A SHORT ACCOUNT 
 
 OF 
 
 THE CABOTS 
 
 AND THE 
 
 first Discovery of tlie Continent of America. 
 
 Compiled for the Cabot Celehmtiun Committee by WALTEli WILLIAM HUGHES, 
 Member of the lliistol Town Council. 
 
 Ilrinlol, sih March, ISU7. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Some few years a^'o John Taylor, the late City Librarian, thought some 
 public recognition should be made in Bristol of the discovery of the 
 continent of America by tlic Cabots, and was arranging for an iron tablet 
 to be placed on Bristol Bridge, under the auspices of the Clifton Antiquarian 
 Club. A more ornamental Bronze Tablet was afterwards agreed to, and 
 with the assistance of Mr. A. T. Martin, one of the masters of Clifton College 
 (the design and inscriptiol^ being approved by both the Club and the 
 Council), the tablet was fixed on St. Augustine's ]3ridge, being unveiled by 
 Mr. li. H. Symes, Mayor, on May 4th, 1894 ; Alderman F. J. Fry remark- 
 ing on that occasion that he hoped it would lead to the erection of a more 
 important memorial in the future. I do not know how long we should have 
 waited for this had IBristol been left to itself in the matter ; but the advent 
 of the Canadian deputation last year with the information that Canada had 
 determined to celebrate the 400th Anniversary roused our city at last, and 
 it seems now that a suitable monument will be erected here. 
 
 Richard Hakluyt, of Welsh extraction, born in or near London, 1558, 
 the historian of the early voyages to America, from whom we gain much 
 information respecting Cabot, first published a work, Touching the Diacoverie 
 of America, in 1582. In 1584 he obtained the grant of the next vacant 
 prebend at Bristol. In the spring of the following year, feeling anxious 
 about the reversion of the prebend, he again visited England and exhibited 
 in person on the 24tli May, 1585, before the Chapter of Bristol Cathedrali 
 
3 
 
 the Queen's mandate for the coveted vacancy already signed and Healed. 
 Before the close of the year the reversion fell to him, and in 1586 he wan 
 admitted to the prehend, which he held, with his other preferments, till the 
 time of his death in 1616. 
 
 This statement I have myself verified by a reference to the register of 
 prebendaries kept in the Chapter House of liristol Cathedral, by which it 
 appears that Eichnrd Hackluyt, A.M., was appointed prebendary in 1586 
 (no day or month mentioned), and his successor was appointed on December 
 4th, 1616, so that he hold the appointment for thirty years. His stall in 
 the Cathedral was No. 1, and is the same now held by Canon Ainger, Master 
 of the Temple. The Chapter Books of this period are supposed to have 
 been destroyed at the time of the Bristol riots. 
 
 THE DISCOVERY. 
 
 The close of the 15th century witnessed an unporalleled excitement in 
 England, and especially in Bristol (England's chief western port), whoso 
 citizens were strongly animated with the desire to rival and surpass the 
 Portuguese, Spanish, and other nations in maritime enterprise. The 
 Portuguese were constantly making fresh discoveries along the coasts of 
 Western Africa in the expectation (afterwards realised) of reaching India by 
 sea. It was also averred that the island of Madeira had been strangely 
 discovered by a native of Gloucestershire (Machamby name), who was driven 
 thither by a storm on his voyage to Spain. But what mysterious lands lay 
 beyond the Western Ocean ? Legends had been told that the Irish St. 
 Brendan (from whom Brandon Hill takes its name) had in the 6th century 
 sailed with twelve chosen monks, and reached a land of wondrous beauty 
 and fruitfulness, neither hot nor cold, and lit with eternal day. Also of 
 Madoc, a chieftain of Wales, that he had in tlie 12th century successfully 
 crossed the Atlantic and founded a Celtic colony in a W^estern World. The 
 hardy mariners and adventurous merchants of Bristol were determined to 
 unravel the mystery, and the first recorded attempt to do so was made in 
 the year 1480 (twelve years before the voyage of Columbus). In the chancel 
 of the cati edral of South Bristol, the beautiful church of St. Mary Redcliffe, 
 we may still see a well-preserved Brass inlaid with the effigies of John Jay and 
 his wife, with smaller figures of their family — six sons and eight daughters. 
 The wife was the sister of the celebrated William Wyrcestre (or Botoner), 
 the topographer of Bristol, who writes thus concerning the maritime adven- 
 tures of John Jay, junr., probably one of the sons depicted on the Brass : — 
 1480. — Extract from the Chronicle of William Wyrcestre (Boton-^r), himself 
 a native of Bristol. Translated from Latin : 
 
