Page:The principal navigations, voyages, traffiques and discoveries of the English nation 16.djvu/317

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Africa with his sonne Prince Iohn, where they tooke the towne of Arzila, and the people of the citie of Tanger fled out for feare, and that he tooke also. It seemeth that good fortune followeth a couragious attempt.

In the yeere 1471. Fernan Gomes gaue commandement that the coast should be discouered as it lay.

Which was vndertaken by Iohn de S. Aren, and Iohn de Scouar; and they went and found the Mine in 5. degrees of latitude.

And the next yeere, which was 1472. one Fernando da Poo discouered the Island now called after his name.

Also about this time the Islands of Sainct Thomas, and Del Principe were discouered, standing vnder the line, with the firme land also, wherein is the kingdome of Benin, reaching to the Cape de Santa Catarina, standing on the south side of the line in 3. degrees. The man that made this discouerie was a seruant of the kings, and his name was Sequeira.

Many suppose, that then also there were those places, countreyes and Islands discouered, which before were neuer knowne to vs since the flood.

In the yeere 1480. the valiant king Don Alphonso died, and left many things woorthy of memorie behinde him; and his sonne Don Iohn the second succeeded him.

Who in the yeere 1481. gaue direction for the building of the castle De Mina to one Diego d'Azambuxa; who did so, and was made captaine of it.

In the yeere 1484. the foresaid king Iohn sent out one Diego Caon a knight of his Court to discouer: and he went to the Riuer of Congo, standing on the south side in 7. or 8. degrees of latitude; where he erected a pillar of stone with the royall armes and letters of Portugall, wherein he wrote the commandement that he had received from the king, with the time and day of his being there.

From thence he went vnto a riuer neere the Tropicke of Capricorne, setting still vp pillars of stone where he thought it