A discourse, intended to commemorate the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus; delivered at the request of the Historical Society in Massachusetts, on the 23d day of October, 1792, being the completion of the third century since that memorable event. : To which are added, four dissertations, connected with various parts of the discourse, viz. 1. On the circumnavigation of Africa by the ancients. 2. An examination of the pretentions of Martin Behaim to a discovery of America prior to that of Columbus, with a chronological detail of all the discoveries made in the 15th century. 3. On the question, whether the honey-bee is a native of America? 4. On the colour of the native Americans and the recent population of this continent. / By Jeremy Belknap, D.D. ; [Six lines in Latin from Seneca]

DISSERTATION II. AN EXAMINATION OF THE PRETENSIONS OF MARTIN BEHAIM, TO A DISCOVERY OF AMERICA, PRIOR TO THAT OF CHRIS|TOPHER COLUMBUS.

SO much has already been well writ|ten on this subject by Dr. ROBERTSON, that I should not have thought of adding any thing to it; had not a Memoir appeared in the sec|ond volume of the Transactions of the Ameri|can Philosophical Society* 1.1 at Philadelphia, in which the pretensions of Behaim are re|vived by M. OTTO; who has produced some authorities which he had obtained from Nu|remberg, an imperial city of Germany, and which appear to him, "to establish in the clearest manner a discovery of America ante|rior to that of Columbus."

It is conceded that Behaim was a man of learning and enterprise; that he was con|temporary

with Columbus and was his friend; that he pursued the same studies and drew the same conclusions; that he was employed by King John II. in making discoveries; and, that he met with deserved honour for the im|portant services which he rendered to the Crown of Portugal. But, there are such dif|ficulties attending the story of his discovering America, as appear to me insuperable. These I shall state; together with some remarks on the authorities produced by M. Otto.

The first of his authorities contains several assertions which are contradicted by other histories;* 1.2 (1) That Isabella, daughter of John, King of Portugal, reigned after the death of Philip, Duke of Burgundy, surnamed the Good. (2) That to this lady, when regent of the Dutchy of Burgundy and Flanders, Be|haim paid a visit in 1459, and (3) that hav|ing informed her of his designs, he procured a vessel in which he made the discovery of the island of Fayal, in 1460.

It is true that Philip, Duke of Burgundy and Flanders, surnamed the Good, married Isabella the daughter of John I. King of Portugal; but Philip did not die till 1467, and was immediately succeeded by his son Charles, surnamed the Bold, then thirty-four years of age. There could therefore have been no interregnum, nor female regent after the death of Philip; and if there had been, the time of Behaim's visit will not correspond with it; that being placed in 1459, eight years before the death of Philip. Such a mistake, in point of fact, and of chronology, is sufficient to induce a suspicion that the "ar|chives of Nuremberg" are too deficient in ac|curacy to be depended on as authorities.

With respect to the discovery of Fayal, in 1460, M. Otto acknowledges that it is "con|trary to the received opinion;" and well he might; for the first of the Azores, St. Maria was discovered in 1431; the second, St. Mi|chael in 1444; the third, Terceira in 1445; and before 1449, the islands, St. George, Graciosa, Fayal and Pico, were known to the

Portuguese.* 1.3 However true it may be that Behaim settled in the island of Fayal, and liv|ed there twenty years; yet his claim to the discovery of it must have a better foundation than the "archives of Nuremberg," before it can be admitted.

The genuine account of the settlement of Fayal, and the interest which Behaim had in it, is thus related by Dr. Forster, a German author of much learning and good credit.

