Explorers: John Cabot perspectives

Portugal at that time was focused to the southern and eastern routes, while Spain supported Columbus and his expeditions.


Why did John Cabot come to England?

Like Christopher Columbus, who also planned to sail west, Cabot found it very difficult to convince rich backers to pay for the ships he needed to test out his ideas about the world. After failing to persuade the royal courts of Europe, he decided to come to England. He arrived with his family in 1484, to try to persuade merchants in Bristol to pay for his planned voyage. Before his voyage set off, Cabot heard the news that Columbus had sailed west across the Atlantic and reached land. At the time, everyone believed that this land was the Indies, or Spice Islands.


Why did King Henry VII agree to help to pay for Cabot's expedition?

If Cabot was proved right about the new route, he would not be the only one to become rich. The king would also take his share. Everybody believed that Cathay and Cipangu (China and Japan) were rich in gold, gems, spices and silks. If Asia had been where Cabot thought it was, it would have made England the greatest trading centre in the world for goods from the east.

The king wrote that he gave his permission to his

"well-beloved John Cabot... to seeke out, discover and finde whatsoever isles, countries, regions or provinces... which before this time have been unknown to all Christians"

As far as I know, it's connected with the number of projects supported by either Manuel I of Portugal and Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain.
At the time, they gave financial support to many expeditions.
Many others dont got support.
Giovanni Caboto went to Henry VII and obtained money and a ship as the king dont wanted to miss new lands.

What's the mystery? Giovanni Caboto was a johnny-come-lately. The courts of Spain and Portugal were already backing Columbus, Diaz, Magellan and a handful of others. So Caboto went to England, changed his name to Cabot, and got the backing of Henry who was belatedly realizing that England would be left out of the adventure unless a good mariner could be found. Don't forget, Columbus had also sought backing in England before going to the court of Ferdinand and Isabella and had been rebuffed. Later on, the English realized they had made a mistake.

Columbus had also been rebuffed By King João II of Portugal.

that's because Portuguese believed that India should be searched on South or East.

That's right, MOU. That's why they went around the Cape of Good Hope of South Afrisa instead of heading west like Columbus did. (And, incidentally, it's why Brazil is Portuguese-speaking, not Spanish. But that's another story.)

Thank you!!!
Thank you everyone for the very informative answer.
What took my daughter weeks, only took a day.
Again, thank you. She can now finish her project which will be due tomorrow.