Their greatness was but the result of an excellence in seamanship which prevailed widely around them.
The age of English maritime adventure only began in the reign of Elizabeth.

England had then no colonies--no foreign possessions whatever.

The first of her extensive colonial possessions was established in this reign.

"Ships, colonies, and commerce" began to be the national motto--not that colonies make ships and commerce, but that ships and commerce make colonies.

Yet what cockle-shells of ships our pioneer navigators first sailed in! Although John Cabot or Gabota, of Bristol, originally a citizen of Venice, had discovered the continent of North America in 1496, in the reign of Henry VII., he made no settlement there, but returned to Bristol with his four small ships.