"After the death of the infant Don Henry [which happened in 1463,] the island of Fayal was made a present of by [his sister] Isabella, Dutchess of Burgundy, to Jobst von Hurter, a native of Nuremberg. Hurter went in 1466, with a colony of more than 2000 Flem|ings of both sexes, to his property, the isle of Fayal. The Dutchess had provided the Flem|ish emigrants with all necessaries for two years, and the colony soon increased. About the year 1486, Martin Behaim married a daught|er of the Chevalier Jobst von Hurter, and had a son by her named Martin.—Jobst von Hurter, and Martin Behaim, both natives

of Nuremberg, were Lords of Fayal and Pico."* 1.4

The date of the supposed discovery of America, by Behaim, is placed by M. Otto, in 1484, eight years before the celebrated voyage of Columbus. In the same year we are told* 1.5 that Alonzo Sanchez de Huelva was driven by a storm to the westward for twenty-nine days; and saw an island, of which at his return he gave information to Colum|bus; from both these supposed discoveries this conclusion is drawn, "That Columbus would never have thought of his expedition to America, had not Behaim gone there before him." Whether it be supposed that Behaim and Sanchez sailed in the same ship, or that they made a discovery of two different parts of America, in the same year, it is not easy to understand from the authorities produced; but what destroys the credibility of this plau|sible tale, is, that Columbus had formed his theory, and projected his voyage, at least ten years before; as appears by his correspond|ence

with Paul, a learned physician of Flor|ence, which bears date in 1474.* 1.6 It is uncer|tain at what time Columbus first made his ap|plication to the King of Portugal, to fit him out for a western voyage; but it is certain that after a negociation with him on the sub|ject, and after he had found out the secret and unsuccessful attempt which had been made to anticipate a discovery; he quitted that kingdom in disgust, and went into Spain, in the latter end of the year 1484.* 1.7 The au|thority of these facts is unquestioned; and from them it fully appears, that a prior dis|covery of America, by Behaim or Sanchez, made in 1484, could not have been the foun|dation of the enterprise of Columbus.

M. Otto speaks of letters written by Behaim in 1486, in the German language, and preserv|ed in the "archives of Nuremberg" which support this claim to a prior discovery. As these letters are not produced, no certain opinion can be formed concerning them; but from the date of the letters, and from the voyages which Behaim actually performed in

the two preceding years, we may with great probability suppose, that they related to the discovery of CONGO, in Africa; to which Behaim has an uncontroverted claim.

I will now state the facts relative to this event, partly from the authorities cited by M. Otto; and partly from others.

Dr. Robertson places the discovery of Con|go and Benin in 1483, and with him Dr. Fors|ter agrees. The authors of the modern uni|versal history* 1.8 speak of two voyages to that coast, the first in 1484; the second in 1485; both of which were made by Diego Cam,* 1.9 who is said to have been one of the most ex|pert sailors and of an enterprising genius. From the chronicle of Hartman Schedl, as quoted by M. Otto, we are informed, that Behaim sailed with Cam, in these voyages, which are described in the following terms. "These two, by the bounty of heaven, coast|ing along the southern ocean, and having crossed the equator, got into the other hem|isphere;

where, facing to the eastward, their shadows projected toward the south, and right hand." No words could be more completely descriptive of a voyage from Portugal to Con|go, as any person may be satisfied by inspect|ing a map of Africa; but how could M. Ot|to imagine that the discovery of America was accomplished in such a voyage as this? "Hav|ing finished this cruize (continues Schedl) in the space of 26 months, they returned to Por|tugal, with the loss of many of their seamen, by the violence of the climate." This latter circumstance also agrees very well with the climate of the African coast;* 1.10 but Schedl says not a word of the discovery of America.

M. Otto goes on to tell us "that the most positive proof of the great services rendered to the crown of Portugal by Behaim, is the rec|ompense bestowed on him by King John II; who in the most solemn manner, knighted him, in the presence of all his court." Then follows a particular detail of the ceremony of installation, as performed on the 18th of Feb|ruary, 1485, and M. Otto fairly owns that this was "a reward for the discovery of Con|go."

Now let us bring the detached parts of the story together.

