Who first ventur’d into the Offin.
Madera’s, by whom peopled.
The first that attempted to find Deep Water, and get round about, discovering several unknown Coasts, and Uninhabited Isles belonging to that Region, were Joannes Gonsalves, Tristan Varseus, and Ægidius Annius; amongst which were the Madera’s, and St. George de Picho, which Prince Henry first Planted with Portuguese, and others since with Netherlanders. He also obtain’d a Grant from Pope Martin the Fifth, of all the discover’d Territories East-ward from the Canaries, for ever to be the undoubted Right, and belonging to the Crown of Portugal.
By whom Genny was discover’d.
After Henry’s Decease, Anno 1460. the business of Navigation and Discoveries of new Countreys, lay neglected, because King Alphonso turmoyl’d in a Civil War, his Crown being at stake, had not leisure to think or look after uncertain improvements by Sea; yet at last having quell’d his Enemies, he ventur’d forth some Ships, who Sail’d as far as the River Zenaga, and came to Anchor before the City of Genny, famous since for Trade, which gave its denomination to the Countrey and Coasts of Guiny, where they dealing, Barter’d for Ivory, Gold, Slaves, and also got so much footing into the Countrey, that they suddenly rais’d up a Fort, and Man’d it with a strong Garrison, Shipping their Slaves for Lisbon.
John the Second succeeding his Father Alphonso, had a great design upon Arabia and India, and if possible, was ambitious to open a Passage from the Atlantick, to the Oriental-Seas. But the difficulty lay in Steering so often from sight of Land, venturing into the Main Ocean, obstructed by so many dangerous Shoals that lay so far out into the Offin.
For the Northern Constellations the Astrolabe was in use long before.
At that time flourish’d three famous Mathematicians, Rhoderick, Joseph, and Martin Bohemus, Pupils bred up by Joannes Monteregius; with which the King consulting, perswaded, that they would by their Art invent some Instrument, that by Southern Constellations, the Pole being depress’d, the Navigator might know where he was, and in what height; so guessing what distance they were from this or that Countrey; they accordingly Club’d Learning, and by their great Study, found out what since hath prov’d so useful and beneficial to Seamen, the Astrolabe; which help having obtain’d, the Sailers encourag’d, more frequently ventur’d into remote and unknown Seas.
Remarkable passage of Jaques Cano.
Discovery of Congo.