Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/15

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HE first Discovery of the West-Indies, to me seems to have been accidental, as has happen'd in most other great Discoveries. Christopher Columbus, first solicited the King of Portugal to set him out; but that Prince being wearied with the Discoveries, and little Advantage of Guinea, would not meddle in it. Christopher then sent his Brother Bartholomew into England, on the same Errand, in the Year 1488. I have made as good a search as I could, after a Map which was made at London, by this Bartholomew Columbus, whereby he would have induc'd King Henry VII, to have been the fitter of him out, but I could not hear of it, neither at the Royal Library at St. James's, nor anywhere else. This Map, and this Proposal were not regarded, and 'tis a common Tradition, that instead of discovering the West-lndies, there was bought at Antwerp, a Suit of fine Tapistry Hangings, with Money that had been set apart, and thought sufficient for that purpose. These Hangings are now said to remain at Hampton Court. This Map, which seems to me to have been made from the Letters of Paolo Fisico of Florence, in 1474. 'tis likely was a Sea-Chart of the Parts of the World then known; wherein those to the West were Ireland, the Azores, Cape Verd, and the Coast of Guinea. It had to the East, the Parts of China, then lately discover'd, which they then thought were fifteen Hours East of Portugal, and they were still of Opinion, that they had not reach'd the extreme Parts of the East-Indies or Cipango, call'd Japan, where Report had told them, were great Riches. Therefore, there being, as they thought, only about one third of the way to Cataio and China, if they went by the West, they concluded the best and nearest way to take that Course. On this mistaken Foundation, (China, by later Discoveries, being only about eight Hours East) and some probabilities from some Artificial and Natural things, driven on Shore by the Winds and Currents on the Azores and Porto Santo, which came to the Knowledge of Columbus, (who had been wreck'd at Lisbon, and was married to the Widow of one