John Cabot told the king he had discovered the country of China. He was treated with the highest honor and called "The Great Admiral." He was dressed in rich silks. The king promised he should have a sum of money given him every year for the rest of his life.
After a while the king began to say to himself:
"It is all very well to make a voyage to the west and find the east, but that is not enough. I should like some of the gold and gems and delicious spices found there."
So it came about that John Cabot and his son started out on a second voyage. When they reached North America this time they sailed along its shores for a long distance. They saw Indians dressed in skins and wearing ornaments of copper. But they found no gold nor spices.
Cabot still thought he had visited Asia. The king of England did not care about him any longer, however. He was of no use if he could not bring to England the treasures of India. This is probably the reason we know nothing more about John Cabot.
We do not even know how long he lived nor when he died. His son Sebastian lived to be a bright and lively old man and was always glad to hear of the voyages of others to far-away places.
When Uncle Sam had finished the story of John Cabot he told the children why he wished them to remember it.
"Columbus made his voyages with the help of Spain," said he. "That country claimed the right to hold the lands he discovered. That is why the people who settled in the West Indies and in almost all of South America came from Spain and spoke the Spanish language.
"But John Cabot sailed for the English king and that is why the English said: