290 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



cesco, under date of August 23, 1497. In it he announces the return of 

 the expedition and gives us the first tidings of its discoveries : 



"The Venetian, our countryman, who went with a ship from Bristol 

 in quest of new islands, is returned, and says that 700 leagues hence he 

 discovered land, the territory of the Grand Cham (Gram Cam). He 

 coasted for 300 leagues and landed; saw no human beings, but he had 

 brought hither to the king certain snares which had been set to catch 

 game, and a needle for making nets ; he also found some felled trees, 

 wherefore he supposed there were inhabitants, and returned to his ship 

 in perplexitj'^. 



" He was three months on the voyage, and on his return he saw two 

 islands to starboard, but would not land, time being precious, as he was 

 short of provisions. He says that the tides are slack and do not flow as 

 they do here. The King of England is much pleased with this intel- 

 ligence. 



" The king has promised that in the spring our countryman shall 

 have ten ships, armed to his order, and at his request has conceded him 

 all the prisoners, except such as are confined for high treason, to man his 

 fleet. The king has also given him money wherewith to amuse himself 

 till then, and he is now at Bristol with his wife, who is also a Yenetian, 

 and with his sons ; his name is Juan Cabot, and he is styled ihe great 

 admiral. Vast honour is paid him ; he dresses in silk, and these English 

 run after him like mad people, so that he can enlist as manj^ of them as 

 he pleases, and a number of our own rogues besides. 



'•The discoverer of these places planted on his newfound land a 

 large cross, with one flag of England and another of St. Mark, by reason 

 of his being a Venetian, so that our banner has floated veiy far afield." 



At the same time there was in London, as an ambassador from 

 Ludovico Sforza, called the Moor, the usurping Duke of Milan, whose 

 evil fortune was soon to turn over his kingdom for a few years to the 

 French crown, a certain Kaimondo di Soncino. He was a faithful ser- 

 vant and correspondent, and kept his master well informed on passing 

 events in England. He wrote a letter on August 2-1, 1497, the very day 

 after Pasqualigo wrote to his brother. 1 quote a passage from this : 



" Also some months ago his majesty sent out a Venetian, who is a 

 very good mariner, and has good skill in discovering new islands, and he 

 has returned safe, and has found two very large and fertile new islands ; 

 having likewise discovered the seven cities, 400 leagues from England, on 

 the western passage. This next spring his majesty means to send him 

 with fifteen or twenty ships." 



This letter is followed Avith one dated December 14. 1497, which is 

 of even more importance : 

 " Most Illustrious and Excellent M}' Lord : 



"Perhaps among your excellency's many occupations, it may not 

 displease you to learn how his majesty here has won a part of Asia with- 



