MARTIN FROBISHER ad. 



1577- 

 so looking that the other partie with whom they make 

 trade should doe the like, they themselves doe depart, [III. 64.] 

 and then if they doe like of their Mart they come againe, 

 and take in exchange the others marchandise, otherwise 

 if they like not, they take their owne and depart. The 

 day being thus well neere spent, in haste v/ee retired our 

 companies into our boates againe, minding foorthwith to 

 search alongst the coast for some harborow fit for our 

 shippes, for the present necessitie thereof was much, con- 

 sidering that all this while they lay off" and on betweene 

 the two landes, being continually subject aswell to great 

 danger of fleeting yce, which environed them, as to the 

 sodaine flawes which the coast seemeth much subject 

 unto. But when the people perceived our departure, 

 with great tokens of affection they earnestly called us 

 backe againe, following us almost to our boates : where- 

 upon our Generall taking his Master with him, who was Another meet- 



best acquainted with their maners, went apart unto two of tn S°f tZ0 ° °f 



, * . ti 111 iii 1 our men m *» 



them, meaning, it they could lay sure hold upon them, two f t ^gi rs% 



forcibly to bring them aboord, with intent to bestow 

 certaine toyes and apparell upon the one, and so to dis- 

 misse him with all arguments of curtesie, and retaine the 

 other for an Interpreter. The Generall and his Maister 

 being met with their two companions togither, after they 

 had exchanged certaine things the one with the other, 

 one of the Salvages for lacke of better marchandise, cut 

 off the tayle of his coat (which is a chiefe ornament 

 among them) and gave it unto our Generall for a pre- 

 sent. But he presently upon a watchword given with 

 his Maister sodainely laid hold upon the two Salvages. 

 But the ground underfoot being slipperie with the snow 

 on the side of the hill, their handfast fayled and their 

 prey escaping ranne away and lightly recovered their bow 

 and arrowes, which they had hid not farre from them 

 behind the rockes. And being onely two Salvages in 

 sight, they so fiercely, desperately, and with such fury 

 assaulted and pursued our Generall and his Master, being 

 altogether unarmed, and not mistrusting their subtiltie 



293 



