Annotated Bibliography
Works Cited
"Avalon Project - The Letters Patents of King Henry the Seventh Granted Unto Iohn Cabot." Avalon Project - The Letters Patents of King Henry the Seventh Granted Unto Iohn Cabot. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://avalon.law.yale.edu/15th_century/cabot01.asp>.This site showed a primary source of the commission from King Henry VII to John Cabot for his first voyage, under the English flag, to find new land for England.
Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale Research, 1998. Print. This encyclopedia entry provided more basic facts and knowledge about John Cabot. It was helpful because most of the other cites only talked about very specific points in Cabot's life.
Garfield, Henry. The Lost Voyage of John Cabot. New York: Atheneum for Young Readers, 2004. Print. Excerpts from this book helped give me a much better understanding of Cabot's voyages specifically his last one, which ended in a mystery.
"Internet History Sourcebooks." Internet History Sourcebooks. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1497cabot-3docs.asp>.This website gives firsthand accounts of John Cabot's voyages through letters written by the crew onboard.
"John Cabot Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://www.biography.com/people/john-cabot-9234057>.This site explained more about the voyages of John Cabot, and what the discoveries meant to England. It also told more about what might have happened concerning John Cabot's death.
"John Cabot." John Cabot. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://historyforgrownups.com/subjects/johncabot.htm>.This was a very useful database that provided links to sites pertaining to different areas of John Cabot's life.
"John Cabot: Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage." John Cabot: Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://www.heritage.nf.ca/exploration/cabot.html>.This site gave me basic information about John Cabot's life. It talked about why Cabot moved to England and why he decided to go on his voyages.
"John Cabot Timeline." History-timelines.org.uk. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Nov. 2012. <http://www.history-timelines.org.uk/people-timelines/14-john-cabot-timeline.htm>.This website showed me a timeline line of John Cabot's life and was very helpful in making me better understand Cabot's life.
"John Cabot." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Oct. 2012. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cabot>.This site provided very specific information about most of John Cabot's life, but because it was wikipedia I only trusted the more general facts.
"YEAR 1497 A. D." Elfinspell: 1497 A. D., Account of John Cabot's Voyage to America, Soncino to Sforza Duke of Milan, from Cheyney, Edward P., Readings in English, History of the Early Tudor Period, Henry VII., Age of Exploration, Italian History, Early American History, Primary Source, Geography, Exploration, 15th Century, Online Text. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://www.elfinspell.com/PrimarySourceCabot.html>.This site gave me one of the first accounts of Cabot's voyage in the form of a letter from Raimondo Soncino to the Duke of Milan telling him about the discoveries Cabot made during his voyage.
"Avalon Project - The Letters Patents of King Henry the Seventh Granted Unto Iohn Cabot." Avalon Project - The Letters Patents of King Henry the Seventh Granted Unto Iohn Cabot. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://avalon.law.yale.edu/15th_century/cabot01.asp>.This site showed a primary source of the commission from King Henry VII to John Cabot for his first voyage, under the English flag, to find new land for England.
Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale Research, 1998. Print. This encyclopedia entry provided more basic facts and knowledge about John Cabot. It was helpful because most of the other cites only talked about very specific points in Cabot's life.
Garfield, Henry. The Lost Voyage of John Cabot. New York: Atheneum for Young Readers, 2004. Print. Excerpts from this book helped give me a much better understanding of Cabot's voyages specifically his last one, which ended in a mystery.
"Internet History Sourcebooks." Internet History Sourcebooks. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1497cabot-3docs.asp>.This website gives firsthand accounts of John Cabot's voyages through letters written by the crew onboard.
"John Cabot Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://www.biography.com/people/john-cabot-9234057>.This site explained more about the voyages of John Cabot, and what the discoveries meant to England. It also told more about what might have happened concerning John Cabot's death.
"John Cabot." John Cabot. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://historyforgrownups.com/subjects/johncabot.htm>.This was a very useful database that provided links to sites pertaining to different areas of John Cabot's life.