Behaim was knighted on the 18th of Feb|ruary, 1485, for the discovery of Congo, in which he had been employed 26 months pre|ceding; having within that time made two voyages thither in company with Diego Cam. It will follow then that the whole of the pre|ceding years, 1484 and 1483 were taken up in these two voyages. This agrees very well with the accounts of the discovery of Congo, in Robertson and Forster, and does not disa|gree with the modern universal history, as far as the year 1484 is concerned; which unfor|tunately is the year assigned for Behaim's dis|covery of "that part of America called Brasil, and his sailing even to the Straights of Magel|lan."

The only thing in M. Otto's memoir which bears any resemblance to a solution of this difficulty is this. "We may suppose that Behaim, engaged in an expedition to Congo, was driven by the winds to Fernambouc, and from thence by the currents toward the coast of Guiana." But suppositions without proof will avail little; and suppositions against

proof will avail nothing. The two voyages to Congo are admitted. The course is des|cribed; and the time is determined; and both these are directly opposed to the suppo|sition of his being driven by winds and cur|rents to America. For if he had been driven out of his course and had spent "several years in examining the American islands, and discovering the straight which bears the name of Magellan;"* 1.11 and if one of those years was the year 148••, then he could not have spent 26 months preceding February, 1485, in the discovery of Congo; but of this we have full and satisfactory evidence; the discovery of America therefore must be given up.

There is one thing further in this memoir which deserves a particular remark, and that is the reason assigned by M. Otto, for which the King of Portugal declined the proposal of Columbus to sail to India by the west. "The refusal of John II. is a proof of the knowledge which that politic prince had al|ready procured, of the existence of a new con|tinent, which offered him only barren lands,

inhabited by unconquerable savages."* 1.12 This knowledge is supposed to have been derived from the discoveries made by Behaim. But, not to urge again the chronological difficulty with which this conjecture is embarrassed, I will take notice of two circumstances in the life of Columbus, which militate with this idea. The first is, that when Columbus had proposed a western voyage to King John, and he declined it, "The King by the ad|vice of one Doctor Calzadilla, resolved to send a caravel privately, to attempt that which Columbus had proposed to him; because in case those countries were so discovered, he thought himself not obliged to bestow any great reward. Having speedily equipped a caravel, which was to carry supplies to the islands of Cabo Verde, he sent it that way which the admiral proposed to go. But those whom he sent wanted the knowledge, constancy and spirit of the admiral. After wandering many days upon the sea, they turned back to the islands of Cabo Verde, laughing at the un|dertaking, and saying it was impossible there should be any land in those seas."* 1.13

Afterward "the King being sensible how faulty they were whom he had sent with the caravel, had a mind to restore the admiral to his favour, and desired that he should re|new the discourse of his enterprize; but not being so diligent to put this in execution as the admiral was in getting away, he lost that good opportunity; the admiral, about the end of the year 1484, stole away privately out of Portugal for fear of being stopped by the King."* 1.14 This account does not agree with the supposition of a prior discovery.

The other circumstance is an interview which Columbus had with the people of Lis|bon, and the King of Portugal, on his re|turn from his first voyage. For it so hap|pened that Columbus on his return was by stress of weather obliged to take shelter in the port of Lisbon; and as soon as it was known that he had come from the Indies, "the peo|ple thronged to see the natives whom he had brought and hear the news; so that the cara|vel would not contain them. Some of them praising God for so great a happiness; others storming that they had lost the discovery through their King's incredulity."

When the King sent for Columbus, "he was doubtful what to do; but to take off all suspicion that he came from his conquests, he consented." At the interview, "the King offered him all that he stood in need of for the service of their Catholic Majesties, though he thought, that forasmuch as he had been a captain in Portugal, that conquest belonged to him. To which the admiral answered, that he knew of no such agreement, and that he had strictly observed his orders, which were not to go to the mines of Portugal, [the gold coast] nor to Guinea."* 1.15 Had John II. heard of Behaim's voyage to a western continent, would he not have claimed it by priority of discovery rather than by the commission which Columbus had formerly borne in his service? Had such a prior discovery been made, could it have been concealed from the people of Lisbon? And would they have been angry that their King had lost it by his incredulity? These circumstances appear to me to carry sufficient evidence, that no discov|ery of America prior to that of Columbus had come to the knowledge of the King of Portugal.

