Martin Frobisher and Scarborough

Frobisher, Drake, and Hawkins, some of the great names of England's maritime history lived during the reign of the first Queen Elizabeth. Martin Frobisher came to Scarborough long before he gained great fame as the commander of one of the largest and most effective ships that fought the Spanish Armada. This Yorkshireman was 27 years of age when he rode into the town in September 1565. At London, during the previous Easter he had bought the ship "Matthew", 100 tons, from one John Baxter, who is said to have been a gentleman and Bailiff of Scarborough. The vessel was renamed the Mayflower.

She left the Tyne in December with 36 aboard,intending a voyage to Guinea.They reached the Humber, during a severe storm and were driven northwards with masts and sails ruined. They had to beach her at Scarborough on Christmas Day. The brothers Martin and John Frobisher stayed for some months trying to raisefresh funds. An Admiralty bailiff arrested the shipfor debt, but they raised a loan of £50.T he shipreturned to Newcastle to load a cargo of coal. At Scarborough they took on victuals, including three tons of biscuit, a hogshead of beef and quantities of butter, cheese and bread. Becalmed in Bridlington Roads for a day and a half, John Frobisher went ashore to visit Barmston Hall, taking on a sheep and capons. The Frobishers were suspected of piracy in the Thames, the next year.


Share this article

Request our email newsletter for all our latest news and information
Contact us

01723 369361
scarboroughmaritime@yahoo.com
45 Eastborough, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 1NH, England

We are here

Opening times

Monday
.......................
........................................................
.......................
Closed
Tuesday
.......................
........................................................
.......................
Closed
Wednesday
.......................
........................................................
.......................
11am - 4pm
Thursday
.......................
........................................................
.......................
11am - 4pm
Friday
.......................
........................................................
.......................
11am - 4pm
Saturday
.......................
........................................................
.......................
11am - 4pm
Sunday
.......................
........................................................
.......................
11am - 4pm
© SCARBOROUGH MARITIME HERITAGE CENTRE LIMITED
Registered charity No 1144532. Company No 06755717.