uages call baccalaos. In the
same Island also there breed hauks, but they are so blacke that they are
very like to rauens, as also their partridges, and egles, which are in like
sort blacke.

* * * * *

A discourse of Sebastian Cabot touching his discouery of part of the West
India out of England in the time of king Henry the seuenth, vsed to
Galeacius Butrigarius the Popes Legate in Spaine, and reported by the
sayd Legate in this sort.

[Sidenote: This discourse is taken out of the second volume of the voyages
of Baptista Ramusius.[14]] Doe you not vnderstand sayd he (speaking to
certaine Gentlemen of Venice) how to passe to India toward the Northwest,
as did of late a citizen of Venice, so valiant a man, and so well practised
in all things pertaining to nauigations, and the science of Cosmographie,
that at this present he hath not his like in Spaine, insomuch that for his
virtues he is preferred aboue all other pilots that saile to the West
Indies, who may not passe thither without his licence, and is therefore
called Piloto mayor, that is, the grand Pilot. [Sidenote: Sebastian Cabota
Pilot mayor of Spaine.] And when we sayd that we knew him not, he
proceeded, saying, that being certaine yeres in the city of Siuil, and
desirous to haue some knowledge of the nauigations of the Spanyards, it was
tolde him that there was in the city a valiant man, a Venetian borne named
Sebastian Cabot, who had the charge of those things, being an expert man in
that science, and one that coulde make Cardes for the Sea, with his owne
hand, and by this report, seeking his acquaintance, hee found him a very
gentle person, who intertained him friendly, and shewed him many things,
and among other a large Mappe of the world, with certaine particular
Nauigations, as well of the Portugals, as of the Spaniards, and that he
spake further vnto him to this effect.

When my father departed from Venice many yeeres since to dwell in England,
to follow the trade of marchandises, hee tooke mee with him to the citie of
London, while I was very yong, yet hauing neuerthelesse some knowledge of
letters of humanitie, and of the Sphere. And when my father died in that
time when newes were brought that Don Christopher Colonus Genuese had
discouered the coasts of India, whereof was great talke in all the Court of
king Henry the 7, who then raigned, insomuch that all men with great
admiration affirmed it to be a thing more