PROCEEDINGS FOR 1897 CXXI 



Cabot's thoughts. He had found land at 46° 30', had skirted it north- 

 ward to the 52nd degree, and he had seen that it stretched still further 

 north. There must soon be an end to this land and then an open sea, 

 down which he could sail behind his new found land, until he had 

 reached the latitude of the coveted eastern isles. Eeasoning in this way, 

 John Cabot, first of all men, conceived and propounded the idea of a 

 short route to the east by a northwest passage. This is no mere imagin- 

 ing on our part ; we have the explicit testimony of da Soncino, to whom 

 Cabot made known his thoughts and aspirations. After having told us 

 about the location of the new islands, their fertility and the abundance 

 of fish in the surrounding waters, with which his English companions 

 appeared satisfied, Soncino adds : " But Mister John (Cabot) has set his 

 mind on greater things (therefore he had not yet attempted a northwest 

 passage), for he thinks that from that place already visited or occupied/ 

 he can coast along, getting more towards the East until he shall be 

 opposite to an island which he calls Cipango, lying in the equinoctial 

 circle, where he says all the spices and jewels of the world grow." He 

 affirms also (from what he had learned when at Mecca), that these 

 things came from the north towards the west. Hence, he went north, 

 not south. 



Years later Sebastian Cabot, as related by Ramusio — " Delia Navi- 

 gazioni et Viaggi," Vol. 1 — giving an account of this voyage to a Man- 

 tuan gentleman, said, " They steered to the northwest, thinking they 

 would not find land until they had reached Cathay." This throws light 

 on^nd explains the words of da Soncino. One small ship with eighteen 

 men composed the expedition of 1-497. But now that greater things 

 were aimed at, amongst others the founding of a colony, as both 

 •Gomara- and da Soncino^ testify, five or six ships, with three hundred 

 men, were deemed necessar3\ 



The letters patent of Henry YII. to John Cabot, his deputy, or 

 deputies, authorizing this expedition, are dated Srd February, l-lc'S, and 

 give power to take six p]nglish ships in any port, by paying duly for 

 them, and engaging such of his subjects as maj' choose to go to the 

 "Lande and lies of late founde." 



From the letter of the Spanish Prothonotary Aj-ala to his sovereign, 

 dated 25th July, l-4!'8, we know that John Cabot left England as com- 

 mander of this fleet ; that one ship was wrecked on the Irish coast, but 

 Cabot kept on his way. The exact date of departure is not material to 

 our purpose. In the account given by Sebastian Cabot to Ramusio's 

 unnamed informant, already cited, we are told that the expedition set 

 out in the beginning of the summer, and " steered northwest." This is 



1 da quelle loco occupato. 

 ^Historia General de las Indias. 

 * Appendix B. 