"John Cabot: Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage." John Cabot: Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://www.heritage.nf.ca/exploration/cabot.html>.This site gave me basic information about John Cabot's life. It talked about why Cabot moved to England and why he decided to go on his voyages.
"John Cabot Timeline." History-timelines.org.uk. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Nov. 2012. <http://www.history-timelines.org.uk/people-timelines/14-john-cabot-timeline.htm>.This website showed me a timeline line of John Cabot's life and was very helpful in making me better understand Cabot's life.
"John Cabot." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Oct. 2012. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cabot>.This site provided very specific information about most of John Cabot's life, but because it was wikipedia I only trusted the more general facts.
"YEAR 1497 A. D." Elfinspell: 1497 A. D., Account of John Cabot's Voyage to America, Soncino to Sforza Duke of Milan, from Cheyney, Edward P., Readings in English, History of the Early Tudor Period, Henry VII., Age of Exploration, Italian History, Early American History, Primary Source, Geography, Exploration, 15th Century, Online Text. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://www.elfinspell.com/PrimarySourceCabot.html>.This site gave me one of the first accounts of Cabot's voyage in the form of a letter from Raimondo Soncino to the Duke of Milan telling him about the discoveries Cabot made during his voyage.
Research Paper Outline
John Cabot outline
1. John Cabot affected society by exploring new parts of the Americas that had previously been undiscovered. Cabot’s search for a Northwest Passage across North America to Asia led to England’s first claims in newfound Canada, and the discovery of Labrador, and Cape Breton Island. Though he never succeeded in his initial goal, John Cabot provided very important information about the new world for future European explorers.
2. A) Giovanni Caboto was born in Genova, Italy in 1450. His father was a merchant who sailed over the Mediterranean selling goods. He had three sons, one of whom accompanied him on his voyages.
B) While in Italy he was educated in cartography, navigation, seamanship, and mathematics.
C) Cabot was not only motivated by his father to sail, he also idolized explorers like Christopher Columbus.
D) One obstacle is that most of the voyages going to the new world were leaving from England, Spain, or France, not Italy. Another obstacle he faced was that the ship making technology at the time made it impossible for him to find a northwest passage with the ocean frozen over.
3. A) The immediate effect of John Cabot’s discovery was that England gained its first territories in the new world.
B) The long term effect of Cabot’s discovery is that culture in Canada and Greenland were Europeanized earlier than other parts of North America.
4. A) The political climate in 16th century England was still a monarchy, this meant that in order for Cabot to get a grant for his voyage he needed to ask it from king Henry VII. Luckily the English king agreed.
B) Another historical issue is that in the late 1400’s ships were only designed to sail in warmer waters. Cabot’s expeditions however tool him very far north in North America.
C) A third historical event was that this was a time of exploration and trading, and ships were one of the most important tools for this. This meant that finding a new or more efficient path to a desirable place was a huge deal and if a northwest passage to Asia were found in this time it would have greatly impacted trade and cultural diffusion.
5. By sailing to newfound land in the Americas under the English flag John Cabot solidified his name in history. His discoveries led to the colonization of Canada, Labrador, and Cape Breton Island. Though he did not accomplish his goal of reaching Asia by a northwest passage through North America, he was the first recorded sailor to go that far north.
Quotes-Raimondo de Raimondi de Soncino, an Italian diplomat living in England “Perhaps amid the numerous occupations of your Excellency, it may not weary you to hear how his Majesty here has gained a part of Asia, without a stroke of the sword. There is in this Kingdom a man of the people, Messer Zoane Caboto [John Cabot] by name, of kindly wit and a most expert mariner. Having observed that the sovereigns first of Portugal and then of Spain had occupied unknown islands, he decided to make a similar acquisition for his Majesty. After obtaining patents that the effective ownership of what he might find should be his, though reserving the rights of the Crown, he committed himself to fortune in a little ship, with eighteen persons. He started from Bristol, a port on the west of this kingdom, passed Ireland, which is still further west, and then bore towards the north, in order to sail to the east.…After having wandered for some time he at length arrived at the mainland, where he hoisted the royal standard, and took possession for the king here; and after taking certain tokens he returned.” At that time Cabot thought he had reached Asia.
