to Newfoundland had been robbed of the terrors of the
unknown, it was not regarded as difficult. With strong
east winds a ship of the sixteenth century could make
the run from Bristol or St Malo to the Grand Banks in
less than twenty days. Once a ship was on the Banks, the
fish were found in an abundance utterly unknown in European
waters, and the ships usually returned home with great
cargoes. During the early years of the sixteenth century
English, French, and Portuguese fishermen went from Europe
to the Banks in great numbers. They landed at various
points in Newfoundland and Cape Breton, and became well
acquainted with the outline of the coast. It was no
surprise to Jacques Cartier, for instance, on his first
voyage, to find a French fishing vessel lying off the
north shore of the Gulf of St Lawrence. But these fishing
crews thought nothing of exploration. The harvest of the
sea was their sole care, and beyond landing to cure fish
and to obtain wood and water they did nothing to claim
or conquer the land.

There were, however, efforts from time to time to follow
up the discoveries of the Cabots. The merchants of Bristol
do not seem to have been disappointed with the result of
the Cabot enterprises, for as early as in 1501 they sent
out a new expedition across the Atlantic. The sanction
of the king was again invoked, and Henry VII granted
letters patent to three men of Bristol--Richard Warde,
Thomas Ashehurst, and John Thomas--to explore the western
seas. These names have a homely English sound; but
associated with them were three Portuguese--John Gonzales,