Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/314

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the coast, and sailed on to Cape Blanco, that is the White Cape, standing in 20. degrees, and informed Don Henry of the state of the countrey by the Moores which they brought from thence. Whereupon he sent one Fernan Lopez de Sauado to giue knowledge thereof to Pope Martine trusting to make these things commodious to Holy Church.

Vpon which knowledge the Pope granted indulgences and euerlasting pardon, and all other things demanded of him, vnto those which should die in this enterprise.

After this in the yeere 1443. Don Henry commanded Antonie Gonsales to carrie backe the slaues which he had brought, and to ransome them in their countrey: Which he did, and the Moores gaue them in trucke for them againe blacke Moores with curled haire, and some gold; so that now that place is called Rio de Oro, that is the Golden Riuer; whereby the desire of the discouerie might be the more increased.

Not long after he sent out another named Nunnez Tristan, who came vnto the Islands of Arguin, where he tooke more slaues, and brought them to Portugall in the yeere 1444.

Hereupon also one Lansarote, a groome of Don Gilians chamber, with others associated with him, armed out certaine ships, which went coasting til they came to the Islands of Garze, where they tooke two hundred slaues: which were the first that were brought from thence to Portugall.

In the yeere 1445. there went as captaine of a barke one Gonsalo de Syntra, an esquire belonging to Don Henry into those parts; and he went on land, where was taken sixe or seuen more of his company, which place was therefore called after his name, Angra, de Gonsaluo de Syntra. This was the first losse, which the Portugals receiued in their discoueries.

In the yeere following Don Henry sent out three carauels, wherein went as captaines Antonie Gonsales, Diego Aloizio, and Gomes Perez, who had their direction, not to enter into Rio de Oro, nor to beare themselues disorderly, but to trauaile in peace, and to conuert as many infidels as they could to Christianitie.