The worthless character of the stones was not yet exposed and the feeling was stronger than ever for further supplies. There was to be a colony formed at the Countess of Warwick’s Sound. A timber house was embarked, and miners were engaged from Cornwall. There were many gentlemen volunteers, and no less than 15 vessels were engaged:—
| Aid | (Admiral) | Martin Frobisher |
| Thomas Allin | (Vice Admiral) | Yorke |
| Judith | (Lieut.-Gen.) | Fenton |
| Ann Frances | Best | |
| Hopewell | Carew | |
| Bear | Philpot | |
| Thomas (of Ipswich) | Tanfield | |
| Emanuel (of Exeter) | Courtenay | |
| Emanuel (Busse) (of Bridgewater) | Newton | |
| Francis (of Foy) | Moyles | |
| Moon | Upcot | |
| Salomon (of Weymouth) | Randal | |
| Dennis | Kendal | |
| Gabriel | Harvey | |
| Michael | Kinnersley | |
The Queen received the captains at Greenwich, and threw a gold chain round the neck of “her loving friend Martin Frobisher.” The fleet sailed from Dover on May 31st, 1578, and shaped a course down channel. The Admiral had issued an order prohibiting swearing or card-playing, and ordering that there was to be Divine service daily in every ship. Most of the ships were chartered, and the Admiral had not the same control over them as if they had been Queen’s ships, which increased his difficulties.
Frobisher’s Discoveries.
After crossing the North Atlantic Frobisher again sighted Greenland, still supposed to be the Frieslanda of the Zeno map, and once more attempted to land. This time he was successful. Taking the pinnace, and accompanied by Fenton and Christopher Hall, he forced his way through the pack ice, and reached a bay where there were Eskimos in their kayaks and a summer encampment of tents. He intended to continue his discoveries but a dense fog came on, and he was obliged to return and attend to the needs of the fleet. Frobisher was thus the first to land in Greenland since the colony was abandoned to its fate by the Norwegians.
During eight days the ships were crossing the ice-laden strait, making for the land of the false gold ore which had been visited during the two previous voyages. They were in much danger, encountering furious gales of wind, amidst icebergs and drifting packs. One day there was a violent concussion on board the Salomon, as if she had run stem on to an iceberg; and a whale rose under her bows. She was brought up all standing, and soon afterwards the whale was seen dead, floating on the surface. Another vessel lost her topmasts in a gale, but at last land was in sight and they were off Frobisher’s Strait. The entrance, however, was blocked by the pack. The Queen’s Foreland and Lock’s Island, names given in the previous voyages, could be seen over the wide extent of ice.
Frobisher attempted to force his way through. Sending the pinnace ahead to seek out leads, he entered the pack in the Aid, with the other vessels following in line. There were numerous icebergs, and some vessels, going very slow, ran against them, but without receiving much damage. At last the Aid was stopped by a floe of no great width, and men were sent in boats to attempt to cut through it. Up to this time the weather had been fine, but suddenly a gale of wind sprang up, closed the pack between the ships and the open sea, and placed them in great danger. Several were closely beset, others severely nipped. The Dennis was forced against an iceberg and sank, the crew being saved by the boats sent to cut the floe. Every contrivance was resorted to that they could devise to save the rest of the fleet. The loss of the Dennis was very serious, as she carried half the prepared timber for the house or fort for the proposed colony. The great peril lasted for 13 hours, during which time the men, expecting death every moment, worked like true English seamen. Next morning the wind veered round and drifted away the pack between the ships and the open sea. This was on the 3rd July. On the 9th another effort was made to reach the land. A very strong current was noted to the south-west “the noise of the stream being like the waterfall of London Bridge,” The largest iceberg, which they called “Salomon’s Porch” was measured and found to be 330 feet high.
They were at the entrance of what is now known as Hudson’s Strait, too far to the south. Frobisher suspected this, but a wide opening leading westward was before him, and he cared much more for discovery than for the supposed gold ore. After all, discovery was included in his instructions. Christopher Hall was strong against the attractive openings being Frobisher’s former strait, and words ran high. The Admiral lost his temper and was in a great rage. Hall was mutinous and would not keep company. The Aid entered the newly-discovered strait, followed by six or seven other vessels with like-minded loyal captains. Frobisher went on to the westward for six or seven days, meeting with natives on shore with whom he bartered, and noting much animal life. He had discovered what is now called Hudson’s Strait. The great explorer longed to push on, but there was his duty to the Cathay Company, his duty to bring home shiploads of worthless stones. So, on the first fine day, Frobisher had to observe for latitude, and of course found himself 60 miles too far south[45].
His duty obliged him to give up his discoveries and return to the sordid work of loading the ships with black stones. On the 28th July the Aid was forced through the pack into the Countess of Warwick’s Sound, other ships following, and the miners set to work collecting their rubbish. The first part of the voyage was completed, and many dangers had been overcome, difficulties encountered, and experience in ice navigation gained. A solemn service of thanksgiving was held. The chaplain was Master Wolfall, a patriotic clergyman who had given up a good living to serve his country in a dangerous enterprise. He now preached an eloquent sermon of thanksgiving and encouragement, shortly afterwards administering the Sacrament to the crews on shore.