appointed General and Admiral, CAPT. MARTIN FROBISHER Vice Admiral, FRANCIS KNOLLES Rear Admiral, and CHRISTOPHER CARLEILL was Lieutenant General of the land forces. The accounts of this expedition, while they give our Admiral due credit in general terms, give us no particulars or incidents with which to elucidate his biography. The particular history of the enterprise belongs to the life of Drake. Suffice it to say, it was completely successful. St. Jago, Carthagena, St. Domingo, and St. Augustine were reduced, a spoil of £60,000 in money was taken, two hundred brass and forty iron cannon were brought to England. The time employed in this expedition was about ten months. The fleet sailed on the 14th of September, 1585, and returned to England the 28th of July, 1586. After Drake and Frobisher had taken St. Augustine in Florida, they sailed to Virginia, where, finding the colony in distress, they took the people into their ships, at their request, and carried them to England. In the voyage with Drake, Frobisher commanded a ship called the Primrose. We next meet with Capt. Frobisher early in 1588. The war with Spain was approaching a crisis. The great struggle was between papist and protestant. Complete annihilation of the heretics of England was confidently anticipated by all papal Europe. Frobisher was one among the foremost who stood up to breast the threatened storm. Philip had prepared an immense navy with which to attack England. To this he gave the name of the Invincible Armada. Lord Howard was the nominal commander of the English fleet, and in writing to the queen he mentions Frobisher and others as "men whom the world doth judge of the greatest experience that this realme hath." When the Spanish fleet arrived on the English coast, it was drawn up in order of battle. Frobisher was one of the three commanders who in the most undaunted manner began the attack upon it. His separate achievements are but indifferently recorded, but in his first onset a sensible impression was made on the Spanish galeons; some being crippled and others dispersed. Soon after, the English fleet was divided into squadrons, the command of one of which was given to Frobisher. Such were his immediate services, that the Lord High Admiral knighted him on board of his own ship, as he did also Capt. John Hawkins at the same time. He was one of the very few knights created during this memorable invasion by the Spaniards, if indeed there were any others made during the expedition, saving himself and his valiant companion in arms just mentioned. The naval operations of the English against the Armada commenced in May and ended in August. The discomfiture of the Spaniards was most complete. Out of one hundred and thirty-four sail (ninety-one of which were immense ships, then called "galleons") only thirty-three ever returned to Spain. In men their loss was more deplorable; upwards of thirteen thousand five hundred either fell in battle, perished by famine, or were swallowed up by shipwreck! The rejoicing in all parts of England at this signal deliverance was unbounded; shows, bonfires, and processions lasted many days. The streets of London were decorated in the most superb manner that could be devised to honor the heroes who walked in proud procession along them. Frobisher was conspicuous there it was the proud day of his life." *Those who would have a correct idea of those doings and days would do well to read STRYPE'S account of them in his Annals. The next year we find Sir Martin cruising upon the coast of the Netherlands, apparently to watch the actions of the Spaniards, and to give intelligence should there be any appearance of another Armada, which some anticipated. Several of the letters which he wrote while on this service are extant, but their orthography is stranger than any thing we have ever met with, even of that age, and their substance, so far as can be guessed out, of no very great importance. In 1590 he sailed to the coast of Spain with a fleet of five ships, commissioned by the queen as Admiral. The chief object of the expedition was to intercept the Spanish treasure ships, but none could be discovered. King Philip was aware of the intentions of Frobisher, and he ordered twenty ships to be got ready to proceed in quest of him. His fleet actually put to sea, but learning that five other English ships, under Sir John Hawkins, were also cruising in aid of Frobisher, Philip sent after and recalled his fleet, being "better advised (says Monson*) than to adventure twenty of his ships to ten of ours." Before returning to England Frobisher stood over to the Azores. Here he sent a trumpet to the governor of Fayal "in a friendly manner" upon some pecuniary business, but the messenger was