158 A. D, 1576. 



ed, however, that they fhould not keep an open or retail fhop. [De 

 Mailly, L. xii.] 



Hakluyt acquaints us, that, although the Ruflia company had an ex- 

 clufive charter, which, as we have feen, was confirmed by SlQ. of par- 

 liament, yet Alderman Bond (formerly mentioned) had difputes with 

 that company, becaufe of his trading without their leave to Narva in 

 Livonia, and alio to Kola, Kegor, &:c. in Ruffian Lapland ; but Narva 

 was then under the Swedes. 



At this time, and fome years before, the Ruffia company had been 

 at confiderable expenfe in fending out fliips for difcovering a fuppofed 

 paflage through Waygatz ftrait north-eaftward to China and the Eaft- 

 Indies. But they were abfolutely obftruded by the ice as well as by 

 the intenfe cold. 



*577- — ^^^^ Engli{h genius was not to be difcouraged by former un- 

 fuccefsful attempts for finding a pafTage to China and Eaft-lndia without 

 interfering with the Portuguefe by the Cape of Good Hope, nor with 

 Spain by the flraits of Magellan ; and as they had already attempted in 

 vain a north-eaft pafiiige, there feemed now only the north-weft pafTage 

 to be explored, which we have feen had been already attempted by 

 Frobifher. The Portuguefe and Spanifli chart-makers and cofmogra- 

 phei-s were, it feems, exprefsly enjoined by their fovereigns, not to give 

 any kind of light to other nations in this refped ; becaufe they were 

 juflly apprehenfive that if there were any fuch paflage, it would prove 

 a much fhorter courfe to India and China than theirs, either by the 

 fouth-eaft or fouth-weft paflage. To encourage the Englifh to this at- 

 tempt, fundry treatifes were publiflied by Sir Humphry Gilbert, Rich- 

 ard Willes, &:c. moftly founded upon romantic reports, without any 

 folid probability. Yet upon fuch grounds, and the encouragement of 

 friends, Captain Frobiflier now made his fecond attempt with one of 

 the queen's own fliips, two barks, and 140 perfons, fome of whom were 

 gentlemen. He again entered the flraits he had named after himfelf 

 in his former attempt, where he found ftore of the glittering ftones and 

 fand he had feen in his laft voyage, with which he now loaded his vef- 

 fels. And, as it is needlefs to relate his adventures with the favages, fo 

 often already printed, he returned home the fame year with his ima- 

 ginary treafure, which afterwards, upon a more folid trial, proved good 

 for nothing. 



Queen Elizabeth ifliied a commiflion for the reftitution of fliips and 

 merchandize taken from the Portuguefe ; which reftitution was thereby 

 declared to be in coni'equence of a treaty with the king of Portugal. 

 The fame commiflioners were empowered to treat with thofe of France 

 concerning depredations at fea, and other injuries on both fides. [Fo£- 

 dera, V. xv, pp. 769, 770.] 