 "... in 1480, on July 15th, the ship of John Jay, the younger, of 80 
 tons, and another, began a voyage from Kingroad in search of the island of 
 Brasylle, to the west of Ireland, ploughing their way through the sea, that 
 Thomas Lyde, the most scientific mariner in all England, was the pilot, 
 that news came to Bristol on September 18th that the ships sailed about the 
 
sc 
 
 soil (luring nine months ('? weeks) and did not find the island, but driven by 
 toiii|i(,'st3 they returned to a port on the coast of Ireland for the repose of 
 thonisolves and the mariners." 
 
 1498. — Don Pedro do Ayala, the Spanish Envoy to England, writing to 
 his sovereigns, Ferdinand and Isabella, on July 25th, 149B, says : 
 
 " The men of liristol send out every year two, or three, or four light 
 caravolas in search of the island of Urasylle and the Seven Cities, according 
 to the fancy of that Italian Cabot, and tliis they have done for the last 
 seven years." 
 
 We may well foci proud of the Bristolians of that period, who were 
 uiulctcrred by repeated failures, but persevered unMl at last success crowned 
 their gallant efforts. When we think of the size of their vessels (mere 
 cockle-shells compared with the ships of the present day), and think of 
 their encountering the mighty waves and furious storms of the Atlantic, not 
 knowing what lay beyond, we cannot sufticiently admire or praise too nmch 
 the hardihood, spirit, and tenacity of purpose of those who marmed thorn. 
 Wc can picture the captain and crew at the end of each weary day thinking 
 of the possibilities of the morrow, and each morning scanning the distant 
 horizon in hopes of seeing the wished-for land ; and then, voyage after 
 voyage, having at last to turn back disappointed on their long homeward 
 way, no longer buoyed with hope, but bearing only a record of another failure. 
 
 It is thought that Columbus himself visited Bristol, and possibly in one 
 of Canynges' ships sailed to Iceland in 1477, where he probably heard of the 
 ancient Icelandic discoveries of Greenland and Vinland. 
 
 In 1492 the news came that Columbus had sighted the first western 
 land, and although this was only an island (St. Salvador or Watling Island 
 — one of the Bahamas), several other and larger islands, Cuba, Jamaica, etc., 
 were quickly discovered, and Bristol's enthusiasm for further discoveries 
 rose to fever height. 
 
 ^ According to Ayala' s letter (previously referred to) Giovanni Cabota (or 
 John Cabot) must have been in Bristol about the year 1491. In various 
 chronicles his name is spelt in no less than seventeen different ways. It is 
 uncertain whether he was a Genoese or a Venetian, though probably the 
 former : letters of naturalisation having been granted to him by the Senate 
 of Venice in 1476. He probably resided at Cathay, Redcliffe, at that time a 
 suburb of Bristol ; foreigners not being allowed to live within the walls of 
 the city. The enterprise of the Bristol merchants, Thorne, Elliott, and 
 others, enabled him to apply for and obtain a patent from Henry VII., 
 dated 5th March, 1496, authorising himself and his sons, Lewis, Sebastian, 
 and Sanctus, to seek and discover previously' unknown lands. 
 