In answer to the question "Why are we searching the archives of an imperial city for the causes of an event, which took place in the western extremity of Europe?" M. Ot|to gives us to understand, that "from the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries, the Ger|mans were the best geographers, the best his|torians and the most enlightened politicians." Not to detract from the merit of the German literati of those ages, I think we may give equal credit to a learned German author of the present age, Dr. John Reinhold Forster; who appears to have a thorough understand|ing of the claims not only of his own country|men, but of others. In his indefatigable re|searches into the discoveries which have been made by all nations, though he has given due credit to the adventures of Behaim in Congo and Fayal, yet he has not said one word of his visiting America; which he certainly would have done if in his opinion there had been any foundation for it.

He has indeed given us a long detail, with much reasoning, on a discovery made in the 11th century by the Normans, of a country called Winland; which he supposes to be the

island of Newfoundland; but neither he nor any other writer pretends that the knowledge of this discovery was ever communicated to Columbus. That great man therefore, is just|ly entitled to the honour of an original discov|ery of America.

APPENDIX TO DISSERTATION II. No. I. LETTERS from PAUL a Physician of Florence, to CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, con|cerning the Discovery of the Indies.

To CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, PAUL the Phy|sician wisheth health.

I PERCEIVE your noble and earnest desire to sail to those parts where the spice is produced; and therefore in answer to a letter of yours, I send you another letter, which some days since I wrote to a friend of mine, and servant to the King of Portugal before the wars of Castile, in answer to another he wrote to me by his highness's order, upon this same account; and I send you another sea-chart like that I sent him, which will satisfy your demands. The copy of the letter is this.

To FERDINAND MARTINEZ, canon of Lisbon, PAUL the Physician wisheth health.

I AM very glad to hear of the familiarity you have with your most serene and magnifi|cent King; and though I have very often dis|coursed concerning the short way there is from hence to the Indies where the spice is produc|ed, by sea, which I look upon to be shorter than that you take by the coast of Guinea; yet you now tell me that his highness would have me make out and demonstrate it, so as it may be understood and put in practice. There|fore, though I could better show it him with a globe in my hand, and make him sensible of the figure of the world; yet I have resolved to render it more easy and intelligible, to show this way upon a chart, such as are used in navigation; and therefore I send one to his majesty, made and drawn with my own hand; wherein is set down the utmost bounds of the west, from Ireland in the north, to the farthest part of Guinea, with all the islands that lie in the way. Opposite to which western coast is described the beginning of the Indies, with the islands and places whither you may go, and how far you may bend from the north pole

toward the equinoctial, and for how long a time; that is, how many leagues you may sail, before you come to those places most fruitful in all sorts of spice, jewels and precious stones. Do not wonder if I term that country where the spice grows west, that product being gene|rally ascribed to the east; because those who shall sail westward will always find those places in the west; and th•••• that travel by land east|ward will ever find those places in the east. The strait lines that lie lengthways in the chart, shew the distance there is from west to east; the others cross them, shew the distance from north to south. I have also marked down in the said chart, several places in India, where ships might put in, upon any storm or contrary winds, or any other accident unfore|seen.

Moreover to give you full information of all those places which you are very desirous to know; you must understand, that none but traders live or reside in all those islands, and that there is as great a number of ships and seafaring people with merchandise, as in any other part of the world; particularly in a most noble port called Zacton, where there

are every year a hundred large ships of pepper loaded and unloaded, besides many other ships that take in other spice.

This country is mighty populous, and there are many provinces and kingdoms, and innumerable cities under the dominion of a prince called the great Kham, which name signifies King of Kings, who for the most part resides in the Province of Cathay. His pred|ecessors were very desirous to have com|merce and be in amity with Christians; and 200 years since, sent ambassadors to the Pope; desiring him to send them many learned men and doctors to teach them our faith; but by reason of some obstacles the ambassadors met with, they returned back, without coming to Rome.

