inquiry and admiration. John Cabot, a native of Venice, (at that time one
of the most flourishing commercial states of the world), resided at
Bristol in England, and, having heard of the territories in the west,
fitted out a ship at his own expence and steered to that quarter on a
voyage of discovery. Directing his course more to the northward, he was
equally successful, and, in the year 1494, discovered the island of
Newfoundland. He went ashore on another island, which he called St.
John's, because discovered on the festival of St. John the Baptist. Here
he found inhabitants clothed with skins, who made use of darts, bows and
arrows, and had the address to persuade some of them to sail with him to
England. On his return to Bristol he was knighted by the king, and
reported that the land appeared rocky and barren, but that the sea
abounded with fish of various kinds.

King Henry was no sooner made acquainted with the success of John Cabot,
than he gave an invitation to mariners of character and ability to enter
his service, for the purpose of attempting further discoveries. Cabot
declared, he doubted not to make discoveries for him equally honourable
and advantageous as those Columbus had made for Ferdinand and Isabella.
Accordingly, terms were proposed and agreed on between them. "Henry, in
the eleventh year of his reign, gave a commission to John Cabot and his
three sons, Sebastian, Lewis, and Sancius, and their heirs, allowing them
full power to sail to all countries and seas of the east, west, and
north, under English colours, with five ships of such burden and force as
they should think proper, and with as many mariners as they should chuse
to take on their own cost and charges, to seek out and discover all the
isles, countries, regions and provinces of heathens and infidels they
could find, which to all Christians before that time had remained
unknown." In these letters-patent though it appears that Henry granted
them a right to occupy and possess such lands and countries as they