 An ancient manuscript belonging to the Fust family, of Hill Court, 
 Gloucestershire, threw further light on the subject and the date of the 
 first expedition. Mr. William George, of this city, has himself seen this 
 manuscript, which was unfortunately destroyed in the fire at Mr. Kerslake's. 
 " This year, 1497, on St. John the Baptist's day, the land of America was 
 found by the merchants of Bristowe in a ship of Bristow called the Matthew ; 
 the which said ship departed from the port of Bristow the 2nd of May, and 
 
came home npain Otli AugUHt followiiifj." Wis can iinaj^ino tlio little sliip, 
 manned by only eighteen men, nearly all Jh-iHtolianH, dropping down tho 
 river very (luictly after the experienco of so many faihires ; but wlicii it 
 returned after the glorious discovery of the Nt ,v Found Ijand, witli wiiat joy 
 it must have been welcomed back again I The ship's course, instead of 
 following Cohnubus's more southern I'oute, had been boldly steered north- 
 ward, and land was in consequence reached in ii nnich shorter time. 
 A letter from Lorenzo Pasqualigo, an Italian, to his brother sa^s : 
 
 "The Venetian, our countryman, who went with a ship from Bristol in 
 quest of New Islands, is returned and says that seven hundred leagues 
 hence he discovered land, the territory of (lie Grand Cham. . . . His name 
 is Zuan Cabot. . . . Vast honour is paid him. . . . Tliese ]<lnglish run after 
 him like mad people, so that he can enlist as many of them as he pleases." 
 
 Some writers assert that this voyage was in 1494, as that date appears 
 in S. Cabot's map of 1544 : but this is prcjbahly oidy a clerical error ; the 
 first letter of VII not having been joined at the bottom, appeared as Wll. 
 
 It is highly probable that an 
 actual relic of this voyage, re- 
 sulting in the first discovery of 
 the co'.Linent of America, may 
 be seen by any visitor to the 
 church of St. Mary Kedcliffe. 
 On a corbel in a conspicuous 
 position may be seen the large 
 bone of a whale, which has been 
 for years past the subject of a 
 palpably absurd legend repre- 
 senting it to be the rib of the 
 "Dun Cow" which supphed the 
 builders with milk. 
 
 A record was however extant 
 in the year 1868, certified by Mr. 
 Tovey in a communication to the 
 Bristol Observer of that year, as 
 under : " 1497— Item. Paid for 
 settynge upp ye bone of ye bigge 
 fysheand . . . (writing illegible) 
 hys worke brote over seas, v'ul. 
 For two rings of iron iiijtZ." 
 
 Mr. Tovey was a great friend of 
 Mr. Garrard, the city treasurer 
 at that time, and both were well 
 
 known to many still living, who would receive their testimony with the 
 utmost confidence. And this record seems clearly to show that the bone 
 was placed in the church as a trophy and memorial of the discovery of the 
 New World across the seas. 
 
On 18th December, 1497, Henry VII. grants a pension of X20 per annnm: 
 " To our well beloved John Cabot an annuitie of X"20 out of the customs of 
 tlio port of IJristowe." 
 
 We are indebted to IJiddle, an American, who, after a fortnight's search 
 in the Kolls Chapel, found tlic nexb patent of llem-y VII. 1(K)S(! and 
 uiicatali)gued. It is dated Ilrd February, 1498, conlirming the discovery of 
 tliu " Lando and Isles," and granting fresh powers. 
 
 April 1st, 1498. " Two loans of £30 each to Thirkall and Bradly, and 
 II gratuity to John Carter for going to the New lie." 
 
 Tlic second expedition consisted of live vessels— one returning to Ireland 
 claniaged. A great nmny men appear to have gone with this fleet, some of 
 wlioni probably intended to settle in the New Land. A large extent of coast 
 lino appears to have been traversed ; but the expedition failed to realise tho 
 hopes of the adventurers, and the date of its retiu'ii is unknown. 
 
