9.  Nothing is known of Cabot’s early years.  In the Archives of Venice is
   the record of his naturalization, dated 28 March 1476, which shows he
   had lived there fifteen years. (Archives of Venice:  Senato Terra,
   1473-1477.  Vol vii p. 109.)

10.  This patent was granted in reply to the following application by John
    Cabot: 

    “To the Kyng our Souvereigne lord,

“Please it your highnes of your moste noble and haboundant grace to graunt vnto Iohn Cabotto, citezen of Venes, Lewes, Sebestyan and Sancto his sonneys your gracious lettres patentes vnder youir grete seale in due forme to be made accordying to the tenour hereafter ensuying.  And they shall during their lyves pray to God for the prosperous continuance of your moste noble and royale astate long to enduer.”  (Public Records, Bill number 51.) Consult also Rymer’s Foedera; London, 1727, folios 595-6.

11.  Armed with this authority, John Cabot sailed from Bristol in the spring
    of 1497, with two ships, one being called the Matthew. (The History and
    Antiquities of the city of Bristol, by William Barrett, 1789).

12.  In the National Library, Paris, is a large map of the world on the
    margin of which is written: 

“Sebastian Caboto capitan, y piloto mayor de la S. c c. m. del Imperador don Carlos quinto deste nombre, y rey nuestro sennor hizo esta figura extensa en plano, anno del nasciem de nro saluador Jesu Christo de m.d. xliii. annos, tirada por grados de latitud y longitud con sus uientos como carta de marear, imitando en parte al Ptolomeo, y en parte alos modernos descobridores, asi Espannoles como Portugueses, y parte por su padre, y por el descubierto.”

I give a facsmile of part of this map.  As will be seen the words “Prima tierra vista” are opposite a cape about the 48th parallel, which would be Cape Breton.  In a letter written to the Duke of Milan by Raimondo di Soncino, his minister in London, and dated the 18th Dec. 1497, a very interesting account is given of Cabot’s voyage.  Archives of Milan.  Annuario scientifico, Milan, 1866 p 700.

13.  Query, July.

14.  J. B. Ramusio compiled in Italian a celebrated collection of maritime
    voyages.  The most complete edition is formed by joining vol.  I. of 1574
    to vol.  II. of 1555 and vol.  III. of 1554.  He died 1557, aged 72.

15.  Ramosius has evidently mixed up the two voyages of John Cabot with
    those of his son.  John’s second and last voyage was in 1498, with five
    ships; though little is known of the result, that little has been
    collected by Mr. Weise in his “Discoveries of America.”

16.  A celebrated Icelandic astronomer, a disciple of Tycho-Brahe.  The
    opinion here quoted appears in his Specimen Historicorum Islandiae et
    magna ex parte chorographicum; Amsterdam, 1643.  When aged 91, he is
    said to have married a young girl.  Born 1545; died 1640.