MARTIN FROBISHER a.d. 



1577- 

 countrey wherein they lived, and the danger of a great 

 multitude which they were subject unto, if good watch 

 and warde were not kept, for at every low water the 

 enimie might come almost dryfoot from the mayne unto 

 us, wherefore he willed every man to prepare him in 

 good readinesse upon all sudden occasions, and so giving 

 the watch their charge, the company departed to rest. 

 I thought the Captaines letter well worth the re- 

 membring, not for the circumstance of curious enditing, 

 but for the substance and good meaning therein con- 

 tained, and therefore have repeated here the same, as 

 by himselfe it was hastily written. 



The forme of M. Martin Frobishers letter to the 

 English captives. 



IN the name of God, in whom we all beleeve, who 

 (I trust) hath preserved your bodies and soules 

 amongst these infidels, I commend me unto you. I will 

 be glad to seeke by al means you can devise for your 

 deliverance, either with force, or with any commodities 

 within my ships, which I will not spare for your sakes, 

 or any thing else I can doe for you. I have aboord, 

 of theirs, a man, a woman, and a child, which I am 

 contented to deliver for you, but the man which I caried 

 away from hence the last yeere is dead in England. 

 Moreover you may declare unto them, that if they 

 deliver you not, I will not leave a man alive in their 

 countrey. And thus, if one of you can come to speake 

 with mee, they shall have either the man, woman, or 

 childe in pawne for you. And thus unto God whom I 

 trust you doe serve, in hast I leave you, and to him wee 

 will dayly pray for you. This Tuesday morning the 

 seventh of August. Anno 1557. 



Yours to the uttermost of my power, 



Martin Frobisher. 

 I have sent you by these bearers, penne, ynke, and Postscript 

 paper, to write backe unto me againe, if personally you 

 cannot come to certifie me of your estate. 



3°9 