 I think we may be assured from the patents of 1497 and 1498 that John 
 Cabot couunanded the first expedition, and that his sons accompanied him. 
 He, therefore, is entitled to the honour of the first discovery of the Continent 
 of America. Whether he or Sebastian alone connnanded the second 
 expedition is a matter of doubt and controversy. But the importance- of 
 botli voyages cannot be overstated. 
 
 The name of John Cabot now disappears from history. 
 
 It is strange so little is known of John Cabot. Whether he died before or 
 after the second expedition, the probability is he died in Bristol, and that 
 liis unknown grave is within the precincts of St. Mary liedclifi'c. 
 
 A print of John Cabot and his three sons, from a painting in the Ducal 
 Palace, Venice, copied in 1763, has the following inscription upon it: 
 
 Translation : 
 
 " In the year 1496 Henry VII., King of England, appointed John Cabot 
 and Sebastian his son, astronomers and most skilful seamen his admirals, 
 by letters, ordering them to find a way by which they might shorten the 
 voyage to the East Indies by the far North. Though this hope was lost 
 to them, nevertheless by navigation [theyj discovered the New Land and 
 Cape Florida." 
 
 We have now to consider the celebrated map of Juan de la Cosa, a 
 Spaniard, one of the companions of Columbus. He made it in the year 
 inOO ; and on it appear on the coast-line of America points marked by 
 five English flags. Near the most southerly point is the inscription in 
 Spanish : " Sea discovered by the English," and the northern point is called 
 " Cape of England." This map from its date cannot refer to any other 
 discoveries than those of the Cabots. These were evidently acknowledged, 
 however unwilli igJy, by Spain, and this map is the first title-deed of 
 England's rights to that psirt of the new- found land of North America. 
 This map was taken away by the French during their occupation of Spain ; 
 but was afterwards found in Paris, and is now jealously guarded in Madrid. 
 
 The exact landfall or spot where the Cabots first landed cannot be abso- 
 lutely identified. Some authorities believe it to be the southern part of 
 
6 
 
 Labrador, and others the northern part of Nova Scotia in the neif,'hhot)rli()0(l 
 of Cape ]5reton, the 'Trinia Terra Vista" of Hebastian Cabot's map of l.'J44. 
 Scibastian Cabot now figures prominently in tlie history of the times, 
 in Sjjuin, Enghmd, and elsewhere. lie lived through several reigns, ami 
 attained a great age. lie was indeed a most remarkalilo man, full of 
 power, intelligence, and eeaselesa energy, and held in high estimation by the 
 nioiuirchs he served under both '.n Spain and England. He also attiiinod 
 great eminence as a cartographer and scientihc observer, especially with 
 regard to the variation of the mariner's needle. Very few uicu in history 
 have led such a varied and eventful life. 
 
 SEBASTIAN OAHOT's nillTHI'LACK. 
 
 It has hitherto been generally accepted that Sebastian Cabot was born 
 in Bristol, though of course, as his parents were Italians, it was quite natural 
 he should be claimed sometimes by their countrymen as one of themselves, 
 llichard Eden, the historian, who kn'jw him intimately, writes; " Sebastian 
 Cabot toulde me that he was borne in Brystowe, and that at iiij years old 
 he was carried with his father to Venice, and so returned agayne into England 
 with his father after certayne years, whereby he was thought to have been 
 born in Venice." This note was made by Eden in a translation of Peter 
 Martyr, by whom Sebastian Cabot was called a Venetian, and it was made 
 in correction of that statement. Ilarrisse, a writer of the present day (an 
 American living in Paris), thinks that oven this personal statement cannot be 
 relied on, as not only Peter Martyr but Ilamusio and Contarini (all Italians, 
 however) speak of him as Venetian born. Ramusio's evidence is, however, 
 only secondhand, as he says it was told him by some one else whose name 
 is unknown, but who is constantly referred to by Harrisse as the " Mantuan 
 gentleman." 
 
