The following Observations are with Diffidence given to the Public;
because the Subject is rather obscure and uncertain. However, it is
presumed that there are stronger Reasons for admitting the Truth
of Prince Madog's landing on the American Shores, than for the
contrary. There are many Relations in History, which have obtained
Credit, that appear to me, not so well supported as this Tradition.
We find allusions to it in the Writings of Ancient British Bards,
who were dead before Columbus sailed on his first Western Voyage.
We are told, also, by credible Authors, that some plain traces of
Christianity, such as it was in the Days of Madog, were found in
America, when the Spaniards landed there. No Nation, in Europe,
hath ever pretended to have visited America before Behaim, Columbus,
or Americus Vespucius, but the Welsh: it is therefore almost, if
not quite certain, that if its religious Notions and Customs were
derived from Europe, it must have been from the Ancient Britons. The
Words in common use on different parts of the Continent, which are
very near, or undeniably Welsh, in both sound and sense, could not
happen by chance, and they could not be derived from any Europeans
but from the Ancient Britons.
The inhabitants of some parts, it is said had a Book among them,
upon which they set a great Value, though they could not read it.
This Book seems to have been a Welsh Bible, because it was found
in the Hands of a people who spoke Welsh; and because Mr. Jones
could read and understand it.
This Circumstance is of great Weight in the debate. For whether
this Book was a Welsh Bible or not, it actually proves that the
Natives of that Country where the Book was found, had been on that
Continent many Ages, and could not be the descendants of a Colony
planted there after the discovery of Columbus in 1492. No written
Language or Alphabetical Characters can be totally forgotten by
any people, within the space of 160, or 170 Years, which was the
period that intervened between the discovery of Columbus and Mr.
Jones's visit.
It will be shewn in this short Treatise that there is not the least
reason to think that the whole was a Story invented to be the ground
of a claim to a first Discovery. For before Columbus returned from
his first Western Voyage, no Nation in Europe had any idea of a
Western Continent except the Ancient Britons; among whom there
seems to have been some Tradition that Prince Madog, many Years
before the 15th Century, had landed on some western Shores; but
that these were the American Shores, was a Discovery of later Ages.
Mr. Owen Jones, and Mr. William Owen, the Editors of David ab Gwilym's
Poems, lately published, to whom I am obliged for several Observations,
have favored me with the following account of a very late date.
In a letter, dated Octob. 1st, 1788, a Friend of theirs, a Native
of Wales, who lives on the Banks of the Ohio, informed them that
he had been several times among Indians who spoke Welsh; and that
there was at the time when he wrote, a person in Virginia from
the back settlements who had been among a Tribe of Welsh Indians,
whose situation he laid down on the River Misouris, or Misouri,
about 400 Miles above its junction with the Mississipi; that is
between 40 and 50 degrees North Latitude; This Tribe seems to have
been that which Captain Stewart saw, and which is also mentioned
in Mr. Beatty's Journal.
This Tribe seems to have little or no connection with other Indians:
the latter are of a deep Copper Colour, but the former, in general
have fair Complexions.
That Prince Madog's Adventures, are _certainly_, true, I do not
positively say; but from various circumstances, hereafter considered,
they appear so to me. However, should the Evidence produced be
thought insufficient to prove them real Facts it will prove that
some Welsh people had landed on the American Shores long before
Columbus; and as we have no account of any other, it may naturally
be concluded, that they are descended from Prince Madog's Colony.
The Traditions concerning this Welsh Prince have engaged my attention,
more or less, above 30 Years; and these Sheets were intended for
the Press, had the late misunderstanding with Spain never happened.
This Subject, as far as I can learn hath never been particularly
examined, though mentioned by various Writers. I have, therefore,
ventured to declare my Opinion, and the reasons by which it is
supported, in hopes that some more able and judicious Antiquary
will take it into Consideration.
To preserve Connection and perspicuity, the Reader will find some
Facts and Remarks more than once mentioned. I hope that it will
be excused, as it appeared to me unavoidable.
I beg the Gentlemen to whom I am obliged for much Information to
accept my grateful Acknowledgments.
Every Author cited in this Treatise hath been consulted, excepting
Francis Lopez de Gomara, Postell. Comp. Cosmo. and the 7th and
8th Decades of Peter Martyr, to which I could have no access.
Sydenham,--Feb. 1st, 1791.
AN ENQUIRY, &c.
That the original Inhabitants of America were descended from our
common Parents, Adam and Eve, will admit of no doubt. In Form,
Figure, and in the powers of the mind, we are the same. The only
difference between the Europeans and Americans was, that the former
were in a civilized state, the other uncivilized. By whom, how, and
when that vast Continent was first peopled, are questions which
have employed the thoughts and pens of learned Men for several
Centuries. _Hornius_ in his _De Originibus Americanis_, and Dr.
_William Robertson_ in his _History of America_, with great probability,
were of opinion that they were descended from the Jews, Canaanites,
Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, and Scythians; and that the
Chinese, Swedes, Norwegians, the Welsh and the Spaniards, sent
Colonies thither in later ages.[a]
[Footnote a: De Originibus Americanis, Lib. I. Cap. 2. Dr. Robertson's
_History of America_, Vol. II. Page 28, Edit. 1788.]
That America was originally peopled by some of the above Nations
seems most probable from the resemblance between the Inhabitants
and Animals of the northern Regions of America, and the Inhabitants
and Animals of the northern Regions of Europe and Asia. If any are
desirous of knowing the sentiments of different Writers on this
Subject, let them consult the above Authors. In the discusion of
this point I am not concerned; my only design being to examine which
of the _European_ nations, since the eleventh Century discovered
the Western Continent.
When we reflect upon the populousness of America when discovered,
as supposed, in the 12th Century, we must be convinced that it
was known in very early times, many Centuries before any European
landed on the Coasts.
The Spaniards claim the Honor of this Discovery.
Christopher Columbus, a native of Genoa in Italy, by the encouragement
and assistance of Ferdinand and Isabella, King and Queen of Spain,
discovered the West Indian Islands, and some parts of the Continent
of South America, about the year 1492, or 1493 of Christ; and other
parts of it were discovered by Americus Vespucci (Vespucius) about
the year 1497, from whom the whole took its name; but neither of
them seems to have been the first European that visited America.
Dr. Gregory Sharp says that Behaim or Martin of Bohemia was there
about the year 1460.[b]
[Footnote b: Translation of Baron Holbergh's _Introduction to
Universal History_, p. 211. note. Edit. 1758. De Murr says that
Behem or Behaim, was a native of Nuremberg in Germany, acquainted
with Columbus, but had no right to dispute with him the discovery
of America.