An Enquiry into the Truth of the Tradition, Concerning the Discovery of America Part 2

[Footnote n: An Harbour at the Mouth of Albemarle River in North Carolina.]

[Footnote o: When it is considered that Mr. Jones's Visit to these Nations was near 500 Years after the Emigration of Prince Madog, it can be no Wonder that the Language of both Mr. Jones and the Indians was very much altered. After so long a period Mr. Jones must have been obliged to make use of Words and Phrases, in preaching Christianity, with which they must have been altogether unacquainted.

Besides, all living Languages are continually changing; therefore during so many Centuries, the Original Tongue must have been very much altered, by the Introduction of New Words borrowed from the Inhabitants of the Country. Though the Language was radically the same, yet Mr. Jones, especially, when treating of abstracted subjects, was hardly intelligible to them, without some Explanations. We are told that the Religious Wors.h.i.+p of the Mexicans, with all its Absurdities, was less superst.i.tious than that of the ancient and learned Greeks and Romans. May we not hence conclude that the Mexicans derived some part of their Religious Knowledge from a People enlightned by a divine Revelation; which, tho' very much corrupted in the Days of Madoc, yet was superior to Heathen Darkness. Clavigero, Hist.

of Mexico. Monthly Review, Vol. 65. p. 462, &c.]

[Footnote p: Pontigo, seems to have been derived from the Welsh Pont y Go. "The Smith's Bridge;" or Pant y Go, "The Smith's Valley."

Perhaps a Smith dwelt by the Side of a River, or near a Bridge.

Dr. Robertson says, History of America, Vol. II. p. 126, that the Indians were very ignorant of the use of Metals; Artificers in Metals were scarce, and on that account a Name might be given to a Bridge or Valley where one dwelt. Doeg Indians, may be a corruption of Madog's Indians. Cape Atros, Cape Hateras; near Cape Fair in Carolina, which last may be Cape Mair, the Cape of Mary, i. e.

the Virgin Mary.--I would just observe that some parts in Europe seem to have derived their Names from the Welsh. Armorica, has been thought Latin, yet it is most likely to be Welsh. Ar-y-mor "upon the Sea," which particularly is the Situation of Bretagne, in France, twice peopled from Great Britain.]

This Letter was sent or given to Dr. Thomas Lloyd of Pensylvania, by whom it was transmitted to Charle Llwyd Esq. of Dol y fran in Montgomerys.h.i.+re; and afterwards to Dr. Robert Plott by Edward Llwyd, A. M. Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.

Mr. Theophilus Evans, a Welch Clergyman, who communicated the above Letter to the Editor of the Gentleman's Magazine, was Vicar of St. David's in Brecon, well acquainted with the History of the Princ.i.p.ality. He has made several judicious remarks upon it.[q]

[Footnote q: It may be supposed that the above Letter was published about the beginning of the Spanish War in 1740, with a view of justifying that War; but the Story was not then invented, for it has been above shewn that the Tradition concerning Madog, was well known long before Elizabeth's reign; nay, long before she was born.]

He observes that the truth of Madog's Voyage is confirmed by it; that several Circ.u.mstances unite to establish the Fact; and that several British Words were used by the Mexicans when their Country was discovered by the Spaniards; such as Pengwyn, "White Head," the name, not only of a Bird, but also given to high and bare Rocks.[r]

Groeso "Wellcome." Gwenddwr, "white or limpid Water." Bara, "Bread."

Tad, "Father." Mam "Mother." Buch or Buwch, "a Cow." Clug-Jar, "a Partridge, or Heath c.o.c.k" (Clugar is now the Armorican name of a Partridge.) Llwynog, "a Fox," Coch y dwr, "a red water Bird," Many others are mentioned by Sir Thomas Herbert, in his Travels.

[Footnote r: Several Travellers say that the Birds called Pengwyn have not a White Head: that is, in the Countries where they saw them. But is it not certain that some Birds vary in Plumage in different Climates? In this Island the Royston Crow, as it in called is different in its Plumage from other Crows.]

Mr. Jones's Narrative shews that the Descendants of Madog's Colony were, in some measure, a distinct people in the Year 1660. He not only conversed freely with them, but preached to them in his Native Tongue.

When the Spaniards conquered, or rather ma.s.sacred the Inhabitants of Mexico, they found among them some traces of Christianity. The sign of the Cross was highly honoured, possibly wors.h.i.+ped by them.

Having been so many Ages separated from other Christians, their Religion, more and more, degenerated into Superst.i.tion; as, notwithstanding superior advantages, it did in Europe and in Asia.

