284 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



latitude aud longitude of his ship ; the daily temperature of air and 

 water ; the drift of the ice and the force of the wind, and then he tells us 

 when he had tapioca pudding for dinner, and when the orchestrion 

 played the minuet from Don Juan. There are, however, a few contem- 

 poraneous documents which will throw some light on our inquiry. Per- 

 haps the most satisfactory method to follow will be to consider the 

 •evidence in its chronological order, reserving for ourselves the right to 

 turn aside, from time to time, and to venture into the fields of inference 

 and speculation. 



In the Pubhc Eecord office in London are two documents, the fii-st of 

 which reads : 



^' To the Kyng our Souvereigne lord, — 



" Please it your highness of your moste noble and haboundant grace 

 to graunt vnto lohn Cabotto, citezen of Venes, Lewes, Sebestyan and 

 ^ancto, his sonneys, your gracious lettres patentes vnder your grete scale 

 in due forme to be made according to the teneur hereafter ensuying. 

 And they shall during their lyves pray to God for the prosperous con- 

 tinuance of your moste noble and royale astate long to enduer." 



To which the king, the Seventh Henry, made answer : 



"Be it fenowne that we haue giuen and granted, and by these presents 

 •do giue and grant for vs and our heires, to our welbeloued lohn Cabot, 

 <îitizen of Venice, to Lewis, Sebastian, and Santius, sonnes of the said lohn, 

 and to the heires of them, and euery of them, and their deputies, full and 

 free authority, leaue, and power to saile to all parts, countries, and seas 

 of the east, of the west, and of the north, under our banners and ensignes, 

 with fine ships of what burthen or quantity soeuer they be, and as many 

 marines or men as they will haue with them in the sayd ships, vpon their 

 ^3wne proper costs and charges, to seeke out, discouer, and finde what- 

 soeuer isles, countries, regions or prouinces of the heathen and infidels 

 whatsoeuer they be and in what part of the world soeuer they be, which 

 before this time haue bene vnknowen to all Christians ; we haue granted 

 to them, and also to euery of them, the heires of them, and their depu- 

 ties, and haue given them licence to set vp our banners and ensignes in 

 <euery village, towne, castle, isle, or maine land of them newly found. 

 And that the aforesaid lohn and his sonnes, or their heires and assignes 

 may subdue, occupy îind possesse all such townes, cities, castles and isles 

 of them found, which they can subdue, occupy and possesse, as our 

 vassals, and lieutenants, getting vnto vsthe rule, title, and iurisdiction of 

 the same villages, townes, castles, and firme land so found. 



" Yet so that the aforesaid John, and his sonnes and heires, and their 

 •deputies, be holden and bounden of all the fruits, profits, gaines, and 



