SIR MARTIN FROBISHER

Summary

Except an abortive attempt, of which the particulars are not known, made by the Dominus Vobiscum and another vessel, in 1527, “no more consideration was had for the voyage” for eighty years after the failure of Sebastian Cabota. The project was revived by Sir Martin Frobisher, a man of no eminent lineage, but endowed with superior mental qualifications. It appears that, at an early age, he was sent from his native place to a school in London, and placed under the care of “Sir John Yorke, knight, his kinseman; who, perceiving him to be of great spirit and bould courage, and naturall hardnes of body, sent him to the hote cuntrye of Guinea”, on board a ship forming part of a fleet fitted out by several merchants of London. As he advanced in years, he is represented to have been “thorowly furnished of the knowledge of the sphere, and all other skilles appertayning to the arte of navigation”. By incessant and long study of the subject; by “sundry sure reasons and secret intelligence”, the nature of which, however, is not communicated, Frobisher wrought himself to a conviction of being able to accomplish the notable design he contemplated. His fortune was not commensurate with his desire : “he lacked altogether meanes and abilitie to performe the same”; and for fifteen years he conferred earnestly, but fruitlessly, with his private friends, and with merchants, on the project. The former proved lukewarm; and the latter, he soon perceived, were not wont to regard “vertue, without sure, certaine, and present gaines”.