Besides, there came an ambassador to Pope Eugenius IV. who told him the great friend|ship there was between those princes, their people and the Christians. I discoursed with him a long while upon the several matters of the grandeur of their royal structures, and of the greatness, length and breadth of their riv|ers. He told me many wonderful things of the multitude of towns and cities founded

along the banks of the rivers; and that there were 200 cities upon one river only, with marble bridges over it, of a great length and breadth, and adorned with abundance of pil|lars. This country deserves as well as any other to be discovered; and there may not only be great profit made there, and many things of value found, but also gold, silver, all sorts of precious stones, and spices in abund|ance, which are not brought into our parts. And it is certain, that many wise men, phi|losophers, astrologers, and other persons skil|led in all arts, and very ingenious, govern that mighty province, and command their armies.

From Lisbon directly westward, there are in the chart 26 spaces, each of which contains 250 miles, to the most noble and vast city of Quisay, which is 100 miles in compass, that is 35 leagues; in it there are ten marble bridges▪ the name signifies a heavenly city; of which, wonderful things are reported, as to the inge|nuity of the people, the buildings and the rev|enues. This space abovementioned is almost the third part of the globe. This city is in the province of Mango, bordering on that of Cathay, where the King for the most part resides.

From the island Antilla, which you call the seven cities, and of which you have some knowl|edge, to the most noble island of Cipango are ten spaces, which make 2500 miles, or 225 leagues; which island abounds in gold, pearls and precious stones; and you must under|stand, they cover their temples and palaces with plates of pure gold. So that for want of knowing the way, all these things are hid|den and concealed, and yet may be gone to with safety.

Much more might be said, but having told you what is most material, and you being wise and judicious, I am satisfied there is nothing of it, but what you understand, and therefore I will not be more prolix. Thus much may serve to satisfy your curiosity, it being as much as the shortness of time and my business would permit me to say. So I remain most ready to satisfy and serve his highness to the utmost in all the commands he shall lay upon me.

Florence, June 25, 1474.

LETTER II.

To CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, PAUL the Phy|sician wisheth health.

I RECEIVED your letters with the things you sent me, which I take as a great favour, and commend your noble and ardent desire of sailing from east to west, as it is mark|ed out in the chart I sent you, which would demonstrate itself better in the form of a globe.

I am glad it is well understood, and that the voyage laid down is not only possible, but true, certain, honourable, very advantage|ous and most glorious among all Christians. You cannot be perfect in the knowledge of it, but by experience and practice, as I have had in great measure, and by the solid and true information of worthy and wise men, who are come from those parts to this court of Rome; and from merchants who have traded long in those parts, and are persons of good reputa|tion. So that when the said voyage is per|formed, it will be to powerful kingdoms, and to the most noble cities and provinces; rich and abounding in all things we stand in need of, particularly in all sorts of spice in great quantities, and store of jewels.

This will moreover be grateful to those kings and princes, who are very desirous to converse and trade with Christians of these our countries; whether it be for some of them to become Christians, or else to have commu|nication with the wise and ingenious men of these parts, as well in point of religion, as in all sciences, because of the extraordinary ac|count they have of the kingdoms and govern|ment of these parts. For which reasons, and many more that might be alleged, I do not at all admire, that you who have a great heart, and all the Portuguese nation which has ever had notable men in all undertakings, be eagerly bent upon performing this voyage.

APPENDIX. No. II. A Chronological detail of Discoveries made in the fifteenth Century, connected with Events in the Life of COLUMBUS.

[a.d. 1411] JOHN I, King of Portugal.

 

[a.d. 1412] Sends vessels along the western shore of Africa to discover un|known countries.

 

[a.d. 15] Henry, fourth son of King John I, conducts the Portuguese dis|coveries, which are pushed as far as Cape Bojador, lat. 26° N.