-King henry VII commission to Cabot, “Be it knowen that we haue giuen and granted, and by these presents do giue and grant for vs and our heiress to our welbeloued Iohn Cabot citizen of Venice, to Lewis, Sebastian, and Santius, sonnes of the sayd Iohn, and to the heires of them, and euery of them, and their deputies, full and free authority, leaue, and power to saile to all parts, countreys, and seas of the East, of the West, and of the North, vnder our banners and ensignes, with fine ships of what burthen or quantity soeuer they be, and as many mariners or men as they will haue with them in the sayd ships, vpon their owne proper costs and charges, to seeke out, discouer, and finde whatsoever isles, countreys, regions or prouinces of the heathen and infidels whatsoeuer they be, and in what part of the world soeuer they be, which before this time haue bene vnknowen to all Christians: we haue granted to them, and also to euery of them, the heires of them, and euery of them, and their deputies, and haue giuen them licence to set vp our banners and ensignes in euery village, towns, castle, isle, or maine land of them newly found”
1. John Cabot affected society by exploring new parts of the Americas that had previously been undiscovered. Cabot’s search for a Northwest Passage across North America to Asia led to England’s first claims in newfound Canada, and the discovery of Labrador, and Cape Breton Island. Though he never succeeded in his initial goal, John Cabot provided very important information about the new world for future European explorers.
2. A) Giovanni Caboto was born in Genova, Italy in 1450. His father was a merchant who sailed over the Mediterranean selling goods. He had three sons, one of whom accompanied him on his voyages.
B) While in Italy he was educated in cartography, navigation, seamanship, and mathematics.
C) Cabot was not only motivated by his father to sail, he also idolized explorers like Christopher Columbus.
D) One obstacle is that most of the voyages going to the new world were leaving from England, Spain, or France, not Italy. Another obstacle he faced was that the ship making technology at the time made it impossible for him to find a northwest passage with the ocean frozen over.
3. A) The immediate effect of John Cabot’s discovery was that England gained its first territories in the new world.
B) The long term effect of Cabot’s discovery is that culture in Canada and Greenland were Europeanized earlier than other parts of North America.
4. A) The political climate in 16th century England was still a monarchy, this meant that in order for Cabot to get a grant for his voyage he needed to ask it from king Henry VII. Luckily the English king agreed.
B) Another historical issue is that in the late 1400’s ships were only designed to sail in warmer waters. Cabot’s expeditions however tool him very far north in North America.
C) A third historical event was that this was a time of exploration and trading, and ships were one of the most important tools for this. This meant that finding a new or more efficient path to a desirable place was a huge deal and if a northwest passage to Asia were found in this time it would have greatly impacted trade and cultural diffusion.
5. By sailing to newfound land in the Americas under the English flag John Cabot solidified his name in history. His discoveries led to the colonization of Canada, Labrador, and Cape Breton Island. Though he did not accomplish his goal of reaching Asia by a northwest passage through North America, he was the first recorded sailor to go that far north.
Quotes-Raimondo de Raimondi de Soncino, an Italian diplomat living in England “Perhaps amid the numerous occupations of your Excellency, it may not weary you to hear how his Majesty here has gained a part of Asia, without a stroke of the sword. There is in this Kingdom a man of the people, Messer Zoane Caboto [John Cabot] by name, of kindly wit and a most expert mariner. Having observed that the sovereigns first of Portugal and then of Spain had occupied unknown islands, he decided to make a similar acquisition for his Majesty. After obtaining patents that the effective ownership of what he might find should be his, though reserving the rights of the Crown, he committed himself to fortune in a little ship, with eighteen persons. He started from Bristol, a port on the west of this kingdom, passed Ireland, which is still further west, and then bore towards the north, in order to sail to the east.…After having wandered for some time he at length arrived at the mainland, where he hoisted the royal standard, and took possession for the king here; and after taking certain tokens he returned.” At that time Cabot thought he had reached Asia.
