Some of them were blossoming, some bearing fruit, and all flourishing in the greatest perfection. Yet the islands are not so thickly wooded as to be impassable. The nightingale and various birds were sing

ing in countless numbers, and that in November, the month in which I arrived there.

The inhabitants are very simple and honest, and exceedingly liberal with all they have; none of them refusing anything he may possess when he is asked

for it; but on the contrary inviting us to ask them. They exhibit great love towards all others in preference to themselves: they also give objects of great value for trifles, and content themselves with very little in return. I, however, forbade that these trifles and articles of no value, such as pieces of dishes, plates, and glass, keys, and leather straps should be given to them; although if they could obtain them, they imagined themselves to be possessed of the most beautiful trinkets in the world.

On my arrival in the new world I took some Indians by force from the first island to which I came, in order that they might learn our language. These men are still travelling with me, and although they have been with us now for a long time, they continue to entertain the idea that I have descended from The friendly heaven. On our arrival at any new place they publish this, crying out immediately with a loud voice to the other Indians, "Come, come and look upon beings of a celestial race": upon which both women and men, hildren and adults, young men and old, when they get rid of the fear they at first entertain, will come out in throngs, crowding the roads to see us, some bringing food and others drink, with astonishing affection and kindness.

people were soon after made slaves

by the

Spaniards,

and in a few years were

almost all dead from the cruel

treatment of

their masters.

3. A Father dressed in Silk

BY TWO ITALIAN GENTLEMEN (1497)

LONDON, 23d August, 1497.

was sent out

by Henry VII, King of England, and first English voyage to

this was the

America.
A league
three miles.

=

Henry VII of England.

OUR Venetian, John Cabot, who went with a small John Cabot ship from Bristol to find new islands, has come back, and says that he has discovered, seven hundred leagues off, the mainland of the country of China. He coasted along it for three hundred leagues, and landed but did not see any people. But he has brought here to the king certain snares spread to take game, and a needle for making nets. He found some notched trees, from which he judged that people lived about there. Being in doubt, he came back to the ship. He had been away three months on the voyage, and, in returning, he saw two islands to the right; but he did not wish to land, lest he should lose time, for he was in want of provisions. The king of this country has been much pleased. He has promised for another time ten armed ships such as Cab, desires, and has given him all the prisoners, except such as Le. let Cabot are confined for high treason, to go with him. The king has granted him money also, with which to amuse himself till then. Meanwhile, he is with his Venetian wife and his sons at Bristol. His name is John Cabot and he is called the Great Admiral; prisons. great honor is paid to him, and he goes about dressed Rascals in silk. The English are ready to go with him, and so are many of our rascals. As discoverer of these things, Cabot has planted a large cross in the ground with a banner of England, and one of St. Mark, as he is a Venetian; so that our flag has been hoisted very far away.

take them as seamen,

so as to

relieve the

overcrowded English

==

poor men.

St. Mark is the patron

saint of

Venice.

It was still
supposed

that the coast
of America
was a part
of China or
Japan.

These two letters were written to the

18th December, 1497.

Perhaps amidst so many occupations of your Excellency it will not be unwelcome to learn how the King of England has gained a part of Asia without drawing his sword. In this kingdom there is a certain Venetian named John Cabot, of gentle disposition, very expert in navigation, who, seeing that the most serene Kings of Portugal and Spain had occupied unknown islands, wished to gain new territory for the English king. Having obtained the king's promise that he might have the lordship of the dominions which he might discover, Cabot embarked in a small vessel with a crew of eighteen persons, and set out from Bristol, a port in the western part of this kingdom. He wandered for a long time; at length he came to land, where he hoisted the royal standard, and took possession for his Highness; then, having governments obtained various proofs of his discovery, he returned. Since John was a foreigner and poor, he would not have been believed if the crew, who are nearly all English, and belong to Bristol, had not testified that what he said was the truth. This Cabot has the description of the world on a chart, and also on a solid sphere which he has made. On this he shows where he has been. They say that the new land is excellent and the climate is temperate; they also say that perhaps dye-wood and silk grow there. They affirm that the sea is full of fish, which are taken not only with a net, but also with a basket, which has a stone fastened to it in order to keep it in the water. This I have heard John Cabot himself say. People look upon him as a prince.

of Venice and Milan.