became an accomplished fact. Very slowly, however, did progress extend its influences; prejudice, which is ever difficult to conquer, is both blind and deaf when any attempt is made to disturb existing and implicit ideas; the vast majority of mankind in all countries and in all ages afford no active sympathy with originality of thought, and rarely, if ever, lend a helping hand to seekers after truth. Gradually, notwithstanding all obstructions, whether natural or artificial, the imperturbable march of progress acted upon the common mind, and men were imperceptibly drawn towards fact instead of myth, one of the many results of recognising the necessity of searching for a higher knowledge. After a time sound views commenced to supplant some of the dogmatic subtleties of theology, and much of the darkness which had long enveloped men's vision began to disperse. Then England, which, owing probably to her insular position, had remained in the rear of intellectual activity, came under the influence and the awakening power of the new learning. Thus the common mind was opened and enlarged, and prepared for the investigation of new hypotheses, and for the reception of new truths; and eventually the eyes of all men were turned towards the Western Ocean with one common object in view, namely, the discovery of lands beyond the horizon. And herein, as in other matters, it was the unexpected that happened.

Never, perhaps, in the history of the deeds most pregnant for humanity, has it happened that an achievement like Cabot's has been relegated to comparative obscurity for several centuries. When we consider

The

the surpassing results and the wide-spreading consequences of Cabot's discovery, we cannot be surprised at the pride which every citizen of Bristol feels in the fact that Bristol sent the Genoese forth on his perilous enterprise. There cannot be a doubt that Bristol townsmen were the principals who supplied the means for the hazardous undertaking. Bristol men who accompanied Cabot were described in a letter, written after the result of the voyage had become known, as "great mariners that now know where to go" (infra, p. 150); and this tells us plainly that some of them, at least, were men of great nautical intelligence. We find, moreover, that they had "placed their fortunes1 with him" [i.e. with Cabot] (infra, p. 148). Their share in the arduous undertaking cannot be overrated, and to their courage and devotion we should render unstinted praise. It must, therefore, be a source of unalloyed satisfaction to the citizens of Bristol to know that their townsmen in the reign of Henry the Seventh were among the pioneers in the desire for discovery, which was one of the first-fruits of the Renaissance; that the enterprise of the men of the period had made their town and port a formidable rival to London; and that the adventurous spirit, which was so characteristic of the age, culminated in a suitable and appropriate triumph when land was first sighted from the deck of the little Matthew, and the continent of North America was first revealed to Europeans. And further, from distant climes the thoughts of men will be turned towards Bristol, in kindly sympathy with the efforts of the citizens to

1 This might mean their chances of surviving the risks of the voyage.

suitably commemorate,1 in June 1897, the quatercentenary of an event in which Bristol played such an important part-alike conspicuous and honourable— which has been aptly described as "Bristol's greatest achievement." And in honouring the memory of the worthy John Cabot, they will pass at the same time a well-deserved tribute of gratitude and respect to the zeal, courage, and perseverance of their own folk of the fifteenth century. At the same time, a famous exploit which forms a grand feature in one of the most important epochs of the world's history, cannot be treated as a merely local episode; it is an event of national and international importance.

1 The commemoration will be celebrated at Bristol by the erection on the summit of Brandon Hill of a square tower adapted from a wellknown example in the Department of the Loire in France. At the stages of the balconies there will be arched openings which will form "look-outs." The floor of the upper balcony will be 75 feet from the base, and an octagonal addition of 30 feet will make the total height about 105 feet. At the base provision will be made for the insertion of panels with bronze bas-reliefs. It is intended that suitable inscriptions will be made, one of which will be fitted in by Americans residing in England, and another by the Peace Society.

CHAPTER III

THE petition to King Henry VII. asking him to grant letters-patent unto John Cabot and his three sons "to seek out, discover, and find whatsoever islands, countries, regions, or provinces of the Heathens and Infidels, in whatsoever part of the world they be, which before this time have been unknown to all Christians," is, so far as we know up to the present time, the earliest document which in any way relates to the discovery of North America by John Cabot.

[COPY PETITION]

"To the Kyng our souvereigne lord,

"Please it your highnes of your most noble and haboundant grace to graunt vnto John Cabotto Citizen of Venes [Venice], Lewes Sebastyan and Sancto his sonnys your gracious letters-patentes vnder your grete seale in due forme to be made according to the tenour hereafter ensuying. And they shall during their lyves pray to God for the prosperous continuance of your most noble and royall astate long to enduer."

The above very quaint petition, the original of which was written in English, has been slightly altered by the expansion of a few contracted words.

The petition bears no date, but from the following entry in the Roll of the Privy Seal for March, 2 Henry VII., it will be seen that it was delivered to the chancellor to be acted upon on the 5th of March [1496].

"Ma qd quinto die Marcii Anno fr Henr septimi vndecimo ista billa delibat fuit dno Canč Angt apud Westm exequend."

The letters-patent granted by King Henry VII. to John Cabot and his three sons, in accordance with the prayer of the petition, were witnessed "by the King at Westminster, on the 5th day of March, in the eleventh year of his reign." Henry VII. ascended the throne "by just title of inheritance, and by the sure judgment of God, who had given him the victory over his enemy in the field" on the 22nd of August 1485; consequently the eleventh regnal year commenced on the 22nd of August 1495,1 and ended on the 21st of August 1496. The date of the letters-patent is therefore the 5th March 1495-6.

A copy of the petition precedes the copy of the letters-patent in the Roll of the Privy Seal. The following is a copy of the king's grant of

1 There is a curious historical incident in connection with this date. Immediately after the king's accession to the throne he obtained from a servile Parliament authority to attaint a number of noblemen and gentlemen for being guilty of high treason, a conviction for which involved the confiscation of their estates to the king. He wanted money he was unscrupulous. None of the persons charged could possibly be convicted of the offence, having regard to the date of the king's accession. He therefore antedated his reign by one day, and the bills for attainder recited that "on the 21st day of August, the first year of the reign of our sovereign lord," certain persons did a certain act. The 21st of August was the eve of the battle of Bosworth, at which time the crown was on the head of Richard.