veries. Proposals of colonization were urged, on the clearness of the Title thus acquired, and the shame of abandoning it. The English Language would probably be spoken in no part of America but for Sebastian Cabot. The Commerce of England and her Navy are admitted to have been deeply-incalculably—his debtors. Yet there is reason to fear that in his extreme age the allowance which had been solemnly granted to him for life was fraudulently broken in upon. His birth-place we have seen denied. His fame has been obscured by English writers, and every vile calumny against him eagerly adopted and circulated. All his own Maps and Discourses "drawn and written by himself" which it was hoped might come out in print, " because so worthy monuments should not be buried in perpetual oblivion," have been buried in perpetual oblivion. He gave a Continent to England: yet no one can point to the few feet of earth she has allowed him in return! BOOK II. CHAP. I. VOYAGES SUBSEQUENT TO THE DISCOVERY BY CABOT-PATENT OF 19TH MARCH MISCONCEPTIONS-PROBABLE ABANDONMENT OF THE ENTERPRISE. It is now proposed to pass in review the efforts which have been made at different periods, and under various auspices, to follow up the project of Cabot, so as far as may be necessary to exhibit the pervading influence of the original enterprise. This part of the subject has in it little of an attractive, or popular, character; yet the close and minute enquiry which it involves will, it is hoped, be sufficiently relieved by its high purpose of rendering an act of tardy justice to the fame of this great seaman. The same ignorance, or malevolence, which has so long obscured the evidence of what he himself achieved, has been even yet more successful in effecting its object by an absurd exaggeration of the merit of subsequent navigators. Attention is naturally turned, in the first place, to the country in which the scheme had its origin; and here we recognize distinctly the quickening impulse of its partial success, though ren dered unavailing by accidental causes. The page of Lord Bacon which states the public exhibition by Cabot, on his return, of a "Card," shewing his progress to 67° and-a-half, apprises us that "again in the sixteenth year of his reign, and likewise in the eighteenth, the King granted new commissions for the discovery and investing of unknown lands." Singular as it may appear, the first of these interesting and curious documents has never yet been made public, and the reference to it in a subsequent paper printed by Rymer, (vol. xiii. p. 42,) has a mistake as to the date. After a tedious search at the Rolls Chapel, it has at length been discovered, and though, from unpardonable carelessness, a part of it has become illegible, yet no material portion is lost. It was granted during the brief Chancellorship of the Bishop of Salisbury, and bears date 19th March, in the 16th year of Henry VII. (19th March 1501,) and is in favour of Richard Warde, Thomas Ashehurst, and John Thomas, "Merchants of the Towne of Brystowe," and John Fernandus, Francis Fernandus and John Gunsolus, "borne in the Isle of Surrys, under the obeisance of the Kyng of Portugale." The following are its leading provisions. Authority is given to these persons, their heirs, factors and deputies, to sail to and explore, at their own expense, all Islands, Countries, regions, and provinces whatever, in the Eastern, Western, Southern, and Northern Seas heretofore unknown to Christians, and to set up the Royal Banner in such places as they may discover, and to subdue and take possession of the same in the name of the King of England. They are permitted to employ as many vessels as they may think proper, and of any burden. The King's subjects, male and female, are permitted to go to and inhabit the regions which may be discovered, to take with them their vessels, servants, and property of every description, and to dwell there under the protection and government of the patentees who are empowered to frame Laws and to enforce their execution. Theft, homicide, robbery, and violation of the female natives of the newly-discovered countries, are specially recited as offences to be provided against. The exclusive privilege of trading to the newly-discovered countries is secured to the Patentees for ten years; and they may import thence gold, silver, precious stones, and all other products. in In special consideration of the great expense attending the enterprise, they are authorised to import for the term of four years one vessel of any burden, all articles duty-free; but a proviso is eagerly added that this shall not affect the claim to duties on articles imported in other vessels. All persons presuming to visit the newly-discovered regions without permission of the Patentees, even though subjects of a power in friendship and alliance with England, may be treated as enemies, and expelled, or imprisoned and punished at the discretion of the Patentees. They may appoint deputies for the government of all cities, towns, and other places, in the countries discovered. The office of King's Admiral in those regions is conferred on them, and the survivors and survivor of them. Lands are to be held by them, their heirs and assigns, by fealty only, without further or other claim or demand on the part of the King or his heirs. The next clause forbids any interference with the Patentees by any foreigner under any grant before made, or which should afterwards be made, under the Great Seal. The writing on the original parchment is then carefully erased from a considerable space which had been occupied, as we may conjecture, with the case of Cabot. The three Portuguese are made denizens; yet even this act of grace is coupled with a qualification strikingly characteristic of the Monarch whose sign manual is affixed to the instrument. It is provided that they shall continue liable to pay duties as aliens on all merchandise exported or imported !* * As this document has not heretofore been made public, it is given at large in the Appendix (D). |