Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/201

 point out better Methods than hitherto known, when Ships drew nigh Land, which would anwer as ueful an End.

Before the Verticity and Ue of the Compas, the Portuguee Navigations had extended no farther than Cape Non, (it was their ne plus ultra,) and therefore o called; ditres of Weather, indeed, had drove ome Coaters to Porto Santo, and Madera, before any certain Method of teering was invented; but after the Needle was een thus inpired, Navigation every Year improved under the great Incouragements of Henry, Alphonus, and John . Kings of Portugal, in Part of the 14th and in the 15th Century.

King Alphonus was not o much at leaure as his Predeceor, to purue thee Dicoveries, but having een the Advantages accrued to Portugal by them, and that the Pope had confirmed the perpetual Donation of all they hould dicover between Cape Bajadore and India, incluively, he reolved not to neglect the proper Aitance, and farmed the Profits that did or might enue to one Bernard Gomez, a Citizen of Libon, who was every Voyage obliged to dicover 100 Leagues, till farther on: And about the Year 1470 made thee Ilands, the only Places (of all the coniderable and large Colonies they had in Africa,) that do now remain to that Crown.

St. Thome is the principal of the three, whoe Governour is tiled Captain General of the Ilands, and from whom the other at Princes receives his Commiion, tho’ nominated by the Court of Portugal: It is a Bihoprick with a great many ecular Clergy who appear to have neither Learning nor Devotion, as may be judged by everal of them being Negroes: One of the Chief of them, invited us to hear Mas, as a Diverion to pas Time away, where he, and his inferior Brethren acted uch fected