20 A. D. 1500. 



the kings of Cochin and Cananor, he at length returned home, loaded 

 with the richeft Indian merchandize, to Lifbon, now crowded with 

 commerce. Portugal was now, indeed, in its meridian glory ; lb that 

 it was laid the golden age was revived in the reign of Emanuel ; which 

 profperous flate continued to the year 1578, when the fatal death of their 

 romantic king don Sebaflian turned their fortune very much to the re 

 verfe, and it has never yet recovered that moil profperous fituation it 

 was in before that period. 



The fuccefs of Spain, in difcovering America, occahoned about this 

 time fundry attempts from different countries for farther difcoveries. 

 One Cortereal difcovered a coafh in upwards of 50 degrees of north lat- 

 itude, fouth of the entrance into that lince called Hudfon's Bay, which 

 country the Engliflr afterward named New Britain, and the French 

 would fain have included in New France ; but in the firft maps it is 

 called Corterealis. Other voyages of difcovery were, at different times, 

 made from France, Spain, Portugal, and Denmark on that bleak coaft, 

 from whence the various names of Eflitoland *, Terra di Labrador, 

 Efkimaux, &c. are given to it, or to fome part of it, by the maps of 

 different nations ; but finding no kind of wealth, but what could be got 

 nearer home, viz. by the fiOiery (nor a pailage that way to India), 

 they all feemed to have no farther inclination for fo inhofpitable a 

 coaft. 



In the treaty for the marriage of Arthur prince of Wales with the 

 king of Spain's daughter, there is a renewal of the intercourfc of com- 

 merce between England and Spain, wherein there is nothing particular, 

 but a claufe in thofe days much ufcd in treaties of commerce (not 

 "much to the credit of that age), viz. That the fliipmafters of both na- 

 tions Ihould thenceforward give fecurity, on their fetting fail for foreign 

 parts, in double the value of Ihip and cargo, not to commit deprada- 

 tions, nor any kind of violence nor injuftice, againft any of the fubjeds 

 of the other contracting party. It was hereby alfo in general ftipulated. 

 That fpecial care Ihould be taken of the merchandize of fhips wrecked 

 on the fhores of either party, to be faved and kept for the right owners. 

 \^Fcsdera, V. xii, p. 741.] 



1 501. — Emanuel king of Portugal, flufhed v/ith the fuccefs of the dif- 

 coveries of India and of the fouth continent of America, now fent out 

 three fhips to India. In their way they difcovered the ifle of Afcenfion, 

 lying eight degrees fouth of the line, and other ifles on the fouth coaft 

 of Africa. On their return from India they difcovered the uninhabit- 

 ed ifle of St. Helena (in fouth latitude 16°, and about mid-way be- 

 tween Africa and America), which has fince been long and moft ufe- 



* Eftotiland is mentioned in the middle of the related and ilUillratcd in Forjler's Hiftory of Voy^. 

 fourteenth century by Zeiio, vvhofe voyage was aga, i^e. in the North. M. 

 gtfbliftied in Ramufio's CoUeAions, and is alfo 



