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8 prince, from engaging further in distant enterprises of uncertain profit, which might require expense and attention.

Sebastian Cabot, finding no encouragement for his active talents in England, entered into the service of Spain.

Although the idea of making settlements in America, if ever seriously adopted, was for the time abandoned ; the discovery of a shorter passage to the East Indies, by the northwest, continued to be the favourite project of the English nation. To effect it, several unsuccessful expeditions were made to the American coast. In the mean-time, the fisheries of Newfoundland were carried on to a considerable extent, by individuals of England, France, and other European nations; whose views seem to have extended no further than to the fish they took, and to a paltry traffic with the natives.

No serious or permanent plans for acquiring territory, and planting colonies in America, were formed until the reign of Elizabeth.

The knowledge of the Spanish language and history, the acquisition of which had, during the reign of Philip and Mary, become fashionable among persons of fortune and education... the immense wealth derived from South America... the power of Spain in Europe, which was, in a considerable degree, attributed to