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it was was taken in 1596 by one Shirley, to whom its people submitted.

The Island Jamaica, had this name at the time of its first Discovery by Columbus *. The Spaniards write it either Jamaica, Jamayca or Xamaica, J Consonant and X, amongst them, being pronounc'd as a Greek X. It afterwards was called St. Jago; † but soon obtained again its first name, which it retained when it was taken by the English Army, sent into these parts under General Venables in the year 1655. The Descendents and Posterity of Columbus were, and are still called Dukes of Veragua and Vega, and Marquesses of ''Jamaica. Columbus had this Island given him and his Heirs by the Crown of Spain'', in place of several Privileges and Duties he was by agreement to have had, as first Discoverer and Admiral of these Seas, which were, after coming to the knowledge of them, thought too great for a subject to enjoy. It is called la Jamaique by the French, and Gjamaica, by the Italians. The Island of Antego, one of the Antisles or Caribes, had the same name with the Island given it by the Indians, but it was soon changed to that of Santa Maria del Antigua from whence the present name is by corruption ‖ derived.

Jamaica lies in that part of the North Sea, which washes the East side of the Continent of America. This Sea is called the Mare Boreale, Septentrionale, or Mar del Nort, to distinguish it from the Pacific or South Sea, called Mar del Zur, which lies West of the main Land of America. It lies nearer the Continent or Main, than most of the other considerable American Isles; which Islands, as it were, guard it from the violence of the Winds, and great Atlantic Ocean, and render it fitter for the produce of the Manufacture and Trade of those parts, than any of them. It has many Cayos, commonly called Keys, Shoals and Rocks round it, whereby ignorant Sailers are incommoded. It lies to the South West of England at about fifteen hundred Leagues, or four thousand five hundred Miles distance from it. It has to the East of it Hispaniola, or Santo Domingo, about thirty five Leagues distant. To the North Cuba distant about twenty Leagues, to the South Porto Belo, and to the South-East Santa Martha, both about one hundred and sixty Leagues off, and it has also Cartagena one hundred and forty Leagues distant. These three last places are on the Continent of America and very great places for Trade, Cartagena for Gold and Silver, Portobelo for the same, Cascarilla, the Bark of Peru, or Jesuits Powder, and Sarsaparilla, and Santa Martha for Pearls, all which are brought to Jamaica, in exchange for Blacks and European Commodities. Besides, it lies near Campeche and Vera Cruz, the first a very considerable place for Logwood, and the other being the Port