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LESSON XVIII.

EARLY ENGLISH SEAMEN.—PART II.

col'-o-ny, a place where settlers en'-ter-prise, deeds of daring ef-fi'-cient, really good

might live res-ti-tu'-tion, giving back what ban'-quet, feast

was wrongly taken

pro'-jects, schemes

rec'-om-pense, satisfaction for a des'-tined, appointed, ordained a-chieve', accomplish

wrong done

de-vo’-tion, zeal

1. The fame of Columbus had stirred up John Cabot, as it was a common subject of talk in the court of King Henry VII. It was thought to be a thing more divine than human to sail by the West into the East, by a way that was never known before. We must remember that Columbus always believed he had discovered some portion of the East Indies. Sebastian accompanied his father on his first voyage in 1497, when North America was discovered.

2. The accounts of Sebastian's earlier voyages have unhappily been lost, so that very little is known of them. There seems to have been no attempt to found a large colony at Labrador, as the Spaniards had formed in the West Indian islands, and the adjoining mainland. A few Bristol merchants settled there, and we find that in 1502 small sums of money were paid "to the merchants of Bristol that have been in the Newfound-land."

3. Sebastian Cabot left England, and spent many years in Spain. In 1536 a small expedition, under the command of one Master Hore, as he

was called, seems to have discovered the island we now call Newfoundland. While there, the crew seem evidently to have enjoyed the abundant supply of great fowls and fish they found there. On leaving this island, they suffered from extreme hunger, and were on the point of casting lots which of them should be killed for food for the rest.

4. A way of escape was happily found. A French vessel, with abundant supplies, came in sight, which the Englishmen took possession of. There they found plenty of food, and returned home in the captured vessel. The Frenchmen followed in the vessels which the English had left, and claimed restitution of their goods. We are told that King Henry VIII. (the second Tudor sovereign) was so "moved with pity for his subjects' distress, that he punished them not, but with his own purse made full and royal recompense to the French."

5. Sebastian Cabot returned to England at the death of Henry VIII. He was now an old man, more than eighty years of age, but young as ever in his devotion to enterprise. A company of merchant adventurers was formed, with Sebastian at the head of it, for "the discovery of regions, dominions, islands, and places unknown." Three vessels were specially built, and an efficient crew was selected. The chief command was given to Sir Hugh Willoughby, and the second to Richard Chancelor. The expedition sailed in May, 1553.

6. These ships did not sail towards America, but tried to find a way to Cathay, by sailing along

[graphic][merged small]

QUEEN ELIZABETH AT GREENWICH, WATCHING THE DEPARTURE OF AN EXPLORING EXPEDITION.

the North of Europe. Chancelor's ship was soon separated from the other two. Willoughby went on for three days after leaving Nova Zembla, one of the most northerly islands in Europe. He was then obliged to return. He landed with his crew on a haven in Lapland, where he resolved to winter. He and his sixty companions never left it. Two years afterwards their remains were found. Cold and hunger had killed them.

7. Chancelor found his way to Russia, or Muscovy, as it was then called, had an interview with the Emperor, and made a treaty with him, by which an important trade was opened with the country. In a second voyage to Russia in 1556, Chancelor was wrecked off the coast of the North of Scotland.

8. Meantime we find Sebastian Cabot at Gravesend, joining in a banquet at the starting of another ship, and joining, at the age of eightyfour, in the joyous dance on that occasion. He died in the following year, but the exact place and time of his death are unknown. His last thoughts were upon his favourite subject. Amid perils and dangers such as these, were English seamen prepared for their great work. For a time these projects dropped, until in the reign of the glorious Queen Elizabeth, they were destined to achieve still grander results.

QUESTIONS.-What had stirred up John Cabot and others? What mistaken notion did Columbus always believe? Where did Sebastian Cabot spend many years? Give an account of Master Hore's expedition. What vessel did they steal? What did King Henry VIII. do on

their return? What enterprise did Sebastian Cabot promote on his return to England? To whom was the chief command given? State what became of him. When did the expedition sail? In what direction did it sail? Who was second in command? What became of him? State what you know of the old age and death of Sebastian Cabot.

LESSON XIX.

SIR HUMPHRY DAVY.

en-thu'-si-asm, throwing the pros-e-cu'-tion, careful atten

[blocks in formation]

witch'-craft, an ignorant belief bar'-on-et-cy, the title of Sir in witches

goes to the eldest son

1. The life of this eminent man was one of quiet, earnest work, under the influence of a noble enthusiasm in the cause of science, and an anxious wish to do good to mankind. By his own efforts and perseverance he raised himself from an obscure position to one of honour, dignity, and renown, and became the foremost scientific man of his age.

His

2. He was born at Penzance, in Cornwall. father was a carver in wood, and had a good local reputation. He might have gathered a good fortune by his skill, but he was too fond of making experiments in farming, and thus lost much He died at an early age. money. His mother was spared to see her son rise to fame.

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