JOHN CABOT'S LETTERS PATENTS 



The English Voyages, Navigations, and Dis- 

 coveries (intended for the rinding of a North- 

 west passage) to the North parts of America, 

 to Meta incognita, and the backeside of Gron- 

 land, as farre as 72 degrees and 12 minuts : 

 performed first by Sebastian Cabota, and since 

 by Sir Martin Frobisher, and M. John Davis, 

 with the Patents, Discourses, and Advertise- 

 ments thereto belonging. • 



The Letters patents of King Henry the seventh 

 granted unto John Cabot and his three sonnes, 

 Lewis, Sebastian, and Sancius for the dis- 

 coverie of new and unknowen lands. 



Enricus Dei gratia rex Angliae, & Franciae, 

 & Dominus Hiberniae, omnibus, ad 

 quos praesentes literae nostrae pervenerint, 

 salutem. 



Notum sit & manifestum, quod de- 

 dimus & concessimus, ac per praesentes 

 damus & concedimus pro nobis & 

 haeredibus nostris, dilectis nobis Joanni Caboto civi 

 Venetiarum, Lodovico, Sebastiano, & Sancio, filiis dicti 

 Joannis, & eorum ac cujuslibet eorum haeredibus & 

 deputatis, plenam ac liberam authoritatem, facultatem & 

 potestatem navigandi ad omnes partes, regiones, & sinus 

 maris orientalis, occidentalis, & septentrionalis, sub ban- 

 neris, vexillis, & insigniis nostris, cum quinque navibus 

 sive navigiis, cujuscunque portiturae & qualitatis existant, 

 & cum tot & tantis nautis & hominibus, quot & quantos 

 in dictis navibus secum ducere voluerint, suis & eorum 

 propriis sumptibus & expensis, ad inveniendum, dis- 

 cooperiendum, & investigandum quascunque insulas, 

 patrias, regiones sive provincias gentilium & infidelium 

 quorumcunque, in quacunque parte mundi positas, quae 

 Christianis omnibus ante haec tempora fuerint incognitas 



141 



A.D. 



H95- 



