Again, in Ruysch’s map of 1508 there is “a large island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean between Lat. N. 37° and 40°. It is called Antilia Insula, and a long legend asserts that it had been discovered long ago by the Spaniards, whose last Gothic king, Roderik, had taken refuge there from the invasion of the Barbarians.”[126]
Ferdinand Columbus, living between 1488 and 1539, says that some Portuguese cartographers had located
Antilla ... not ... above 200 leagues due west from the Canaries and Azores, which they conclude to be certainly the island of the seven cities, peopled by the Portuguese at the time that Spain was conquered by the Moors in the year 714. At which time they say, seven bishops with their people embark’d and sailed to this island, where each of them built a city; and to the end none of their people might think of returning to Spain, they burnt the ships, tackle and all things necessary for sailing. Some Portuguese discoursing about this island, there were those that affirmed several Portuguese had gone to it, who could not find the way to it again.[127]
He relates particularly how “in the time of Henry infant of Portugal [perhaps about 1430], a Portuguese ship was drove by stress of weather to this island Antilla.” The crew went to church with the islanders but were afraid of being detained and hurried back to Portugal. The Prince heard their story and ordered them to return to the island, but they escaped from him and were not found again. It is said that of the sand gathered on Antillia for the cook room a third part was pure gold.
Galvano tells of a still later visit; or possibly it is only another version of the same:
In this yeere also, 1447, it happened that there came a Portugall ship through the streight of Gibraltar; and being taken with a great tempest, was forced to runne westwards more then willingly the men would, and at last they fell upon an Island which had seven cities, and the people spake the Portugall toong, and they demanded if the Moors did yet trouble Spaine, whence they had fled for the losse which they received by the death of the king of Spaine, Don Roderigo.
The boateswaine of the ship brought home a little of the sand, and sold it unto a goldsmith of Lisbon, out of the which he had a good quantitie of gold.
Don Pedro understanding this, being then governour of the realme, caused all the things thus brought home, and made knowne, to be recorded in the house of justice.
There be some that thinke, that those Islands whereunto the Portugals were thus driven, were the Antiles, or Newe Spaine.[128]