From the “Decades” of Peter Martyr (published 1516)

Sebastian Cabot.

The voyage of Sebastian Cabot from Englande to the frozen sea.

These north seas have been searched by one Sebastian Cabot, a Venetian borne, whom beyng yet but in maner an infant, his parentes caryed with them into Englande, havyng occasion to resort thither for trade of marchandize, as is the maner of the Venetians, to leave no part of the worlde unsearched to obtaine rychesse. He therefore furnished two shyppes in England at his own charges; and fyrst, with three hundreth men, directed his course so farre towarde the north pole that, even in the moneth of July, he founde monstrous heapes of Ise swymming on the sea, and, in maner, continuall daylyght: yet sawe he lande in that tract free from Ise (whiche had been moulten by heat of the Sonne). Thus, seeyng suche heapes of Ise before hym, he was enforced to turne his sayles and folowe the west, so coastynge styll by the shore, that he was thereby brought so farre into the south, by reason of almost equall in latitude with the sea called Fretum Herculeum, havyng the north pole elevate in maner the same degree. He sayled lykewyse in this tract so farre towarde the west, that he had the Ilande of Cuba on his left hande, in maner in the same degree of longitude.