Robertson.

[a.d. 18] The island of Porto Santo discovered.

 

[a.d. 20] The island of Ma|deira discovered.

 

[a.d. 31] The islands of St. Mary, the first of the Azores discovered.

 

[a.d. 43] Cape Arguin on the African coast, lat. 20° N. discovered.

 

[a.d. 44] St. Michael, the sec|ond of the Azores, discovered.

 

[a.d. 1445] A third island of the Azores discovered, which from that cir|cumstance is called Terce-ira.

Forster.

Papal Bull conferring the newly discovered countries on the Por|tuguese.

 

[a.d. 46] Companies of pri|vate merchants in Portugal undertake discoveries, and push them as far as Cape de Verd, on the coast of Africa, lat. 14° N.

Robertson.

[a.d. 49] The islands of Cape de Verd discovered; and before this year four other islands of the Azores are known, viz. St. George, Gra|ciosa, Fayal and Pico.

Forster.

[a.d. 63] Prince Henry dies, and the passion for discovery languishes.

 

(Uncertain date.) Alphon|so V. King of Portu|gal grants an exclu|sive right of discovery to Gomez, and gives the island of Fayal to his sister Isabella, Dutchess of Burgun|dy and Flanders.

Rob. Forster.

[a.d. 1447] Christopher Co|lumbus born at Ge|noa.

 

[a.d. 61] Takes to sea at the age of fourteen.

 

[a.d. 1466] Isabella sends Jobst Von Hurter to Fayal with a colony of Flem|ings.

Forster.

[a.d. 67] Philip the good, Duke of Burgundy & Flan|ders, and husband to Isabella, dies at Bru|ges, Aet. 73: Is suc|ceeded by his son Charles the bold, Aet. 34.

Collier. Mezeray.

[a.d. 71] The Portuguese dis|cover Guinea, partic|ularly the gold coast, and first cross the e|quator.

Forster.

[a.d. 1467] COLUMBUS sails 100 leagues be|yond Iceland, with|in the polar circle, as far as lat. 73° N. Follows the sea 23 years, in which time he visits all the dis|coveries made by the Portuguese in Africa and the i|slands; during this time he settles and marries at Lisbon.

 

[a.d. 74] Columbus corres|ponds with Paul, of Florence, on the pro|bability of finding India in the west.

Life of Col. by Ferdinand Col.

[a.d. 1481] John II, King of Portugal, revives the spirit of discovery, and builds a fort on the coast of Guinea, cal|led St. George de la Mina, lat. 5° N.

Forster.

[a.d. 83] Sends Diego Cam and Martin Behaim, to make new discoveries on the coast of Africa.

 

[a.d. 84] They make two voyages in 26 months, and discover Congo and Benin.

 

[a.d. 85] Feb. 18. Behaim is knighted by King John II. He afterward mar|ries the daughter of Hurter, and thus be|comes a proprietor and Lord of the island of Fayal.

Schedl. Forster.

(Uncertain.) Columbus proposes his plan of a western voyage to the republic of Genoa, without suc|cess.

Herrera.

Then to John II, of Portugal; who, by the advice of Cal|zadilla, privately sends a vessel to make discoveries in the west, which comes back to Cape de Verd, without success.

 

[a.d. 1484] In the latter end of this year Columbus leaves Lisbon, and goes into Spain, having previously sent his brother Bar|tholomew to Eng|land.

Ferd. Col.

[a.d. 88] Bartholomew hav|ing been taken and detained several years by pirates, gets to England, em|ploys himself in making maps and globes, and presents one to Henry VII.

Mod. Univ. Hist.

[a.d. 1486] Cape of Good Hope discovered by Barthol|omew Diaz.

Rob.

[a.d. 92] Martin Behaim vis|its Nuremberg, his na|tive city, where he makes a globe, on which are delineated coasts and islands, which, from their sit|uation, are supposed to be some parts of A|merica.