 I cannot help thinking the distinct testimony of Cabot himself, vouched 
 for by Eden, may fairly be accepted. Eden himself calls him that " goode 
 olde man " ; and Peter Martyr says : " Cabot is my very friende whom I use 
 famyliarly, and delyte to have him sometym.es keepe me company in myne 
 owne house." 
 
 Born of Venetian parents and Venetian born are easy transpositions, 
 and Italians may have readily fallen into the mistake. At this distance of 
 time I do not think it fair to assume that either of the narrators was 
 guilty of intentional misstatements. Sebastian Cabot is described as an 
 EngUshman in various English and Spanish records. 
 
 The subsequent events in Sebastian Cabot's life can only be noticed briefly. 
 
 Henry VII. was evidently disappointed by the account of the newly 
 discovered land, and England itself was in a very disturbed state. 
 
 1499.— Sebastian Cabot is said to have made a third voyage to America, 
 and brought home three natives ; but this does not appear authentic. 
 
 In 1501 a patent was granted to Richi'- Warde, Thomas Ashehurst, and 
 John Thomas, of Bristol, for another expedition ; and again in 1502 to the 
 same, with the addition of Hugh Elliott. No results axe on record. 
 
There is no further record of Sebastian (Jabot nntil 1512, when ho 
 entered tlio service of Spain ; and in a warrant of Ferdinand, King of 
 Arraf,'on (October 20th, 1512), appointiiit,' him naval captain, ho is distinctly 
 described as " Sebastian Caboto Ingles." 
 
 1512 to 1515. — Various Spanish records of payments to him. King 
 Ferdinand died in 1516; and in 1517 Sebastian Cabot, in the reign of 
 Henry VIII., took part in a voyage to the N.W. with Sir Thos. Pertc, 
 wliich was unsuccessful owing to Perto's "faynt" heart. 
 
 6th February, 1518. — Sebastian Cabot was appointed Pilot-Major of 
 Spain by Charles V. 
 
 1526. — An expedition under his command sailed on April 8rd, 1526, the 
 cost defrayed by private merchants (one being llobt- Thorn, probably of 
 Bristol, but having an establishment at Seville). Further details of this 
 voyage are given by various historians. Sebastian Cabot sailed up the 
 river La Plata and explored that part of South America. He was absent 
 four years, and had to contend with mutiny, fighting with the natives, 
 sickness, privation, and other hardships. He returned to Seville in July, 
 1530, when, as appears somewhat usual in tlat ungrateful age, he was 
 arrested, prosecuted on various charges, and finally sentenced to fines and 
 four years banishment to Africa ; but Royalty at last interfered, and the 
 sentence was never carried out. He was reinstated in the office of Pilot- 
 Major. Harrissc himself admits that Sebastian Cabot enjoyed a high 
 reputation in Italy, England, and Spain, and was a skilful cartog^L-n.pher. 
 
 He left Spain (we cannot toll the reason) in 1547, in the reign of 
 Edward VI. 
 
 On 29th January, 1550, Spain demanded his return, as the following 
 records show : 
 
 " The Emperor's ambassador revived to the Lords as having commission 
 from the Emperor in the matter of the marrying of the Lady Mary, the 
 return of Cabot to the Emperor [and other things] ; to whom answer was 
 made by the Lords, that of the matters of the marriage, Cabot [etc. J , 
 they would deliberate and make him answer with convenient speed." 
 
 On the 21st April, 1550, an answer was given by the English Minister at 
 Madrid to the Emperor's request for Cabot, to the effect that " Cabot was 
 not detained in England; but that he of himself refused to go to Spain or 
 the Emperor ; and that he being the King's subject, no reason nor equity 
 would that he should be forced to go against his will." — Nicolas' Edward VI. 
 