fired upon, and probably killed, as Frobisher sent the governor word that the city should suffer severely for the barbarous conduct he had received. He then departed for England. In 1592 Sir Martin 'Frobisher was sent to recall Sir Walter Raleigh from an expedition he had undertaken against South America, and to take command of Sir Walter's fleet himself; which consisted of fifteen ships. During this enterprise one immensely rich carrack was taken "with a prodigious slaughter" of its men. It was called the Madre de Dios, (Mother of God) and was one hundred and sixty feet in length, of one thousand six hundred tons burthen, with a crew of six hundred men. In her was found treasure to the value of £150,000 sterling, besides what was plundered by the English sailors. Spain had formed a league with France, and Philip had sent three thousand men for the protection of Brest. The faction in France in league with Spain consisted of the Catholic French, who had revolted from their king. To aid Henry against these revolters and their abettors, Elizabeth sent Sir John Norris at the head of three thousand men to besiege Brest, and Sir Martin Frobisher with a fleet consisting of four of her own ships and several others, to support Norris. This was the last expedition in which Frobisher was engaged. In a joint attack made by the forces under him and those under Norris upon Fort Crozon, Sir Martin received a wound in his side, from the effects of which he died, as before related. The English took the fort, but with a wretched sacrifice of life, at which Elizabeth was much grieved. She wrote to Norris complaining of his rashness, "but (says Camden) this Letter came too late." In storming this place the barbarity of the English was equal to the prodigality of their own lives. "During the heat of this Siege (says our author) D'Aumont and Norris thought good to undermine the Eastern Bulwark on that Side where the French were posted, and to blow it up: which took effect, and opened a great Breach. Now they fall upon the Fort on all sides. Latham, Smith and others, with the English, stormed the Western Bulwark, whilst the French set upon the Eastern, and the rest the Wall betwixt both • Naval Tracts. ↑ Verum hæ literæ serius allatæ. - Annales rerum Anglicarum, etc., 668. on the South; and this lasted from Noon till four of the clock. At length the English made themselves Masters of the Western Work, and Thomas de Parades, the commander of the Spaniards, being slain, entered the Fort, plucked down the Spanish Flags, and opened an entrance for the rest, who put the Garrison Souldiers, in number about 400, to the Sword, and laid the Fort level with the Ground." "Neither was this Victory gotten by the English without Bloud; many valiant Souldiers being slain, and Sir Martin Forbisher wounded with a small shot in the hip, who brought back the Fleet to Plymouth, and there died. A valourous and stout man he was, and to be reckoned among the famousest men of our age for Counsell and Conduct, and Glory gotten by Navall Exploits, as what I haue before spoken of him plainly appeareth." There is an entry in the register at Plymouth of his death, but no monument any where to his memory. His body, after being embowelled, (a custom of those days) was sent to London for interment. A portrait of him is said to be in the picture gallery of Oxford. There was an engraved portrait of him published a few years after his death, and is contained in the Heroology. It is from this we have caused our copy to be taken. We have no doubt of its faithfulness, and it fully justifies the character given of him by the early writers. Although the name of Frobisher is not less poetical than many others often met with in poetry, yet we scarcely remember to have met with his above two or three times in our limited reading of that class of authors. Among the commendatory effusions poured out upon CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH, and published in his curious book of "Trve Travels, Adventvres," &c., our discoverer comes in for a share, in the following lines: From far fetcht Indies, and Virginia's soyle, Sir Richard Grenvill, Zelands braue coaster: To after Ages, and eternall Fame, That we may haue the golden Iasons fleece. And chain'd their Kings to his immortall glory; A WORD TO MODERNIZERS. The old style of composition, without the old mode of orthography to convey its meaning, is a falsification of the times of the original. To alter an original to suit modern orthography is to bastardize a performance; such is neither the original author's production, nor can the modernizer with decency claim it. It always reminds us of that couplet of Pope, beginning "As heavy mules are neither horse nor INDIAN