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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].

"M 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.

letters-patent for the discovery of hitherto unknown lands. Having regard to its great historical importance, it has been thought desirable to give it first in the exact words, and then in a translation:

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B Omibz ad quos ti sattm Notum sit t manifestum qd dedim t concessim ac p ẞsentes dam t concedim p nobt heredibz ñris dilcis nob Johi Cabotto Cui Venecia ac Ludouico Sebestiano t Sancto filiis dci Johist eoz ac cuiusft eoz heredibz t deputatis plenam ac libam auctoritatem facultatem t potestatem nauigandi ad omes partes regiones t sinus maris Orientalis occidentalist Septemtrionalis sub banneriis vexillist insigniis ñris cum quinq nauibz siue nauigiis cuiuscumq, portiture t qualitatis existant t cum tot t tantis nautis t hoibz quot t quantis in deis nauibz secum duce voluint suis t eoz ppriis sumptibz t expensis ad inueniend discooperiend t inuestigand quascumq Insulas prias regiones siue puincias gentiliū t infideliu quocumq in quacumq, parte mundi positas que xpianis omibz ante hec tempora fuerunt incognite. Concessim eciam eisden teoz cuitt eoz q, cuiusit eoz heredibz t deputatis ac licenciam dedim affigendi Pdcas bannerias ñrast insignia in quacumq, villa oppido Castro Insula seu tra firma a se nouit inuentis et qd nõiati Joħest filii eiusdem seu heredes teozdem deputati quascumq, huiusmodi villas Castra Oppida t Insulas a se inuentas que subiugari occuparit possideri possint subiugare occuparet possidere valeant tanq"m vasalli ñrit Gubnatores locatenentes t deputati eazdem đnium titulum t iurisdiccoem eozdem villaz Castroz Oppido Insula ac tre firme sic inuento no₺ acquirendo Ita tame vt ex omibz fructibz pficuis

emolumentis cōmodis lucris t obuencõibz ex huiusmodi nauigacõe puenientibz Pfati Johest filii ac heredes t eoz deputati teneant t sint obligati no₺ p omi viagio suo tociens quociens ad portum ñrm Bristrollie applicuerint ad quem omino applicare teneant' t sint astricti deductis omibz sumptibz t impensis necessariis p eosdem factis quintam partem tocius capitalis lucri sui fci siue in mcibz siue in pecuniis psolue dantes nos t concedentes eisdem suisq3 heredibz t deputatis vt ab omi solucõe custumaş õim t singulos bonoz ac mciū quas secum reportarint ab illis locis sic nouit inuentis libi sint t Immunes. Et insup dedim t concessim eisdem ac suis heredibz t deputates qd tre omes firme Insule ville Oppida Castra loca quecumq, a se inuenta quotquot ab eis inuenire contigit non possint ab aliis quibusuis ñris subditis frequentari seu visitari absq, licencia pdcoz Johist eius filio suoz q deputator sub pena amissionis tam nauiu siue nauigioz qum bonoz õim quozqumq, ad ea loca sic inuenta nauigare psumenciu volentes t strictissime mandantes omibz t singlis ñris subditis tam in tra q'm in mare constitutis vt ẞfato Joħi t eius filiis ac deputatis bonam assistenciam faciant t tam marinandis nauibz seu nauigiis q'm in puisione metal t victualiu p sua pecunia emendoz atq, aliaz õim rez si puidend p dča nauigacõe sumend suos omes fauores t auxilis imparciant In cuius tc."

[TRANSLATION]

"The king, etc., to all to whom these presents shall come, greeting:

"Let it be known and made manifest that we

have given and conceded, and by these presents do give and concede, for us and our heirs, to our wellbeloved John Cabot, citizen of Venice, and to Lewis, Sebastian, and Sanctus, sons of the said John, and to the heirs and assigns of them, and to the heirs and assigns of each of them and their deputies, full and free authority, faculty and power of navigating to all parts, countries, and seas of the east, west, and north,1 under our banners, flags, and ensigns, with five ships or vessels of what burden or quality soever they be, and with as many mariners or men as they will have with them in the said ships, upon their own proper costs and charges; to seek out, discover, and find whatsoever islands, countries, regions, or provinces of the heathens or infidels, in whatever part of the world they be, which before this time have been unknown to all Christians.

"We also concede to them and each of them, and to their heirs and assigns, and their deputies, and we give licence to fly the said our banners and ensigns on whatever towns, cities, camps, islands, or mainlands may be newly found by them.

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And the before-named John and his sons, their heirs and assigns, may occupy and possess whatever towns, camps, cities, or islands may be discovered by them; that they may be able to conquer, occupy, and possess, as our vassals and governors, lieutenants or deputies, acquiring for us the dominion, title, and

1 It should be borne in mind, when we come to consider the northerly and westerly courses taken by Cabot, that he and the King of England also knew that both the Spanish and Portuguese ambassadors would be watching every detail of his voyage with the greatest interest. The southern seas, in which each of those powers had long since acquired the right to certain possessions by their occupation thereof, were, therefore, expressly excluded when this charter was drawn up.