56* DISCOVERIES OF 1497- 



de la Plata, or River of SilvTr, on the coast of 

 Brazil. After this he returned to England, pro- 

 bably on the invitation of Mr. Robert Thorne, an 

 Eno'lish merchant of Bristol, but resident at Seville, 

 with whom he was intimately acquainted, and 

 who had contributed largely to one of his expedi- 

 tions.* Mr. Thorne was a native, and once had 

 served the office of mayor, of the city of Bristol, 

 where Cabota's father had lived. His return to 

 England was in the year 1548, when Henry VIII. 

 was on the throne. On the succession of Edward 

 VI. the Duke of Somerset introduced him to the 

 young king, who was so delighted with his conver- 

 sation that he created him, by patent, pilot major, 

 and settled on him a pension for life of 500 marks 

 (166/. 13^. 4^.) a year, " in consideration of the 

 good and acceptable services done, and to be 

 done. "I Never was a reward, great as it was in 

 those days, more deservedly bestowed. Placed at 

 the head of the " Society of Merchant Adventurers," 

 by his knowledge and experience, his zeal and 

 penetration, he not only was the means of extend- 

 ing the foreign commerce of England, but of 

 keeping alive that spirit of enterprize, which, even 

 in his life time, was crowned with success, and 

 which ultimately led to the most happy results 

 for the nation that had so wisely and honourably 



* Lives of the Admirals, vol.i. p. 381. 

 f Hakluyt's Voyages. 

 Hymer's Foedera, vol. xv. p. 181. 



