2 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

together with his son Sebastian. Henry, being resolved to enter this new field of adventure, engaged the Cabots to sail to the north, west and south, under the English flag and make dis- coveries of isles, regions and territories, and set up the English Standard in all such countries they might find. On the 25th March, 1497, John Cabot and his son Sebastian set sail from Bristol on board the King’s ship called the Mat/rem. They were accompanied by three or four vessels belonging to the merchants of that city, laden with goods for barter. Holding his course westerly through seas unknown, early one morning in June—greatly to the joy of the explorers—~land was sighted, to which was given the name of “ Prima Vesta.” On the same day, the 24th, Cabot landed upon an Island lying opposite the mainland, on which he bestowed the name of St. John, but the sailors of the ship nicknamed it New-found-land, which name. it is needless to say, it has borne to this day.

On landing upon the Island it was found to be inhabited by a tribe of red, roving savages, who were dressed in skins of wild animals. Bears, carriboo, foxes, wolves, martens, beavers; like- wise, hawks, partridges, and eagles, were numerous, while the surrounding waters abounded in many kinds of fish, and seals were abundant along its shores. After exploring the coast southward for some distance, Cabot returned to England with two of the natives, arriving there during August following. Thus Cabot was the first navigator to cross the Atlantic and open the way to North America, for which performance he received the honor of knighthood, and was presented with the magnificent sum of ten pounds from the king’s Treasury.

With vast ambitious ideas in respect to advantages which might be derived from those regions, as well as the hope of finding a north-west passage to India, a second expedition to the New World was organized—it consisted of five ships, and had on board three hundred adventurers ,' however, before its completion Sir John Cabot died, consequently the command was given to his son Sebastian, who at this period was twenty- two years of age, having been born in England during the year. 1476, and was celebrated for his daring enterprise and nauti- cal experience.

Sebastian Cabot sailed from England in 1498; having reached

the coast of St. Johns, Newfoundland, he directed the course of his ships northward through seas which had not been visited