master Fenton was Captaine : and the 

 other the Michael, whereof Master Yorke, a gen- 

 tleman of my Lord Admiralls, was Captaine :" 

 these two vessels were about thirty tons each. 

 On the 27th of May, having received the sacrament 

 and prepared themselves " as good Christians 

 towards God, and resolute men for all fortunes," 

 they left Gravesend, and after a long passage 

 fell in with Friesland, in lat. 60-|^° on the 4th of 

 July, the mountains covered with snow and the 

 coast almost inaccessible from the great quantity 

 of drift ice. It is worthy of remark that Fro- 

 bisher, being in possession of the account of Fries- 

 land, by the two Venetians, declares that *' for so 

 much of this land as we have say led alongst, com- 

 paring their carde with the coast, we find it very 

 agreeable;" but no creature was seen " but little 

 birdes." They observed islands of ice, " some 

 seven tie, some eightie fathome under water," and 

 more than half a mile in circuit ; and the ice being- 

 fresh, Frobisher is led to the conclusion that these 

 mountains " must be bredde in the sounds, or in 

 some land neere the pole;" and that the '' mainc 

 sea freeseth not, therefore there is no tnare glaciaky 

 as the opinion hitherto hath bene." Four- days 

 were here spent in vain endeavouring to land, after 

 which they stood for the strait discovered by them 

 the preceding year. They arrived off the north 

 foreland, otherwise Hairs isla7id, so called after the 



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