struck out the whole of the passage quoted. The reader will smile at the indolent credulity of the following sentence: "If any attempt had been made in consequence of this Patent, it would not have escaped the knowledge of a compiler so industrious and inquisitive as Hakluyt." We have just seen, that the writer on whose accuracy and research Dr. Robertson relies so implicitly as to waive any examination for himself, has contrived, by a nefarious perversion, to obscure the very fact in question.

The real character of Henry VII. seems to have been that of a thrifty, calculating, man of business. Caring little about the niceties of the point of honour, he was inclined to submit to many slights, and some injustice, rather than go to War, which he shunned as the same prudent personage would, in private life, have deprecated a lawsuit, as a remedy involving, necessarily, much trouble and expense, and being, at last, of uncertain issue. He often obtained by negotiation what a more proud and impetuous spirit would have vindicated by the sword. But whereever the obvious interests of the country, or of his own coffers, were concerned, he was sturdy, persevering, fearless. The influence of his reign on the commercial history of England has never been adequately appreciated, because no one, since the time of Bacon, has taken up the subject in a temper to do him justice. There is nothing in his character to dazzle or excite, and Treaties of Commerce are a poor substitute for Battles to the light reader or brilliant historian.

In reference to the projects under consideration, it is plain that Henry did not, for one moment, suffer the Pope's Bull, or the remonstrances of Spain, to interfere with the eager and resolute pursuit of what seemed a profitable speculation. But when he found that the only quarter of the new world which remained unoccupied held out no prospect of speedy or rich returns, and that the prosecution of these enterprises, instead of proving a mine of wealth, only, perhaps, furnished an appeal to his princely generosity for

pecuniary aid, his interest naturally languished.* The Foreigners who had resorted to his Court were obliged to seek, elsewhere, for Patrons either more ambitious of the mere glory of discovery or more longsighted, in looking patiently to ultimate, though tardy, results. John Gunsolus, is doubtless the "Juan Gonzales, Portugais," whose name appears as a witness in the celebrated trial of the Fiscal with Diego Columbus, (Navarette, Viages, tom. iii. p. 553.) Of his own fair standing some proof is, perhaps, found in his being called on to testify to the estimation in which Alonzo Pinzon was held by the seamen of that period, (Ib. p. 569.) He mentions his having sailed with Diego de Lepe, and probably proceeded to England about the date (May, 1500) of the letter of the King and Queen of Spain to Dorvelos, which Navarette (tom. iii. p. 42) refers to a project on the part of Spain to follow up the discoveries of Cabot. Lepe himself, after his return, is found in the November of the same year at Palos, entangled in some vexatious law proceedings, (Navarette, tom. iii. p. 80.)

Repeated reference is found in Herrera to John and Francis Gonçalez, but as there are several individuals thus designated it is impossible to know what incidents to refer to the English pa

tentees.

* That an intercourse was kept up for several years with the newly-discovered region, is apparent from the following entries in the account of the Privy Purse Expenses of Henry VII.

"17 November, 1503. To one that brought hawkes from the Newfounded Island, 17.

"8 April, 1504. To a preste [priest] that goeth to the new Islande, 21. "25 August, 1505. To Clays going to Richmount with wylde catts and popyngays of the Newfound Island, for his costs, 138. 4d.

66

To Portugales [Portuguese] that brought popyngais and catts of the mountaigne with other stuff to the King's grace, 57.”

Can it have been that Sebastian Cabot, meanwhile, was attempting to colonize the new region? The Mission of the Priest would seem to countenance the idea of a settlement; and we might thus account for the long disappearance of our Navigator, as well as for the language of Thevet, (see p. 89 of the present volume.)

CHAP. II.

FIRST VISIT OF COLUMBUS TO TERRA FIRMA ON HIS THIRD VOYAGE-APPRISED BEFORE LEAVING SPAIN OF CABOT'S DISCOVERIES-PROJECTED EXPE

DITION TO THE NORTH FROM SPAIN.

IT cannot be supposed that the two great maritime contemporaries of Henry, would regard with indifference the enterprise of Cabot, since the "Card," which that navigator exhibited on his return, according to Lord Bacon, plainly shewed how little respect was paid to the arrogant meridian line which had received the highest ecclesiastical sanction.