-King henry VII commission to Cabot, “Be it knowen that we haue giuen and granted, and by these presents do giue and grant for vs and our heiress to our welbeloued Iohn Cabot citizen of Venice, to Lewis, Sebastian, and Santius, sonnes of the sayd Iohn, and to the heires of them, and euery of them, and their deputies, full and free authority, leaue, and power to saile to all parts, countreys, and seas of the East, of the West, and of the North, vnder our banners and ensignes, with fine ships of what burthen or quantity soeuer they be, and as many mariners or men as they will haue with them in the sayd ships, vpon their owne proper costs and charges, to seeke out, discouer, and finde whatsoever isles, countreys, regions or prouinces of the heathen and infidels whatsoeuer they be, and in what part of the world soeuer they be, which before this time haue bene vnknowen to all Christians: we haue granted to them, and also to euery of them, the heires of them, and euery of them, and their deputies, and haue giuen them licence to set vp our banners and ensignes in euery village, towns, castle, isle, or maine land of them newly found”
Full Research Paper
John Cabot Research Paper
John Cabot affected society by exploring new parts of the Americas that had previously been undiscovered. Cabot’s search for a Northwest sea route to Asia led to England’s first claims in newly found Canada, and the discovery of Labrador, Newfoundland, and Cape Breton Island. Though he never succeeded in his initial goal, John Cabot provided very important information about the New World for future European explorers.
John Cabot came from humble beginnings. His father who was a seaman learned to sail as a merchant. With these skills he sailed across the Mediterranean. He and his wife made their home in Genoa or Gaeta, Italy (the exact place is not known for sure). Then, in 1450, his wife gave birth to a baby boy. They gave him a traditional Italian name, Giovanni Caboto.
As Giovanni grew up he heard many great things about the explorer named Columbus. Like kids today wanting to be super heroes, Giovanni wanted to be an explorer. He also idolized his father who was an expert mariner. From his father, Giovanni learned about navigation, cartography, seamanship, and mathematics. By the time he was grown up, he had learned what it took to be a sailor.
When Giovanni turned eleven, in 1416, he moved to Venice, Italy with his family. There, he was married to a wife. He became a citizen of Italy in 1476. With his wife he had three sons, Lewis, Sebastian, and Santius, who would later accompany him on his explorations. Giovanni Caboto had a very substantial problem though, at the time Italy was not interested in the supposed western trade route to Asia that had been discovered by Columbus. No one in his country would fund him the money for a ship and crew.
It became clear to Giovanni that if he was to be able to carry out his explorations he would need to go where the money was. That is why he moved with his wife and sons to Port Bristol, England, and with moving to England he changed his Italian name to a more British one. Henceforth, Giovanni Caboto became known as John Cabot.
John Cabot knew that ships cost a lot of money, money that he did not have. To get the required funds necessary Cabot had to secure an audience with the English king himself. The English king at the time, King Henry VII, was excited to hear about Cabot’s voyage plans. King Henry VII not only gave him a small ship but also granted Cabot the power to claim any newly found land for Britain. Cabot was now sailing under the English crown.
