Henry VII authorized John Cabot and his three sons to search, at their own expense, for unknown lands to the west. Cabot (a.k.a. Zuan Caboto) sailed from Bristol in May the following year along with 18 to 20 men. Cabot landed somewhere on the North American coast — the actual place of landing was likely Cape Bonavista, N.L. or Cape Breton Island. Cabot claimed the land for England and returned to Bristol.