The Continent of America was first visited by Columbus in August 1498, in the course of what is called his Third Voyage, on which he sailed 30 May 1498. The bare mention of these dates will establish the impossibility that he could have been ignorant of the great discoveries of Cabot which, commencing at the point seen on the 24 June 1497, had extended over the "Londe and Isle," recited in the second patent. Not only had the first expedition returned, and the mariners been dispersed in every direction, but a new expedition, with the King at its head, is subsequently planned, and the royal authority, of 3rd February 1498, for its sailing precedes, by nearly four months, the departure of Columbus. To suppose him ignorant of events so momentous would involve an absurdity which becomes the more glaring in proportion as the circumstances are considered. The court of Henry VII. was filled with the agents of foreign powers,* through whom the news would

* "It grew also from the airs which the princes and states abroad received from their ambassadors and agents here; which were attending the court in great number," &c. "So that they did write over to their superiors in high terms concerning his wisdom and art of rule; nay, when they were returned, they did commonly maintain intelligence with him." Bacon's Henry VII.

not fail to be spread, at once, over Europe. With regard to Spain, as she would feel the deepest interest on the subject, so the circumstances are strongest to shew a continued communication between the two countries. The authority in reference to the proposed marriage of Prince Arthur with Catharine, bears date 3rd January, 1496, and the negotiation runs through the whole of the period to 14th November, 1501, when the ceremony took place. It was by the intervention of the resident Spanish Ambassador, Don Pedro d'Ayola, that the Truce between England and Scotland of 30 September, 1497, was brought about, and certain matters being left to the arbitrament of Ferdinand and Isabella, Henry's assent to the reference bears date 13 December, 1497.* That d'Ayola, in the active communications going on at such a period, omitted to speak of events so memorable in themselves, and which Spain must have regarded with such especial interest, is a proposition that it is superfluous to combat.

A project was soon formed to visit the region actually explored by Cabot. Navarette (viages, tom. iii. p. 77) gives us a letter dated Seville, 6th May 1500, from the king and queen to a certain "Juan Dornelos ó Dorvelos," touching a voyage of discovery, and supposes (ib. p. 42) that it had for its object to explore the seas, from the discovery of which Sebastian Cabot had returned, (“que el plan dirigiese á renoncer los mares que acababa de descubrir Sebastian Caboto.") Nothing further appears with regard to it.

* Rymer, vol. xii. p. 672.

CHAP. III.

EXPEDITION FROM PORTUGAL-CORTEREAL-THE WORK ENTITLED PAESI NOVAMENTE RITROVATI," &c.-LETTER OF THE VENETIAN AMBASSADOR AT LISBON ELEVEN DAYS AFTER THE RETURN OF CORTEREAL-REFERENCE TO THE PREVIOUS VOYAGE OF CABOT-TRINKETS FOUND AMONGST THE NATIVES TRANSLATION OF THE

PAESI," &C. IN 1516.

THE Voyage from Spain may not have taken place, but in another quarter a more decided result was produced; and we reach now an enterprise of some celebrity, undertaken directly from that country whose adventurers have been traced to England animated with the hope of turning to account the discoveries of Cabot.

the

After the recent shame to Portugal of the rejection of Columbus, her enterprising and sagacious monarch could not but take alarm at the departure of his subjects to seek the shelter, and to advance the glory, of a foreign flag. He had, moreover, strongest motives of interest for wishing to anticipate the efforts of others to reach by a shorter route those regions of which he had heretofore monopolised the lucrative and envied commerce. Nor could the attempt be now deemed a very arduous one. The dispersion of a force of three hundred men, which, according to Peter Martyr, accompanied Cabot on the voyage spoken of by that historian, would leave not a single sea-port without many mariners eager to describe, and to exaggerate, the wonders of the region they had visited, and anxious, as well as competent, to act as guides in the prosecution of a new enterprise. We are quite prepared, therefore, to believe that the ready assent, and liberal countenance, of Emanuel might enable those who enjoyed them to get the start of such of his own subjects as had, perhaps, earlier conceived the project and repaired to England,