manner of the 'Chickens of Mars,' as the Norreys brothers
were nicknamed, several assaults were delivered before the
works were properly prepared, and were repulsed with
severe loss. And the Spaniards were still holding out
when it was announced that a strong force under Don
Juan d'Aquila was pressing to their relief. A final des-
perate attempt both by sea and land was at once decided
on, and this time it was successful. The place was carried
and the garrison, to the number of four hundred, put to the
sword after the ruthless law of the time. The loss of the
allies was heavy. Frobisher himself, leading his sailors to
an escalade with his usual splendid courage, was shot in the
thigh at a distance of a few yards. So close was his
assailant that the wadding entered the wound. This an
unskilful surgeon did not observe, and though the ball
was extracted the wound mortified, and Frobisher, after
lingering long enough to reach Plymouth and receive a
letter of thanks from the queen, died.

So perished the first of the great group of Elizabethan
admirals, lost to his country before the final effort against
Spain was made, and when such men were most sorely
needed. To judge by what has come down to us, courage
rather than conduct was his strong point. We have no
evidence from him of any broad conception of what naval
warfare meant, such as is found in the letters and de-
spatches of Drake, Hawkins, Fenner, and Raleigh. 'He
was very valiant,' says Stowe, 'yet harsh and violent.' As
a hard fighter and an accomplished seaman he was indeed
unsurpassed; but in spite of all his fine qualities no con-
spicuous naval success had coloured his career, and he
must be classed as an intrepid captain and explorer rather
than as a great fleet commander.

-401-