document relating to Cabot's annuity-Copy of another document

relating to the annuity-References to the Collectors of the King's

Customs at Bristol-References to the documents relating to the

voyages of 1497 and 1498, which have been found in the archives

of foreign countries-Copy letter written by Lorenzo Pasqualigo

-Copy despatch from Raimondo de Soncino-Copy of the second

despatch of Raimondo de Soncino-Dr. S. E. Dawson's allusion

to Soncino's despatches-Notes as to the second Cabotian voyage,

and the documents relating thereto-Entries of payments by the

King to Thirkill, Bradley, and Carter-Copy of John Cabot's

petition for the grant of Letters-patent-Copy (in English) of the

Letters-patent to John Cabot from the roll of the Privy Seals-

Copy (in Latin) of the same Letters-patent-Extract from a des-

patch from Dr. Puebla-Copy despatch from Pedro de Ayala—

Extract from an anonymous Chronicle-References to the fate

of Cabot and his Expedition-Tarducci's references to John

Cabot
pp. 123-166

CHAPTER V

Entries made by foreign Historians and Chroniclers as to the discovery

of the continent of North America—The account given by Pietro

Martire (Peter Martyr) of Anghiera-References to Richard Eden,

the translator and author-The facts relating to the dispute as to

the birthplace of Sebastian Cabot, and as to the comparative

agency of John and Sebastian Cabot in the work of discovery—

The words used by Marc-Antonio Contarini-The accounts of the

discovery given by Galvão, Gomara, and Ramusio respectively-

Peter Martyr's statement that some Spaniards had thrown doubt

on the generally accepted statement that Sebastian Cabot was the

discoverer of the region called Baccalaos-Statement made by the

Drapers Company as to Sebastian Cabot

CHAPTER VI

pp. 167-209

Proposals by Sebastian Cabot to King Henry VIII. for an Expedition
to "the newe found Iland"-References to Sebastian Cabot's
intrigues with Venice-The circumnavigation of the Globe by
the Expedition fitted out by Magellan-The Correspondence re-
lating to Sebastian's intrigue with the Council of Ten of Venice-
Sebastian's offer to enter the English service accepted in the year

1547-Sebastian returns to England-Grant of an annuity to

Sebastian-The intrigues of Sebastian in the year 1550 with the

Council of Ten of Venice

pp. 210-243

CHAPTER VII

Mr. Harrisse's references to the belief that Sebastian Cabot was the

discoverer of the north continent of America-Richard Hakluyt's

first publication in the year 1582-References to Hakluyt and his

works-References to a Chronicle in the Cottonian MSS. in the

British Museum, to the Fabyan MS. Chronicle, and to the work of

John Stow-Hakluyt's references to Sebastian Cabot-Notes by

Harrisse and Tarducci-Richard Biddle's work published in 1831-

Discovery of the so-called Sebastian Cabot's planisphere-References

to the inscriptions on the planisphere-Notes by Major, Harrisse,

d'Avezac, Kohl, Winsor, as to the map and its inscriptions-

Summary of the important questions raised in the course of the

discussion as to the genuineness of the map.

CHAPTER VIII

pp. 244-277

As to the landfall of John Cabot in 1497-Description of La Cosa's

Map constructed in the year 1500-Dr. Dawson's remarks as

to the identification of Cape Race with Cavo de Ynglaterra-

Report of the Canadian Committee as to the landfall-Mr. Henry

Harrisse's theory-Dr. S. E. Dawson's theory-Sir Clements

Markham's theory-The fate of John Cabot's Expedition of 1498

-The Cantino Map--The Quater-centenary Celebration in 1897

of John Cabot's great achievement

pp. 278-303

APPENDIX A-Plato's Story of the Lost Island of Atlantis pp. 305-326

APPENDIX B-The Latin Text of the Bull of Pope Alexander VI.,

dated the 4th day of May 1493

pp. 327-332

APPENDIX C-Account of the Collectors of the Bristol Customs

INDEX

pp. 333-336

pp. 337-343

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGES

CABOT DESCRIBING HIS DISCOVERY TO KING HENRY VII. [After an old engraving. Conjectural.]

Frontispiece

BEHEM'S TERRESTRIAL GLOBE (PART OF)

28-29

BRANDON HILL, WITH A VIEW OF THE AVON (BRISTOL)
RIVER (a section of an ancient map of Bristol)

56-57

TOSCANELLI'S MAP

80-81

ST. MARY REDCLIFF CHURCH, BRISTOL (NORTH VIEW)
[This Illustration is taken from a block kindly lent by Messrs. MACK
& Co. of Bristol.]

106-107

THE JAY BRASSES IN ST. MARY REDCLIFF CHURCH

108-109

THE PENN MEMORIAL IN ST. MARY REDCLIFF CHURCH

110-111

OLD BRISTOL BRIDGE (showing the Chapel of the Assumption of the B.V. Mary built across the Bridge, and "St. Nicholas's Gate," one of the city gates, with the Chancel of the Church of St. Nicholas over the gateway) .

132-133

THE NORTH AMERICAN PORTION OF THE SO-CALLED CABOT
MAPPEMONDE OF 1544

266-267

THE MATTHEW OF BRISTOL-REPRESENTED BY A SHIP OF
THE PERIOD-SAILING NEAR CAPE RACE

278-279

JUAN DE LA COSA'S MAP (A.D. 1500)

292-293

THE CANTINO MAP (A.D. 1502)

300-301

INTRODUCTION

If we desire to trace the history of the science and practice of navigation from the outset, it is necessary to go back to Phoenician and Egyptian sources. But, unfortunately, the paucity of authentic knowledge as to the Phoenician navigations leaves us no alternative but to pass on to some of the important events associated with the ancient Egyptians.

Among the important events in Egyptian navigation may be mentioned a large expedition which the Queen of Egypt (circa 1600 B.C.) equipped to the land known as Punt, of which there is a long and very interesting account given on the walls of the temple at Deir-el-Bahari. They seem to have got a little beyond Cape Guardafui. We are thus enabled to give some of the details of this early voyage of discovery. It is recorded that the queen was incited to undertake the expedition to "the unknown Balsam Land of Punt" by the oracle of the chief Theban god, Amon. This, however, was a pious fiction so far as it purports either directly or by inference-to be a revelation from the god as to the existence of a land hitherto unknown to the Egyptians. It seems clear that the early Egyptians had become acquainted with the distant "land of spices." There had been previous expeditions, which