The Voyage of Verrazzano: A Chapter in the Early History of Maritime Discovery in America |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
according admiral admiral of France Alfonse alleged America anchor Ango appears authority Ayllon boat Cape Breton Cape Race captain caravels Carli letter Cathay Chabot chart claim coast copy cosmography covery Dauphine degrees described Dieppe discourse discovered distance east easterly emperor evidence existence expedition exploration fifty leagues Florence Florentine Florida French Giovanni da Verrazzano Gomez Hakluyt harbor hundred leagues Indians Indies island of Louise Jacques Cartier Jean Ango João Juan Florin king of France known land landfall latitude Lyons Magellan Majesty map of Ribero mentioned miles natives navigator Newfoundland Normandy Norumbega original Paris Peter Martyr pilot port Portugal Portuguese Ptolemy Ramusio reference regard relates river Roberval sailed Sebastian Cabot sent ship shore Silveira Spain statement straits Terra Nova tion translation Verraz Verrazano map Verrazzano discovery Verrazzano letter vessels voyage western sea writer zano
Popular passages
Page 184 - Adriatic gulph, near Illyria and Dalmatia. We had no intercourse with the people, but we judge that they were similar in nature and usages to those we were last among. After sailing between east and north the distance of one hundred and fifty leagues more, and finding our provisions and naval stores nearly exhausted, we took in wood and water and determined to return to France, having discovered 502, that is 700 (sic) leagues of unknown lands.
Page 181 - Sometimes, when our men staid two or three days on a small island, near the ship, for their various necessities, as sailors are wont to do, he came with seven or eight of his attendants, to inquire about our movements, often asking us if we intended to remain...
Page 178 - After proceeding one hundred leagues, we found a very pleasant situation among some steep hills, through which a very large river, deep at its mouth, forced its way to the sea. From the sea to the estuary of the river, any ship heavily laden might pass, with the help of the tide, which rises eight feet. But as we were riding at anchor, in a good berth, we would not venture up in our vessel without a knowledge of the mouth. Therefore...
Page 182 - It looks towards the south, on which side the harbour is half a league broad ; afterwards, upon entering it, the extent between the coast and north is twelve leagues, and then enlarging itself it forms a very large bay, twenty leagues in circumference, in which are five small islands, of great fertility and beauty, covered with large and lofty trees.
Page 175 - Many of the natives came to the beach, indicating by various friendly signs that we might trust ourselves on shore. One of their noble deeds of friendship deserves to be made known to your Majesty. A young sailor was attempting to swim ashore through the surf to carry them some knick-knacks, as little bells, looking-glasses, and other like trifles ; when he came near three or four of them he tossed the things to them, and turned about to get back to the boat, but he was thrown over by the waves,...
Page 71 - Queen and many attendants, to see us for his amusement ; but he always stopped at the distance of about two hundred paces, and sent a boat to inform us of his intended visit, saying they would come and see our ship, — this was done for safety, and as soon as they had an answer from us they came off and remained...
Page 179 - Among them were two kings more beautiful in form and stature than can possibly be described ; one was about forty years old, the other about twentyfour, and they were dressed in the following manner : the oldest had a deer's skin around his body, artificially wrought in damask figures ; his head was without covering; his hair was tied back in various knots; around his neck he wore a large chain ornamented with many stones of different colors. The young man was similar in his general appearance.
Page 58 - ... copper earrings. Departing from thence, we kept along the coast, steering northeast, and found the country more pleasant and open, free from woods, and distant in the interior we saw lofty mountains, but none which extended to the shore.
Page 172 - Normandy and Dolphin; and that after having repaired these ships, we made a cruise in them, well armed, along the coast of Spain, as your Majesty must have heard, and also of our new plan of continuing our begun voyage with the Dolphin alone; from this voyage being now returned, I proceed to give your Majesty an account of our discoveries.
Page 185 - During our voyage we had no lunar eclipses or like celestial phcnomenas, we therefore determined our progress from the difference of longitude, which we ascertained by various instruments, by taking the sun's altitude from day to day, and by calculating geometrically the distance run by the ship from one horizon to another ; all these observations, as also the ebb and flow of the sea in all places, were noted in a little book, which may prove serviceable to navigators ; they are communicated to your...