Besides, the Similarity of Dialects in different places, already taken notice of, inclines me to believe that Madog's Colony, in process of Time, extended itself much farther than the Country on which they first landed; for we find several British Words in other places, and in some of the West Indian Islands.[s]

[Footnote s: About 90 Leagues to the South East of Mauritius, an Island in the East Indian Ocean, possessed by the French, there is another island about 50 Miles round, former called Degarroys, at present, Deigo Rayes, which name seems derived from the British Word, Digarad, "unlovely." "utterly forsaken." "Void of all human Beings." This was the state of the Island in the last Century, but whether it be now peopled or not, I cannot say. However, it is well furnished with provisions. See Herberts Travels.]

The Island Cura.s.soa, or Curazao, possessed by the Dutch, may have had its name from the British Word, Croesaw, or Croeso, "Wellcome;"

possibly so called for Joy at the sight of Land after a long and dangerous Voyage. Cape Breton, may also have had its name from these ancient Navigators, who possibly touched at it in one of their Voyages.

To strengthen these Conjectures, it is observable that Montezuma, Emperor of Mexico, on his submission to Cortez, said that their Chiefs were of foreign Extraction; and, when the above Circ.u.mstances are attended to, we may be disposed to believe that these Foreigners were ancient Britons[t]

[Footnote t: See the Preface to Charlevoix's Travels through America, and Howel's Letters. Vol. II. Letter 56. p. 77 Edit. 2. This Writer, who died in 1666, says that the Ancient Italian Bards, much resembled the Welsh Bards, in alliteration. This seems to intimate that the British Tongue, or Manners, in some distant Period, were known and followed in some parts of Italy.]

I know not of any Objection to the Account given by Humphry Llwyd and Dr. Powel, confirmed by Mr Jones's Narrative, but what is grounded upon the very low Estimation in which the Ancient British Writers are now undeservedly held.

For Argument's sake, let us suppose that the Original Britons were, in general, a stupid, foolish race of Men, might there not have arisen, _even_, among them, in the s.p.a.ce of 700, or 800 Years, _one_ Man blessed with some sagacity and penetration? In early times the Saxons were a barbarous and savage people. I do not recollect to have heard of a single instance of Saxon Knowledge or Learning, before they came to Britain about the Year 449, of Christ. The Original Inhabitants of this Island were, in some degree, celebrated for literary Acquisitions in the Days of Julius Caesar, near 500 Years before the arrival of the Saxons.[u]

[Footnote u: Warrington's History of Wales. p. 101. Edit. 2. The Saxons were so very illiterate when they were called to Britain by Vortigern, in Welsh, Gwrtheyrn, that they could neither write nor read. And for that reason Messengers were sent to them from Britain, with a verbal Invitation. Mr. Llwyd has proved that the Welsh furnished the Anglo-Saxons with an Alphabet. See a Welsh Book ent.i.tled Drych y prif Oesoedd, "a view of the Primitive Ages,"

by the above named Mr. Theophilus Evans. p. 96. note. Edit. 2.

and Rowlands Mona Antigua restorata.]

Though contrary to History, let us suppose that the Britons were void of all Understanding and Judgment, of all literary Merit; that doth not, in the least, affect the Truth of Prince Madog's Emigration; for by all that appears, it was not owing to Knowledge or Judgment, but was the consequence of Necessity and Prudence.

This Prince, however dull and sottish, might have sense enough to see that be could no where be in a worse condition than he was in his Native Country. There he could not live in safety, being always surrounded by a lawless Banditti, who sacrificed their Friends, Relations, and even their Parents, to inherit their Dominions or Possessions, which after all, for the most part, were only a small beggarly, wild, and uncultivated District; ragged Rocks and Precipices; barren Mountains; or boggy, unfruitful, and unfriendly Soil.

If an Objection be made to the Truth of Madog's Voyages, grounded upon the silence of History for so many Years, it may with no great difficulty be answered.[v]

[Footnote v: The History of the Gwedir Family by Sir John Wynne, published by the Honorable Daines Barrington, 1773, and afterwards in his Miscellanies, in 1781, takes no notice of Madog's Voyages; but mentions him as a Son of Owen Gwynedd. This Author was born in 1553, and died in 1626. He seems, chiefly, at least, to enumerate those Branches of Owen Gwynedd's Descendants, who were his own Ancestors. The present Sir Thomas Wynne, Bart. and Lord Newborough of the Kingdom of Ireland is, I think, a Descendant of our Author.]

The only History of that Period of British affairs were the Registers kept at Conway, and Strata Florida, above mentioned; or which Guttun Owen took the most exact and perfect Copy; and the Odes of the Bards, for several Years afterwards.[w] These are the only records we have of there Times.

