found a ready hearing. Cabot was soon brought to the
notice of his august majesty Henry VII of England. The
king had been shortsighted enough to reject overtures
made to him by Bartholomew Columbus, brother of Christopher,
and no doubt he regretted his mistake. Now he was eager
enough to act as the patron of a new voyage. Accordingly,
on March 5, 1496, he granted a royal licence in the form
of what was called Letters Patent, authorizing John Cabot
and his sons Lewis, Sebastian and Sancius to make a voyage
of discovery in the name of the king of England. The
Cabots were to sail 'with five ships or vessels of whatever
burden or quality soever they be, and with as many marines
or men as they will have with them in the said ships upon
their own proper costs and charges.' It will be seen that
Henry VII, the most parsimonious of kings, had no mind
to pay the expense of the voyage. The expedition was 'to
seek out, discover and find whatsoever islands, countries,
regions and provinces of the heathens or infidels, in
whatever part of the world they be, which before this
time have been unknown to all Christians.' It was to sail
only 'to the seas of the east and west and north,' for
the king did not wish to lay any claim to the lands
discovered by the Spaniards and Portuguese. The discoverers,
however, were to raise the English flag over any new
lands that they found, to conquer and possess them, and
to acquire 'for us dominion, title, and jurisdiction over
those towns, castles, islands, and mainlands so discovered.'
One-fifth of the profits from the anticipated voyages to
the new land was to fall to the king, but the Cabots were
to have a monopoly of trade, and Bristol was to enjoy