Cthachbr] TffE CABOTIAN DISCOVERY 281 



-claim to territoiy westward from the Atlantic coast was limited to the 

 middle of the Mississippi river. The claim of England was original title 

 by discovery long prior to French occupation. The claim of France was 

 •discovery of a limited coast, strengthened by explorations and settlements. 

 France ceded to England Acadie and all Canada. England ceded to 

 France all her possessions from the Mississippi to the Pacific ocean. Each 

 nation parted with something it believed it owned, and each nation 

 received something from a hand which it regarded as entitled to aflix the 

 seal of conveyance. 



"We have thus endeavoured to sketch the significance of discovery as 

 aifecting the title of the discoverer to territory in the new world. Mere 

 ■curiosity or antiquarian interest would not justif}^ me in preparing, or 

 you in listening to, a lecture on the first English westward voyages. The 

 owner of a manor, at least once in his life-time, draws forth the deeds of 

 his estate and studies with care the title they confer. You and I, — you 

 of Canada and I of the States, — are citizens and part owners of the fairest 

 domain on all the earth. When we study the fii'st westward sailings of 

 hardy English navigators we are only reading the title deeds to our own 

 beloved countries. 



It is an October day in London, in the year of our Lord one thousand 

 four hundred and ninety-seven. It is morning, but not yet noon. 

 Thames street, on the north side of the river, from which it takes its 

 name, is gay with throngs of slow promenaders and busy with swiftly 

 passing men who go about aftairs. They ])ass by the residences of the rich, 

 the houses of the prosperous merchants and of great lords, for we are on 

 the upper part of the street and beyond where Chaucer's father once had 

 his wine shop. Statel}^ barges move up and down the river, disdaining 

 on their way the innumerable smaller craft which contribute to the action 

 of the scene. On the broad way between the river and the part occupied 

 by the pedestrians are gayly dressed horsemen, knights, soldiers and 

 esquires, while now and then there passes a lady fair on a white palfrey. 

 The martial spirit is not abroad. Lancaster is king and he fights no more. 

 All who travel this London street to-day seem bright in colours and rich 

 in garments. These garments are made of the rainbow. Every hue that 

 ■cloth and light can assume attracts the eye. Scarlet, purple, Lincoln 

 green, Coventry blue, glittering cloth of gold, flash in and out of the throng 

 like threads in a variegated garment. It already is twenty years and 

 more since Parliament was petitioned against the inordinate display of 

 apparel by men and women, but the matter has grown worse and nothing 

 better. Laws have been made providing dress for degrees and stations. 

 No knight, unless he be a lord of great degree, may wear a stomacher 

 worked in gold or sable, nor may purple cloth of silk cross his shoulders. 

 No girdle nor dagger can be worn save its wearer hath twenty pounds of 