WAR PAPERS. [Communicated for the Antiquarian Journal by CHARLES W. PARSONS, M. D., of Providence, R. I., member of the N. E. H. Gen. Society.] Capt. Frost and sergnt neall I. Gentelmen I thought to have mett with you here at maior Sheply's [Shaplegh] but understandng the guns were herd about Stargeon Creeck it is well you tooke your march as you did - my dasier and order is that you garrison you owne house with 10 men and doe your beste now the snow is vpon the grond which will be Aduantadge upon ther tracks. Your letter I reseued about garrisoning your house. We have a party of men upon your side comanded by goodman banmore (?) and John wingut [Wingate?] and Joseph Fild are going out this night: and in Case you want men goe to the garrisons aboue and especially Samon faull and take men for any expedition: and all the Comanders of the garrisons are hereby requierd to Atand your order herin and this shall be your surficant warrant. dated this 8 nomber 1675 about 3 oclock. You must take notice that the party of souldiers now sent you are designed cheifely for the defense of Yorkeshire & the dwellinges on the upper parts of Pascatay. You are therfore principally so to improve them, by your constant marches about the borders of Wells, Yorke, Nochiwannick Cochecho Exeter Haueril &c. as you shal have intelligence of the enemies' motion, whom you are upon every opportunity without delay to persue & endeavor to take Capteve, kill & destroy Having notice of any partie of the enemy at any fishing place or other rendevous you shall lay hold on such opportunity to assault the enemy. If you shall understand the enemy to be too numerous for your smal partie you shall advise wth Major Walderne and desire his Assistance to furnish you With a greater force for a present service, but if you judg the opportunity or advantage may be lost by such a delay you shall for a present service require the inhabitants or garrison souldiers of the place where you are or so many as may be necessary for you & safe for the place imediately to attend you upon such present service for destroying the enemy. In all your motions & marches, silence & speed will be your advantage & security. You must supply your present wants of victuals & amunition for your souldiers out of the townes & places where you come, especially from Portsmouth to whom I have writt for that end, & if a larger supply be wanting you shal give notice thereof to my selfe or the Govern' & Counsel The necessity & distress of those parts & confidence of your Courage & industry doe require your utmost activity in the management of this business without spending needeless expensive delayes up and be doing & the Lord prosper your endeavors. You shall from time to time give intelligence of all occurrences of moment to Major Walderne, & my selfe, & as much as may be without prejudice of the service advise wth Major Walderne & the Gentelmen of Portsmouth upon whom you must principally depend for your present supplyes [Then follows in another hand:] Charles Frost for These ar the Instructions Received from y° Maj' Generall at the same time as his Comiss of Aprill 1677 & delivered to him the 13th according to order You are hereby Required in his Majties name to Impresse six able Souldiers either of yo' Own town or others compleatly ffitted wth Armes & Amunition to Attend ye Service of ye Country in yo' Garrison or otherwise as you shall see meet, & this shall be yo' sufficient Wartt from Richard Waldern Serget maior 2: May 1677 p'sents IV. To Major Charles Ffrost Pursuant to the Comission signed, & bearing same date with these You are with all care & speed to hasten gathering of your Soldjers together, and in case Capt. Simon Willard be in any wise disinabled that he cant attend yt service you are to comissionate such other meet person as you shall Judge meet. & appoynt all other officers as you shall have occa sion. You shall in all places & by all wayes & meanes to your power take, kill, & destroy ye enemy without limitation of place or time as you shall have opportunity. & you ar also impowred to comissionate any other person or persons to do the like. You shall carefully inspect all the Garisons in y' Province, & reduce them to such a number, & appoynt such places as shall in yo' wisdome most conduce to the preservation of the people, & yt y° great charge now expended for y° same may be abated. Comitting you to yo Co of God almighty upon whom have all yo' dependance & pe you Ffeb. 17. 1689. I subscribe Yo' Loveing friend Tho: Danforth. Presid'. [Along the margin is written] I have prevailed with L. Andrews to come back esteemeing him a fitt man for your L'. and I would y' you accordingly enterteyn him. [Superscription.] To Maio' Charles |