The Northwest Passage 193 



use: he began first with himself to devise, and 

 then with his friends to confer, and laid a plain 

 plan unto them that that voyage was not only 

 possible by the Northwest but also he could prove 

 easy to be performed. And further, he deter 

 mined and resolved with himself to go make full 

 proof thereof, and to accomplish or bring true 

 certificate of the truth, or else never to return 

 again, knowing this to be the only thing of the 

 world that was left undone, whereby a notable 

 mind might be made famous and fortunate.&quot; 



Martin Frobisher s first expedition consisted Firgt 

 of two small barks, of twenty and twenty-five tlon 

 tons burden, named the Gabriel and the Michael, 

 and one pinnace of ten tons burden. The com 

 bined crews numbered twenty-five ; and the vessels 

 were provisioned for twelve months. With these 

 he departed upon the said voyage from Blacke- 

 wall the 15th of June Anno Domini 1576.&quot; 



Twenty-six days later, on July llth and during 

 a great storm, high pinnacle land was sighted. 

 Frobisher s first contact with the New World was 

 unfortunate, the pinnace foundered and her crew 

 of four men was lost, while those of &quot;the other 

 bark named the Michael mistrusting the master, 

 conveyed themselves privily away from him, and 

 returned home.&quot; Weakened in this way by dis 

 aster and desertion, with the mast of his own 

 vessel sprung and his top mast blown overboard, 

 he continued his voyage towards the North 

 west. On the 20th of the month Frobisher dis 

 covered a high cape to the southward, &quot;with a 



