n. [Sidenote: Freedome from custome.] We giuing and
granting vnto them and to their heires and deputies, that they shall be
free from all paying of customes of all and singular such merchandize as
they shall bring with them from those places so newly found. And moreouer,
we haue giuen and granted to them, their heires and deputies, that all the
firme lands, isles, villages, townes, castles and places whatsoeuer they be
that they shall chance to finde, may not of any other of our subiects be
frequented or visited without the licence of the foresayd Iohn and his
sonnes, and their deputies, vnder paine of forfeiture aswell of their
shippes as of all and singuler goods of all them that shall presume to
saile to those places so found. Willing, and most straightly commanding all
and singuler our subiects aswell on land as on sea, to giue good assistance
to the aforesayd Iohn and his sonnes and deputies, and that as well in
arming and furnishing their ships or vessels, as in prouision of food, and
in buying of victuals for their money, and all other things by them to be
prouided necessary for the sayd nauigation, they do giue them all their
helpe and fauour. In witnesse whereof we haue caused to be made these our
Letters patents. Witnesse our selfe at Westminister the fift day of March,
in the eleuenth yeere of our reigne.[10]
* * * * *
Billa signata anno 13 Henrici septimi.
[Sidenote: A record of the rolls touching the voyage of Iohn Cabot and
Sebastian his sonne.] Rex tertio die Februarij, anno 13, licentiam dedit
Ioanni Caboto, quod ipse capere possit sex naues Anglicanas, in aliquo
portu, siue portibus regni Angliae, ita quod sint de portagio 200. doliorum,
vel subtus, cum apparatu requisito, et quod recipere possint in dictas
naues omnes tales magistros, marinarios, et subditos regis, qui cum eo
exire voluerint, &c.
The same in English.
The king vpon the third day of February, in the 13 yeere of his reigne,
gaue licence to Iohn Cabot to take sixe English ships in any hauen or
hauens of the realme of England, being of the burden of 200 tunnes, or
vnder, with all necessary furniture, and to take also into the said ships
all such masters, mariners, and subjects of the king as willingly will go
with him, &c.[11]
* * * * *
An extract taken out of the map[12] of Sebastian Cabot, cut by Clement
Adams, concerning his discouery of the West Indies, whic
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