JOHN CABOT'S VOYAGES 



plans is clear enough from all the facts, and we see from 

 existing public documents that, at the beginning of 1496, 

 he was making special efforts to get an important expedition 

 sent out, and was applying to the King of England for pro- 

 tection and letters patent to assure to himself and his three 

 sons, Lewis, Sebastian, and Sancto, the profit of the discoveries 

 he expected to make on this expedition, which was to consist 

 of five ships. 



The letters patent were recorded on March 5 (14, N.S.), 

 1496,^ and give Cabot and his sons the right under the English 

 flag 



" to sail in all parts, regions and bays of the sea, in the east, west, and north, 

 with five ships or vessels of whatever burthen or kind, and with as many men 

 as they wished to take with them, at their own expense, and to find, discover, 

 and investigate whatever islands, countries, regions, or provinces belonging to 

 heathens or infidels, in whatsoever part of the world they might be, which be- 

 fore that time were unknown to all Christians." They also had the right as 

 vassals or governors of the King of England, to take possession of whatsoever 

 towns, camps, or islands they might discover and be in a position to capture 

 and occupy. They were to give the king a fifth part of all merchandise, profits, 

 etc., of this voyage, or of each voyage, as often as they came to Bristol, to 

 which port alone they were bound to return. They were exempted from all 

 duty on goods they might bring from newly discovered lands, and were given 

 a monopoly of all trade and traffic with them. Furthermore, all English sub- 

 jects, both by land and sea, were ordered to afford the said John, his sons, 

 heirs, and assigns, good assistance, " both in fitting-out their ships or vessels, 

 and in supplying them with provisions which were paid for with their own 

 money." 



As the south is not mentioned among the regions which 

 might be explored, and as the new countries might not be 

 known to Christians, it is clear that Cabot is here enjoined 

 not to frequent those waters where the Spaniards and Portu- 

 guese had just made their most important discoveries, and 



his father to his personal advantage, then, no doubt, if he profited by it, he 

 could also sacrifice his birthright in the plan to the advantage of Spain, in the 

 service of which country he then was. Furthermore, Ayala's letter, quoted 

 above, points to John Cabot having got expeditions sent out from Bristol as 

 early as 1491 to look for land in the west, and besides this we know of such 

 an expedition in 1480. 



1 They are dated March 5, in the eleventh year of the reign of Henry VII. 

 The eleventh year of Henry VII. was from August 22, 1495, to August 21, 1496. 



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