The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-13

| fs evident that Grafton copied from the EDit-
ONE. and that Holinshed copied either from
that or from grdflon's Chronicle Consequent
ly. the whole authority Of the account rests on
the third edition OF the Ep,tome. and Prof.
Tarducci has no difficulty in showing that the
reference to John Cabots nationality was an in-
terpolation OF an untrustworthy editor. There
| is, however some more testimony in behalf OF
| Genoa. For example. Slows collection OF old
| documents relating to navigation. published
| after his death, contain a chronicle ascribed
| to one Robert Fabyan. In which occurs the fol-
| lowing entry: This year one Sebastian Ga
| voto a Genoas some, born In Bristow. caused
the King to man, DC" The author furnishes
good ground for thinking that stow interpo-
lated the words "Genoas sonne." having
found in the original document the phrase a
stranger Venetian" This latter phrase was
reproduced by Richard Hakluyt. who had in
spected the original document. and he iden-
tined the stranger Venetian with John Cabot
So much for the claim on behalf OF Genoa
Now let us look at the evidence that John Cabot
was Venetian citizen. The FIRST witness is
John himself who. In his petition to the King
OF England, dated March 5. 1896. writes:
Please 1t. your HiRhness to grant unto John
Cabotto. citizen OF Venice. &C." The King
adopts the phrase In the letters patent granted
in conformity with the petition: BE 1t known
that We have granted to our beloved
John Cabotto. citizen OF Venice. and his
sons. &c. Next comes Lorenzo Pasqualigo.
Venetian merchant settled in Bristow. who
was present when John Cabot returned from
his discovery. and witnessed the groat demon
stration made in his honor by the English
Writing OF this Immediately afterward to
Venice. he not only calls Cabot re-
poatedly Venetian. but notes with the
pride Of patriotic citizen the honor
paid to the flag Of Venice: This Venetian Of
ours is come and is with his Venetian
wife and planted on the lands he dis
covered great cross with an English standard |
and one OF st. Marx. he being q Venetian. SO |
shat our ensign has been carried far Don |
Raimondo da Soncino. Ambassador OF the |
Duke OF Milan to England. also wrote at once
to his master. and I'm his despatch speaks Of
the discovery as made by Venetian. Item.
The Kings Majesty had sent a Venetian some
tne ,s same year; ne eontinnss to speak OF cabot
zsns &c this OK aps s ns@ s hs R"s
Of England grants fresh letters patent
nFsssass ths e. ?ehn is Ar assiq saIIsd
We Shn Rs5ot the
words Of Sebastian CADET which, though writ
still. as being those OF his son. be deemed con
temporary. Sebastian. In his chart of 1914. |
near the newly discovered land. placed this
inscription: This land was discovered BY
John Cabot. Venetian" Finally. we find in
the archives Of Venice the record that. on
March % l476, full citizenship was conferred
by unanimous vots on John Cabot on the
ground that, In addition to rendering services
to the republic. he had been a resident OF
Venice for fifteen years. and during that
period had borne the burdens and imposts OF
he Venetian Government.
1t seems clear then. that John Cabot was a
,itizen OF Venice But was he born a Nene-
Jam We concur with Mr.. Harrisse In think
ng that the very fact Of his obtaining natu-
'aization by the decree Just mentioned shows ,
hat he came from outside OF the Duchy.
Had he been born within 1t. he would not have
leeded to be naturalized. This seems proved ,
" decree made in 1873 and quoted by Mr. :
iarrisse; 2 decree providing that whoever
lad lived with fixed residence in those lands I
hould be q Citizen OF the one and the :
ther class. that is to say. possessing full
lights within and outside OF the city. c
'rof Tarducci undertakes Co show that this r
ecree was purely transitory arrangements; | =
nut all the laws which he quotes OF later date
elate to the conditions under which resident '
liens could 10 naturalized. and not TO per- I
ons born In tho Venetian territory. We must
ssume then. with Mr.. Harrisse that John 4
bot was not q native Of Venice. but that he r
owed his adopted country Is demonstrated by Il
he fact that he set up the lion of St Mark by :.
ne side Of the English standard on the soil OF
he New World. Q