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Primary Source 5.6

CABOT’S OF NORTH AMERICA1

The Age of was driven by a lust for spices and products of the East. Additionally, Europeans desired to know what the rest of the world contained. Advances in naval technology as well as a growing familiarity with trade winds and currents allowed seafarers from prominent countries such as Portugal, , and Spain to sail literally into the unknown. Firearms were first added onto an English ship in 1337. From that point onward, ships became increasingly well-armed fortresses. Portugal became the first naval power. Explorers such as and Vasco da Gama took to the , and in turn, earned their place in history. John Cabot (c. 1450–c. 1499), a Venetian explorer, sought a around the . Instead, in 1497 he discovered (though, like Columbus, he imagined that he had in fact landed in Asia). He named many islands and capes on the coastline of . The following passage is a letter from Raimondo de Soncino to his employer, Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, regarding Cabot’s travels. His landfall on the coast of North America opened a new sphere of English influence. Click here for the larger text from which the passage is excerpted.

Perhaps your Excellency, in the press of so much business, will not be disturbed to learn that his Majesty [Henry VII.2] has gained a part of Asia3 without a stroke of the sword. In this Kingdom is a popular Venetian called Messer Joanne Cabot, a man of considerable ability, most skillful in navigation, who having seen the most serene Kings, first him of Portugal, then him of Spain, that they had occupied unknown islands, thought to make a similar acquisition for his Majesty [Henry VII.]. And having obtained the royal privileges which gave him the use of the land found by him, provided the right of possession was reserved to the Crown, he departed in a little ship from the port of , in the western part of this kingdom, with eighteen persons, who placed their fortunes with him. Passing Ireland more to the west, and then ascending towards the north, he began to navigate the eastern part of the ocean. Leaving, for some days, the north to the right hand, and having wandered enough, he came at last to main land, where he planted the royal banner, took possession for his Highness [Henry VII.], made certain marks and returned. The said Messer Joanne, as he is a foreigner and poor, would not be believed, if his partners, who are all Englishmen, and from Bristol, did not testify to the truth of what he tells. This Messer Joanne has the representation of the world on a map, and also on a globe, which he has made, and he shows by them where he arrived, and going towards the East, has passed much of the country of Tanais.4 And they say that the land is fertile and temperate, and think that the red wood grows there, and the silks, and they affirm that there the is full of fish that can be taken not only with nets, but with fishing-baskets, a stone being placed in

1 G.E. Weare, Cabot’s Discovery of North America (London: John MacQueen, 1897), 147-150. 2 King of in 1509–1547. 3 Of course, not Asia, but North America. 4 Northeastern part of Asia. 2 the basket to sink it in the water, and this, as I have said, is told me by the said Messer Joanne. And the said Englishmen, his partners, say that they can bring so many fish that this kingdom will have no more business with Islanda ()