A. D. 1499. ^9 



IV. The chief of the Englilli merchants at the fairs of Antwerp and 

 Bruges, called the court-mafler, fliall nor, as formerly, fix a fet price on 

 the merchandize they are to buy at thoic fairs. 



The other articles relate to the packing of wool in England, wherein 

 we find the mayor and conftables of the ftaple at Weftrainifter for the 

 fouth parts of England, and the like officers at the ilaple at Bofton for 

 the north parts of England, were to be judges and certifiers of the 

 ■package of wool to be brought to the fiiaple at Calais. Other articles 

 related to the recovery of debts in both countries, and to the efFeds of 

 perfons dying inteftate, &c. All which (the half merk per fack of 

 wool excepted) were to remain in force during the joint lives of both 

 contracting parties, and one year after the death of the firft. \_Foe(hra, 

 V. xii, p. 711.] 



Americus Vefpucius, a Florentine, in the fervice of Spain, now failed 

 from Port St. Maries in Andalufia, and made fome difcovery on the 

 coaft in South America; and as this was by Spain deemed the firfi: dif- 

 covery of the continent, that whole country had its name from him, 

 who did very little towards any material difcoveries, and undoubtedly 

 was not the firft difcoverer of that continent, as we have abundantly 

 fhown under the year 1496. 



1 500. — Emanuel king of Portugal, encouraged by the fuocefs of the firft 

 voyage to Eaft-India, lent out Cabral with 13 ftiips and 1200 men, to 

 make a fettlement there ; but a violent ftorm drove him on the coaft 

 of Brafil, of which he immediately advertifed his king, by a veflel 

 fent home on purpofe ; and there he left two Portuguefe to explore that 

 <:ountry *. Every one knows that this noble province has ever fince 

 proved an almoft inexhauftible fund of riches to Portugal, and that all 

 parts of Europe, which have any commerce with that kingdom, do, in 

 fome meafure, reap the benefits of this fortuitous difcovery. In ano- 

 ther ftorm near the Cape of Good Hope, they loft feveral ftiips, and 

 with only fix remaining, they arrived at the town of Sofala on the 

 fouth-eaft coaft of Africa, which they took poiTeflion of, and fortified. 

 They afterwards poflefled themfelves of the ifland of Mozambique on 

 that coaft, where they built and fortified, and v\'here thev alfo refitted, 

 and went thence to Quiloa and Melinda, forther north-eaftward on that 

 coaft. Travellers obierve, that there is fuch plenty of gold along part 

 of the coaft of Africa, that it is juftly fuppofed to have beeri the Ophir 

 of Solomon: Befides, this coaft affords filk, ambergreafe, ivory, and 

 •Haves ; and Mozam.bique has ever fince proved a feafonable port for the 

 Portuguefe fliips to refrefii and refit in their voyages to and from India. 

 Thence Cabral lailed to Calecut, and having contrailed friendftiip with 



* Thus, as has already been obferved, America after the P.irtugiicTc bcttdii"t'd'ttav'gate the foiith 

 ouU not poffibly have long reinained unknown part of t!ic Atlamii; ocean. 



Ga 



