pro sua pecunia emendorum, atque aliarum omnium rerum sibi
prouidendarum pro dicta nauigatione sumenda suos omnes fauore set auxilia
impertiant. In cuius rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus
patentes. [Sidenote: Ann. Dom. 1495.] Teste meipso apud Westmonasterium
quinto die Martij anno regni nostri vndecimo.

The same in English.

Henry by the grace of God, king of England and France, and lord of Ireland,
to all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting.

Be it knowen that we haue giuen and granted, and by these presents do giue
and grant for vs and our heires, to our welbeloued Iohn Cabot citizen of
Venice,[9] to Lewis, Sebastian, and Santius, sonnes of the said 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, under our banners and ensignes,
with fiue ships of what burthen or quality 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 whatsoeuer
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 their deputies,
and haue giuen them licence to set vp our banners and ensignes in euery
village, towne, castle, isle, or maine land of them newly found. And that
the aforesayd Iohn and his sonnes, or their heires and assignes may subdue,
occupy and possesse all such townes, cities, castles and isles of them
found, which they can subdue, occupy and possesse, as our vassals, and
lieutenants, getting vnto vs the rule, title, and iurisdiction of the same
villages, townes, castles, and firme land so found. [Sidenote: Bristol
thought the meetest port for Westerne discoueries.] Yet so that the
aforesayd Iohn, and his sonnes and heires, and their deputies, be holden
and bounden of all the fruits, profits, gaines, and commodities growing of
such nauigation, for euery their voyage, as often as they shall arriue at
our port of Bristoll (at the which port they shall be bound and holden
onely to arriue) all maner of necessary costs and charges by them made,
being deducted, to pay vnto vs in wares or money the fift part of the
capitall gaine so gotte