SEBASTIAN CABOT 



cover the coastes of Brasile, where I found an exceeding 

 great and large river named at this present Rio de la 

 plata, that is, the river of silver, into the which I sailed 

 and followed it into the firme land, more then sixe score 

 leagues, finding it every where very faire, and inhabited 

 with infinite people, which with admiration came running 

 dayly to our ships. Into this River runne so many other 

 rivers, that it is in maner incredible. 



After this I made many other voyages, which I no we 

 pretermit, and waxing olde, I give my selfe to rest from 

 such travels, because there are nowe many yong and lustie 

 Pilots and Mariners of good experience, by whose for- 

 wardnesse I doe rejoyce in the fruit of my labours, and 

 rest with the charge of this office, as you see. 



The foresaide Baptista Ramusius in his preface to 

 the thirde volume of the Navigations, writeth 

 thus of Sebastian Cabot. 



A.D. 



H97- 



The office of 

 Pi/ote maior. 



N the latter part of this volume are put 

 certaine relations of John de Vararzana, 

 Florentine, and of a great captaine a 

 Frenchman, and the two voyages of 

 Jaques Cartier a Briton, who sailed unto 

 the land situate in 50. degrees of Lati- 

 tude to the North, which is called New 



France, which landes hitherto are not throughly knowen, 

 whether they doe joyne with the firme land of Florida 

 and Nova Hispania, or whether they bee separated and 

 devided all by the Sea as Hands : and whether that by 

 that way one may goe by Sea unto the countrey of Cathaia. 

 As many yeeres past it was written unto mee by Sebastian 

 Cabota our Countrey man a Venetian, a man of great 

 experience, and very rare in the art of Navigation, and 

 the knowledge of Cosmographie, who sailed along and 

 beyond this lande of New France, at the charges of King ^ he j!' eat p°: 

 Henry the seventh king of England : and he advertised #J#&«J^ 

 mee, that having sailed a long time West and by North, passage. 



149 