The following is King Henry VII’s commission to John Cabot,
“Be it knowen that we have given and granted, and by these presents do give and grant for us and our heiress to our welbeloved John Cabot citizen of Venice, to Lewis, Sebastian, and Santius, sonnes of the sayd John, and to the heires of them, and every of them, and their deputies, full and free authority, leave, and power to saile to all parts, countreys, and seas of the East, of the West, and of the North, under our banners and ensignes, with fine ships of what burthen or quantity soever they be, and as many mariners or men as they will have with them in the sayd ships, upon their owne proper costs and charges, to seeke out, discover, and finde whatsoever isles, countreys, regions or provinces of the heathen and infidels whatsoever they be, and in what part of the world soever they be, which before this time have bene unknowen to all Christians: we have granted to them, and also to every of them, the heires of them, and every of them, and their deputies, and have given them licence to set up our banners and ensignes in every village, towns, castle, isle, or maine land of them newly found”
With his ship, the “Matthew”, his crew, and his sons, John Cabot set out to sea from Port Bristol on a warm day in May 1497. Cabot’s actual goal was to find a Northern sea route to Asia, seeing as Columbus had found a Southern route to Asia. After weeks at sea Cabot found land. Here we find yet another cloudy detail of Cabot’s life because we are not sure where he landed. Historians have speculated though that Cabot would have likely landed at Newfoundland, Cape Breton Island, or Labrador. Wherever Cabot actually landed he proceeded to sail around the area before departing again for England.
Again, after a long voyage, Cabot docked the “Matthew” in Port Bristol where he had begun his adventure. He was welcomed as a hero and got an immediate audience with the king. King Henry VII congratulated Cabot on his discoveries and rewarded him with a pension of twenty pounds of gold per year for the rest of his life for the claims in England’s name that he made on the newly discovered land. In that time, that amount of money would have been enough for Cabot to live out a comfortable retirement if he so chose.
This quote is from Raimondo de Raimondi de Soncino, an Italian diplomat living in England who was sending a letter to an Italian noble.
“Perhaps amid the numerous occupations of your Excellency, it may not weary you to hear how his Majesty here has gained a part of Asia, without a stroke of the sword. There is in this Kingdom a man of the people, Messer Zoane Caboto [John Cabot] by name, of kindly wit and a most expert mariner. Having observed that the sovereigns first of Portugal and then of Spain had occupied unknown islands, he decided to make a similar acquisition for his Majesty. After obtaining patents that the effective ownership of what he might find should be his, though reserving the rights of the Crown, he committed himself to fortune in a little ship, with eighteen persons. He started from Bristol, a port on the west of this kingdom, passed Ireland, which is still further west, and then bore towards the north, in order to sail to the east. After having wandered for some time he at length arrived at the mainland, where he hoisted the royal standard, and took possession for the king here; and after taking certain tokens he returned.”
It was not long though before Cabot was once again ready to sail because in February 1498 he cast off, but this journey would prove more uncertain than the last. As before, Cabot sailed from Port Bristol to return to Northern “Asia” and claim more land. This time Instead of one small ship, Cabot had a small fleet with a total of five ships. One of his ships suffered damages not long after leaving and had to leave the fleet to go to an Irish port for repairs. Cabot and his some three hundred men, meanwhile, sailed across the Atlantic, but landed more south than expected (almost near Maine). From Maine they continued to sail up the coast of North America.
As Cabot and his men continued further and further north the sailing conditions became increasingly difficult. The main problem for the ships was the cold. Ships at the time were only designed for sailing in warmer waters. Ships advanced enough to make the journey Cabot was attempting would not be around for a long time. Icy conditions made continuing almost impossible. It is no surprise though that Cabot’s crew mutinied. Cabot had to abandon his goal of continuing North and comply with his crew. The exact latitude of Cabot and his ship is not known for sure, but from Northern Canada his ships sailed around Greenland, across the Atlantic to Ireland, and on to Port Bristol.
There is no evidence that Cabot ever returned to England. Though it is likely that he did, not all historians are convinced because there was no actual documentation. The only clue historians have about Cabot’s death is that his pension from the king stopped being paid in 1499. The records of John Cabot are scarce and full of uncertainties mainly due to the fact that John Cabot never kept any form of diary or Captain’s log. Had he done this historians could have had definitive answers about aspects of Cabot’s life.
