this authority: for Sebastian Cabot being, as we shall see hereafter, alive in 1557, it is plain, that, at the time this voyage was made, he could not be above twenty years old; when, though he might accompany his father, yet certainly he was too young to undertake such an expedition himself. It is probable that John Cabot died in England; but when or where is uncertain.

Cabot well deserves this notice, as being the first who, on an extended scale, led on the enterprise of Englishmen in maritime discovery.

Henry the Eighth followed up the policy of his father, with regard to his navy; but his ambition, his pride, and capricious temper, involved him in numerous wars. In 1511, a fierce engagement took place between the French and English fleets; and the Sovereign, or Regent, the largest English ship being burned, the king built another of still greater burden, called Henry Grace de Dieu, and by some the Great Harry, after the ship of the same name built by his father. This is said to have been the first ship which had four masts, the Regent having had three.

With the political and domestic character of Henry the Eighth, both of which were tyrannical, and the latter detestable, we have nothing farther to do. We are bound to add, that the laws made in his time, for the facilitating and support of inland navigation, clearly demonstrate, that the importance of large rivers began to be understood and esteemed more, than during the civil wars, when public welfare gave way to private interest. The Thames, the Ouse, the Ex, the rivers of Southampton, the Severn, &c., were freed from wears and other obstructions: on the same principle an act passed, for rendering the river of Canterbury deeper, in order to its becoming navigable. The illegal tolls and other oppressive duties on the Severn, were suppressed, that the great communication by that noble river, might be as free as possible. The making of cables and other hempen manufactures, which had been the principal stay of Bridport in Dorsetshire, was secured to that place by statute. More than one law was passed, to prevent the harbours in Devonshire and Cornwall from being injured and choaked up by the stream works of the tin mines. act was also passed, in favour of the port of Scarborough ; and with regard to Dover, the haven being in a manner spoiled, the king expended between sixty and seventy thousand pounds, out of his own coffers, in building a new pier

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