The Age of The Age of explorATion:explorATion:

leTTers And voicesleTTers And voices

•Pictures courtesy the Library of CongressPictures courtesy the Library of Congress•Letter excerpts and eyewitness accounts courtesy Wisconsin Historical Society’s Letter excerpts and eyewitness accounts courtesy Wisconsin Historical Society’s American JourneysAmerican Journeys

John CabotJohn Cabot““Sayled in this tracte Sayled in this tracte

so farre towarde the so farre towarde the weste, that the weste, that the Ilande of Cuba bee Ilande of Cuba bee on my lefte hande, on my lefte hande, in manere in the in manere in the same degree of same degree of longitude.”longitude.”

- John Cabot, in a letter to King - John Cabot, in a letter to King Henry VIIHenry VII

““One thing I supplicate your One thing I supplicate your majesty: that you will give majesty: that you will give orders, under a great penalty, orders, under a great penalty, that no bachelors of law should that no bachelors of law should be allowed to come here [the be allowed to come here [the New World]; for not only are New World]; for not only are they bad themselves, but they they bad themselves, but they also make and contrive a also make and contrive a thousand inequities.” thousand inequities.”

- - Vasco Nuñez de Balboa to Ferdinand V of Vasco Nuñez de Balboa to Ferdinand V of Spain, 1513Spain, 1513

Vasco Nunez de BalboaVasco Nunez de Balboa

I discovered, at my own cost and I discovered, at my own cost and charge, the Island Florida… charge, the Island Florida… and now I return to that and now I return to that island, if it please God’s will, island, if it please God’s will, to settle it, being enabled to to settle it, being enabled to carry a number o f people… carry a number o f people… that the name of Christ may that the name of Christ may be praised there and Your be praised there and Your Majesty served with the fruit Majesty served with the fruit that land produces.that land produces.

- Juan Ponce de Leon, in a letter to - Juan Ponce de Leon, in a letter to Charles V, 1521Charles V, 1521

Juan Ponce de LeonJuan Ponce de Leon

““There should go there settlers There should go there settlers up to the number of two up to the number of two thousand who may want thousand who may want to go so as to render the to go so as to render the possession of the country possession of the country safer and cause it to be safer and cause it to be more profitable…”more profitable…”

- Christopher Columbus, in a letter to King - Christopher Columbus, in a letter to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella,1493Ferdinand and Queen Isabella,1493

Christopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus

Henry HudsonHenry HudsonThe discoverie of the North-west Passage, begunne The discoverie of the North-west Passage, begunne

the seventeenth of Aprill, 1610, ended with his the seventeenth of Aprill, 1610, ended with his end, being treacherously exposed by some of the end, being treacherously exposed by some of the Companie.Companie.

- Robert Juet, 1609- Robert Juet, 1609

Jacques CartierJacques Cartier““So we sayled with a good and prosperous wind, until the 20 of So we sayled with a good and prosperous wind, until the 20 of

the said moneth, at which time the weather turned into the said moneth, at which time the weather turned into stormes and tempests, the which with contrary winds, and stormes and tempests, the which with contrary winds, and darkenesse, endured so long that our ships being without any darkenesse, endured so long that our ships being without any rest, suffered as much as any ships that ever went on seas…”rest, suffered as much as any ships that ever went on seas…”

- A report on Cartier’s - A report on Cartier’s voyage prepared for voyage prepared for the King of Francethe King of France