Robertson's Ame|rica, vol. I. p. 322.

[a.d. 1491] Columbus having made application to Ferdinand, King of Castile, and been re|pulsed, resolves to follow his brother to England, but is recalled by Queen Isabella. Ferdinand being still inflexi|ble, Columbus dis|gusted resolves to go to France.

 

[a.d. 92] Is again recalled, and receives en|couragement from Isabella.

 

May 12. Sets out from Granada, for Palos, whence,

 

Aug. 3, he sails with three vessels▪

 

Aug. 12, arrives at the Canaries.

 

Septem. 6. Sails thence to the west|ward.

 

Oct. 12. Discov|ers Guanahana, one of the Bahama i|slands, distant 950 leagues from the Canaries.

 

[a.d. 1493] Pope Alexander VI. draws his line of de|markation between the discoveries of the Por|tuguese and Spaniards, 100 leagues west of the Azores.

Hazard's State pap.

[a.d. 96] John Cabot, a Ve|netian, in the service of Henry VII. of Eng|land, discovers part of America, in lat. 45° N. and coasts it north|ward to 68°, and south|ward to 38°.

Prince's Chron.

[a.d. 97] Vasquez de Gama doubles the Cape of Good Hope, and ar|rives at Melinda.

 

[a.d. 98] Makes his voyage to India, and thus com|pletes the discovery of that country by the East.

 

[a.d. 1493] Returns to Spain, and arrives at Pa|los March 15.

 

Sept. 25. Sails on his second voyage to the West-Indies.

 

[a.d. 94] His brother Bartho|lomew meets him in Hispaniola.

 

[a.d. 96] Columbus returns to Spain from his second voyage.

 

[a.d. 98] Columbus sails a third time, discov|ers the island of Trinidad, and then the continent.

 

[a.d. 1500] Cabral, bound to In|dia, discovers by acci|dent the continent of America, in lat. 10° S. which is called Bra|sil.

Rob.

[a.d. 06] Martin Behaim dies at Lisbon.

Otto.

[a.d. 1499] Ojeda, a private ad|venturer, and A|merigo Vespucci, follow the track of Columbus, & claim the honour of dis|covering the conti|nent, which from a publication made by Amerigo, is cal|led AMERICA.

 

[a.d. 1500] Columbus is sent prisoner to Spain, by Bovadilla.

 

[a.d. 02] Makes his fourth voyage to the west, and searches for a

 

[a.d. 03] passage through the continent to India, is wrecked on Ja|maica.

 

[a.d. 04] Returns to Spain, finds his friend and patroness, Isabella, dead.

 

[a.d. 06] Dies at Valladolid, is buried at Sevil|le, in the Cathedral, Aet. 59.

Ferd. Col.

Notes

• * 1.1

  No. 35, p. 263.
• * 1.2

  Memoirs of Philip de Comines. Mezeray's and Henault's history of France. Collier's Dictionary.
• * 1.3

  Forster's history of voyages and discoveries, p. 256, 257, Dublin edition.
• * 1.4

  Forster's history of voyages, and discoveries, p. 257, 258, 259.
• * 1.5

  Garcilasso de la Vega's Royal commentaries. Preface. Purchas. vol. V. p. 1454.
• * 1.6

  Life, chap. viii.
• * 1.7

  Ibid. chap. xii.
• * 1.8

  Vol. XVI. p. 133, 135.
• * 1.9

  Diego is the Spanish name of James, in Latin Jacobus. and in Portuguese, Jago. Cam is in Latin, Camus or Canus, and in Spanish, Cano; these differ|ent names are found in different authors.
• * 1.10

  See Brooks's Gazetteer, Benin.
• * 1.11

  Memoirs, p. 269.
• * 1.12

  Memoirs, p. 276.
• * 1.13

  Life of Columbus, chap. xi.
• * 1.14

  Life of Columbus, chap. xii.
• * 1.15

  Life, chap. xli.