Cabot’s discoveries under the English crown dramatically helped England to get their first colonies in the New World. Cabot’s adventurism and explorations blazed a trail for future explorers to refine maps and discover the true gravity of his and Columbus’s discoveries. These colonies that Cabot helped establish have become modern day America and Canada. Also with the establishment of colonies in the New World, that was made possible by Cabot, Canada and Northern America were Europeanized before other parts of the New World. In his honor, there was a statue erected in Port Bristol of Cabot, holding a map in his hand, looking out to sea. Also, in his home country of Italy, in the city of Rome, there was a college named after him that still provides education today.
By sailing to newly found land in the Americas under the English flag John Cabot solidified his name in history. His discoveries led to the colonization of Canada, Labrador, and Cape Breton Island. Though he did not accomplish his goal of reaching Asia by a northwest sea route he was the first recorded sailor to venture that far north and return.
John Cabot affected society by exploring new parts of the Americas that had previously been undiscovered. Cabot’s search for a Northwest sea route to Asia led to England’s first claims in newly found Canada, and the discovery of Labrador, Newfoundland, and Cape Breton Island. Though he never succeeded in his initial goal, John Cabot provided very important information about the New World for future European explorers.
John Cabot came from humble beginnings. His father who was a seaman learned to sail as a merchant. With these skills he sailed across the Mediterranean. He and his wife made their home in Genoa or Gaeta, Italy (the exact place is not known for sure). Then, in 1450, his wife gave birth to a baby boy. They gave him a traditional Italian name, Giovanni Caboto.
As Giovanni grew up he heard many great things about the explorer named Columbus. Like kids today wanting to be super heroes, Giovanni wanted to be an explorer. He also idolized his father who was an expert mariner. From his father, Giovanni learned about navigation, cartography, seamanship, and mathematics. By the time he was grown up, he had learned what it took to be a sailor.
When Giovanni turned eleven, in 1416, he moved to Venice, Italy with his family. There, he was married to a wife. He became a citizen of Italy in 1476. With his wife he had three sons, Lewis, Sebastian, and Santius, who would later accompany him on his explorations. Giovanni Caboto had a very substantial problem though, at the time Italy was not interested in the supposed western trade route to Asia that had been discovered by Columbus. No one in his country would fund him the money for a ship and crew.
It became clear to Giovanni that if he was to be able to carry out his explorations he would need to go where the money was. That is why he moved with his wife and sons to Port Bristol, England, and with moving to England he changed his Italian name to a more British one. Henceforth, Giovanni Caboto became known as John Cabot.
John Cabot knew that ships cost a lot of money, money that he did not have. To get the required funds necessary Cabot had to secure an audience with the English king himself. The English king at the time, King Henry VII, was excited to hear about Cabot’s voyage plans. King Henry VII not only gave him a small ship but also granted Cabot the power to claim any newly found land for Britain. Cabot was now sailing under the English crown.
The following is King Henry VII’s commission to John Cabot,
“Be it knowen that we have given and granted, and by these presents do give and grant for us and our heiress to our welbeloved John Cabot citizen of Venice, to Lewis, Sebastian, and Santius, sonnes of the sayd John, and to the heires of them, and every of them, and their deputies, full and free authority, leave, and power to saile to all parts, countreys, and seas of the East, of the West, and of the North, under our banners and ensignes, with fine ships of what burthen or quantity soever they be, and as many mariners or men as they will have with them in the sayd ships, upon their owne proper costs and charges, to seeke out, discover, and finde whatsoever isles, countreys, regions or provinces of the heathen and infidels whatsoever they be, and in what part of the world soever they be, which before this time have bene unknowen to all Christians: we have granted to them, and also to every of them, the heires of them, and every of them, and their deputies, and have given them licence to set up our banners and ensignes in every village, towns, castle, isle, or maine land of them newly found”
With his ship, the “Matthew”, his crew, and his sons, John Cabot set out to sea from Port Bristol on a warm day in May 1497. Cabot’s actual goal was to find a Northern sea route to Asia, seeing as Columbus had found a Southern route to Asia. After weeks at sea Cabot found land. Here we find yet another cloudy detail of Cabot’s life because we are not sure where he landed. Historians have speculated though that Cabot would have likely landed at Newfoundland, Cape Breton Island, or Labrador. Wherever Cabot actually landed he proceeded to sail around the area before departing again for England.
