John Cabot
"[...] to sail to all parts, regions and coasts of the eastern, western and northern sea, under our banners, flags and ensigns, with five ships or vessels of whatso-ever burden and quality they may be, and with so many and with such mariners and men as they may wish to take with them in the said ships, at their own proper costs and charges, to find, discover and investigate whatsoever islands, countries, regions or provinces of heathens and infidels, in whatsoever part of the world placed, which before this time were unknown to all Christians. We have also granted to them and to any one of them, and have given licence to set up our aforesaid banners and ensigns in any town, city, castle, island or mainland whatso-ever, newly found by them. And that the before-mentioned John and his sons or their heirs and deputies may conquer, occupy and possess whatsoever such towns, castles, cities and islands by them thus discovered that they may be able to conquer, occupy and possess, as our vassals and governors lieutenants and deputies therein, acquiring for us the dominion, title and jurisdiction of the same towns, castles, cities, islands and mainlands discovered [...]"
You can read the full patent on the University of Bristol Department of History's website at http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/History/Maritime/Sources/1496cabotpatent.htm or at the Heritage Newfoundland and Labrador website, which includes an image of the document - http://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/exploration/1496-cabot-patent.php
Under this royal commission, Cabot set off to find Asia and instead discovered parts of North America, including an island he named "new found land", although it's not clear that it was in fact present day Newfoundland.
I am an aboriginal, a true ‘canadian. but most of all a Dene. I was never a heathen and History has proven the word ‘savage’ applies to Europeans. They killed at these earlier times and are still killing to this date! And they call themselves civilized and christians. WOW!
If it weren’t for these Explorers bringing Christianity to the other continents then these people wouldn’t have had the opportunity to learn the Bible. I observe that people have suffered much through the generations, not just the indigenous of the Americas. Matt 24:14 says “Good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations”, so God’s Word would not have been spread worldwide if it wasn’t for these Explorers. It is an obvious fact that many indigenous people have since embraced the word of God.