1576. MARTIN FROBISHER. 81 



where he arrived more than a month before the 

 other four ships with which he set out. 



Whether Frobisher had collected similar reports 

 of the passage having actually been performed, or 

 whether alone from his " knowledge of the sphere 

 and all other skilles appertaining to the arte of 

 navigation" his hopes were grounded, it is quite 

 certain he had persuaded himself that the voyage 

 was not only feasible but of easy execution. His 

 friends, however, were not so readily persuaded to 

 enter into his scheme ; but, " as it was the only 

 thing of the world that was left yet undone, 

 whereby a notable mind might be made famous 

 and fortunate," he persevered for fifteen years 

 without being able to acquire the means of setting 

 forth an expedition, on which his mind had been 

 so long and so resolutely bent. 



At length, in the year 1576, by the countenance 

 and assistance of Dudley, Earl of Warwick, and a 

 few friends, he was enabled to fit out two small 

 barks, the Gabriel of thirty-five and the Michael 

 of thirty tons, together with a pinnace of ten tons. 

 With this little squadron he prepared to set out on 

 his important expedition, and on the 8th of June 

 passed Greenwich, where the court then was ; and 

 Queen Elizabeth bade them farewell by shaking 

 her hand at them out of the window. On the 

 11th of July they came in sight of Friesland, 

 " rising like pinnacles of steeples, and all covered 

 with snow." This island, whose position has so 



- VOL. I. G 