Again, after a long voyage, Cabot docked the “Matthew” in Port Bristol where he had begun his adventure. He was welcomed as a hero and got an immediate audience with the king. King Henry VII congratulated Cabot on his discoveries and rewarded him with a pension of twenty pounds of gold per year for the rest of his life for the claims in England’s name that he made on the newly discovered land. In that time, that amount of money would have been enough for Cabot to live out a comfortable retirement if he so chose.
This quote is from Raimondo de Raimondi de Soncino, an Italian diplomat living in England who was sending a letter to an Italian noble.
“Perhaps amid the numerous occupations of your Excellency, it may not weary you to hear how his Majesty here has gained a part of Asia, without a stroke of the sword. There is in this Kingdom a man of the people, Messer Zoane Caboto [John Cabot] by name, of kindly wit and a most expert mariner. Having observed that the sovereigns first of Portugal and then of Spain had occupied unknown islands, he decided to make a similar acquisition for his Majesty. After obtaining patents that the effective ownership of what he might find should be his, though reserving the rights of the Crown, he committed himself to fortune in a little ship, with eighteen persons. He started from Bristol, a port on the west of this kingdom, passed Ireland, which is still further west, and then bore towards the north, in order to sail to the east. After having wandered for some time he at length arrived at the mainland, where he hoisted the royal standard, and took possession for the king here; and after taking certain tokens he returned.”
It was not long though before Cabot was once again ready to sail because in February 1498 he cast off, but this journey would prove more uncertain than the last. As before, Cabot sailed from Port Bristol to return to Northern “Asia” and claim more land. This time Instead of one small ship, Cabot had a small fleet with a total of five ships. One of his ships suffered damages not long after leaving and had to leave the fleet to go to an Irish port for repairs. Cabot and his some three hundred men, meanwhile, sailed across the Atlantic, but landed more south than expected (almost near Maine). From Maine they continued to sail up the coast of North America.
As Cabot and his men continued further and further north the sailing conditions became increasingly difficult. The main problem for the ships was the cold. Ships at the time were only designed for sailing in warmer waters. Ships advanced enough to make the journey Cabot was attempting would not be around for a long time. Icy conditions made continuing almost impossible. It is no surprise though that Cabot’s crew mutinied. Cabot had to abandon his goal of continuing North and comply with his crew. The exact latitude of Cabot and his ship is not known for sure, but from Northern Canada his ships sailed around Greenland, across the Atlantic to Ireland, and on to Port Bristol.
There is no evidence that Cabot ever returned to England. Though it is likely that he did, not all historians are convinced because there was no actual documentation. The only clue historians have about Cabot’s death is that his pension from the king stopped being paid in 1499. The records of John Cabot are scarce and full of uncertainties mainly due to the fact that John Cabot never kept any form of diary or Captain’s log. Had he done this historians could have had definitive answers about aspects of Cabot’s life.
Cabot’s discoveries under the English crown dramatically helped England to get their first colonies in the New World. Cabot’s adventurism and explorations blazed a trail for future explorers to refine maps and discover the true gravity of his and Columbus’s discoveries. These colonies that Cabot helped establish have become modern day America and Canada. Also with the establishment of colonies in the New World, that was made possible by Cabot, Canada and Northern America were Europeanized before other parts of the New World. In his honor, there was a statue erected in Port Bristol of Cabot, holding a map in his hand, looking out to sea. Also, in his home country of Italy, in the city of Rome, there was a college named after him that still provides education today.
By sailing to newly found land in the Americas under the English flag John Cabot solidified his name in history. His discoveries led to the colonization of Canada, Labrador, and Cape Breton Island. Though he did not accomplish his goal of reaching Asia by a northwest sea route he was the first recorded sailor to venture that far north and return.
-Webpage created and edited by Tim Makee
Published January 21st 2013
Published January 21st 2013