Pedro Cabral, en route to India in 1500, was blown off course and encountered Brazil--so even if Columbus had never sailed, the Americas would not have remained unknown to Europeans much longer.
Of course John Cabot's voyage in 1497 was earlier than Cabral's, but I think Cabot only sailed because he knew of Columbus' discovery.
Not true. At the very least, he landed on St. Croix in 1493.
England was emerging from the War of the Roses, had just lost their French territories and Henry VII was not secure. Still he paid for two trips.He sponsored Cabot and several others including Cabot’s son Sebastian. But all these were in search of a Northwest Passage. America was an obstacle to overcome. Sebastian made some discoveries but Henry’s successor, Henry VIII had little inerest in exploration.