Final answer:
John Cabot embarked on his second exploration with a fleet of five ships, which departed in 1498 following his successful initial voyage in 1497 aboard the Matthew.
Step-by-step explanation:
John Cabot took one ship on his second exploration. In 1498, funded in part by King Henry VII, Cabot embarked on his second voyage to find a northern route to Asia. However, his crew, led by his son Sebastian, did not find any precious metals, so the king lost interest in further exploration. Despite this, Cabot's voyages gave England a claim to the North American mainland.
On his second exploration, John Cabot took five ships. However, historians focus heavily on Cabot's initial voyage in 1497, when he sailed with just one ship, the Matthew, and successfully landed in what he named Newfoundland, claiming it for England under King Henry VII.
While the exact events and outcomes of his second voyage in 1498 are less clear, it is widely understood that he departed with a fleet of five ships. Unfortunately, there is scant detailed evidence about the fate of this expedition after its departure, leading to mystery and speculation surrounding the outcome and Cabot's final fate.