CHAPTER IL 
EARLY DISCOVERIES OF THE ENGLISH. 
Early Voyages to Africa.-^ Windham — LoJc. — To'wrson, — BaJcer* 
— Fermer. — First Voyages to the Senegal and Gambia. — Plans 
for 'penetrating to Tomhuttoo, — Thompson. — Jobson.^ — Vermuy" 
den. — Stibbs,—- Job' Ben- Solomon. — Moore, 
As the Portuguese engrossed the exclusive glory 
of circumnavigating the continent of Africa, so 
they reigned Jong the undisputed lords, both of 
the African and Indian Seas. As soon as the 
king had fortified the castle of Mina, and assumed 
the title of Lord of Guinea, he claimed a right of 
prohibiting the other European powers to land or 
traffic on any part of this immense continent. As 
this exorbitant pretension was sanctioned by the 
still revered authority of the court of Rome, he 
hesitated not to maintain it by force of arms, and 
to consider every attempt to disregard it as an 
unjustifiable aggression. Other maritime powers, 
however, were now rising to greatness, and would 
not long suffer so rich a prize to be withheld from 
their grasp. In 1481, a movement was made in 
England for the purpose of obtaining a share of 
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