1500. THE CORTEREALS. SQ 



of Newfoundland, but of settling there also, 

 towards the close of the fifteenth century. 



The arduous enterprize of prosecuting disco- 

 veries in the northern seas would seem however 

 to have been reserved exclusively for the family of 

 the Cortereals ; for it does not appear that any person 

 had attempted, on the part of Portugal, to explore 

 those seas navigated by John Vaz Cortereal, the 

 father, nor by any nation, except Cabota in behalf 

 of England, until the time of his son Caspar 

 Cortereal. 



The two ships which had been prepared for this 

 voyage, and put under his command, sailed from 

 Lisbon in the summer of 1500 — for although 

 Galvam says that they sailed from the island of 

 Terceira, this must only be understood on account 

 of their having touched there to receive refresh- 

 ments, to complete their crews, and to afford 

 Cortereal an opportunity of taking leave of that 

 part of his family which was settled in that 

 island. 



Departing from the Azores, or Western Islands, 

 they steered a course which, as far as they knew, 

 had never but once before been traced by any navi- 

 gator, till they discovered laml to the northward, 

 toAvhich they gave the name of 7err« Verde — that 

 is, Greenland. Galvam places it (although w^ith 

 little accuracy) in 50°* — and others, particidarly 



* Misprinted probably for 60®, which would be correct. 



D 4 