 Spain stopped Cabot's pension ; but Edward VI. granted him an annuity 
 of ^116 : 13 : 4 " in consideration of good services done and to be done unto 
 us by our beloved servant Sebastian Cabot." 
 
 26th June, 1550. — A warrant ordered to the Exchequer to pay unto 
 Sebastian Cabotto d£200 (equivalent to j£2000 in oiur currency) by way of the 
 King's Majesty's reward. 
 
 1551. — Sebastian Cabot advised the Merchant Venturers' Company, 
 London, of which he became the first governor, to attempt a north-east 
 voyage ; and an expedition sailed, under the command of Willoughby and 
 Chancellor. They rounded the North Cape and proceeded eastward ; but 
 Willoughby never returned, both himself and crew having been found by 
 
^\ 
 
 lUiHHian fiHhonncu frozon to death, llicli''- Chancollor, liowever, pcnctratoil 
 to tlio 'NVhito Hea, where ho was received by the KuHHiann witli great aHtoiUHh- 
 lucnt, and laid the foundatiouH of a very profitable trade with that eifipire. 
 
 Queen Mary was now on the throne of England, and SebaHtian hiul 
 attained a gnuit ago. 
 
 'iUtli Afay, ir>,'i7. — lie is deprived of half hia pension, William Worthingtot 
 drawing the remainder; and on 'iSth December, 1557, Worthington drawn 
 the whole in bin own name. Cabot hiniHolf dies in obscurity. His niapn 
 and writings a^jpcar to bo still in Worthington's possession in 1582, Imt 
 nothing is known of what became of them afterwards : whether they wuro 
 destroyed or sent to Spain it is impossible to say. If the lattoi, there may 
 be still some hope of tlieir discovery. In 1625 there could bo seen in tho 
 King's gallery at Whitehall a portrait of Sebastian Cabot, and in 1792 IMr. 
 Chas. J. Harford, of Bristol, found either this portrait or a copy in Scotland, 
 under the circumstances related in a narrative just published by Mr. 
 E. li. Norris Mathews, City Librarian. Mr. Harford discovered it accidentally 
 at Slains Castle, Scotland ; but Lord Erroll, to whom it belonged, would not 
 part with it. When Lord l^rroU died it came into the possession of Sir 
 Fredk. Eden ; and Mr. Harford wrote him a poem of forty-seven \erscH, 
 purporting to be an appeal from SebaH),ian Cabot himself, asking to be restored 
 to his native city. Sir F. Eden thereupon gave him the picture, which at 
 Mr. Harford's decease was purchased by Mr. llich"'- IJiddle for i-500 and 
 taken to America, whore it was afterwards accidentally destroyed in a lire. 
 
 The 24th of June next will be tho 400th anniversary of the Cabots' great 
 achievements. Canada is about to erect a Memorial on tho other side of 
 the Atlantic as near as possible to the spot whci'e the Cabots first landed, 
 and it is to be hoped that the Memorial to be erected in Bristol will bo 
 worthy of the occasion. It is intended to lay the foundation stones of both 
 Memorials on the same day ; although, in consequence of the difference iu 
 latitude, they can hardly be laid at the same moment. 
 
 Both will be laid on spots belonging to the same Empire, and will thus add 
 an additional interest to Queen Victoria's llecord Reign. What wonderful 
 events have happened during those 400 years 1 Instead of the little Maithcw 
 of 80 tons, the swift and mighty Campania of 12,500 tons now makes the 
 passage in about five days ; while underneath tho ocean many lines of 
 electric telegraph convey momentary intelligence between our country and 
 the great Continent of America, now inhabited by more than fifty millions 
 of English-speaking people. This year we hope will be rendered still more 
 memorable by the ratification of the treaty of International Arbitration 
 between England and the United States ; and we trust with God's blessing, 
 peace and brotherhood may ever remain between the two great kindred 
 nations. 
 
 J. \V. AUUOWSMITII, I'l'INTKR, QUAY HTIIEET, UniRTOL.