[Footnote w: It may naturally be supposed that many Historical Doc.u.ments perished, when the Bards were destroyed by King Edward the Ist.]

Objections shall be more particularly considered when I come to consider what Lord Lyttlelton and Dr. Robertson have advanced on this Subject.

The Antients were incapable of pursuing foreign discoveries by Land or Sea. Their notion of the Figure of the Earth was not just, for most of them thought that it was a flat extensive plain. Their Knowlege of Astronomy was very much confined; and their Ignorance of the Properties of the Loadstone would prevent their undertaking any Voyage of Consequence. Supposing the Country which Madog discovered was not America, yet to say the Story is a late Invention, and forged after the discovery of that Continent by Columbus, with a View to set up a prior Claim to it, is plainly false; for, besides the testimony of Peter Martyr, respecting Names and Customs, we know that the Fact had been celebrated by Welsh Bards before Columbus first sailed to the West.[x]

[Footnote x: The Welsh Bards were also Historians. They were retained in great Families to record the actions of their Ancestors, and their own, in Odes and Songs. Their poems, therefore, may be considered, as History, sometimes, probably, in some degree, embellished. Out of Hatred to the Church of Rome, they seem, occasionly, to have written something in the name of Taliossyn, &c. But the Voyage of Prince Madog had nothing to do with Religion.]

Some Writers have said, that it was not to America our Welsh Prince sailed, and in proof say, that America was well known in the 9th and 10th Centuries. It is most certain that it was well known to its Inhabitants for thousands of Years. But that it was at all known to any European before the 12th Century, at soonest, is incredible. (See page 12th, &c) for there is not even the Shadow of Authority for it. We are also told that Greenland was the Country to which Madog sailed, which is by no means probable, nor, indeed, possible; because it contradicts every historical Evidence that we have. Had he sailed to Greenland, he must have left Ireland to the South, on his left Hand, whereas we are expressly told that he left it to the North, on his right Hand. Besides, it is said, by all Writers on the subject, that the Country which Madog discovered was fair, fruitful and pleasant, but Greenland is a miserable, poor Country; so excessively cold that all attempts to settle in it, have failed; for the persons left there have always perished. In comparison with Greenland, therefore, this Prince's Native Country, was a Paradise. Farther, I cannot learn that the Greenlanders in their Persons, Manners, and Customs bear any resemblance to the Ancient Britons; which some American Tribes plainly do. When we compare circ.u.mstances together, we shall be led, with Hakluyt, to conclude that Madog landed on some part of New England, Virginia, &c. and that in process of time the Colony extended itself Southward to Mexico, and other places; and that those Foreign Ancestors of the Mexican Chiefs, of whom the Spanish Writers often speak in their accounts of Cortez's Adventures, were Ancient Britons.

The probability that Madog sailed to, or was driven upon some part of the American Continent seems, evident, though perhaps, we have not facts sufficiently clear to demonstrate it.

In those ages, before the Invention of the Compa.s.s, of the art of Printing, and of Gun-powder, the Welsh had very few advantages to boast of above the Native Americans: thence we may conclude that Madog and his Colony landed amicably, and that they were received by the Natives with Cordiality.

That so extraordinary an Event should not excite either the English or the Welsh to attempt a Discovery of their hardy Countrymen, and their New Settlement, can only be accounted for by the Ignorance and poverty of the times. It is most natural to suppose that the English knew nothing of this Expedition from a Province which acknowleged not their Authority, and with which they were almost continually at War, and whose Inhabitants they would have been exceedingly glad to hear were all gone away: and the poverty of the Welsh, robbed of their Inheritance by the usurping Saxons, Normans, and Flemings, would effectually prevent their making any attempts.

In short, Mr. Jones's recital of his Travels confirms the Truth of Prince Madog's Emigration and settlement in some part of America; for it expressly says, that in the Year 1660, there were some whole Tribes in North America, who spoke Welsh, and therefore most have descended from the Ancent Britons.[y]

[Footnote y: I am obliged to a learned Welsh Divine for several of the above Observations.]

A Letter written by Charles Lloyd, Esq. of Dol y fran, in Montgomerys.h.i.+re, already mentioned, published in 1777, by the Revd.

N. Owen, junr. A. M. in a pamphlet ent.i.tled, "British Remains,"

strongly confirms Mr. Jones's Narrative, and of consequence, the Truth of Madog's Voyages. Mr. Lloyd says, in a Letter, that he had been inform- by a Friend, that one Stedman of Brecons.h.i.+re, about 30 Years before the Date of his Letter, was on the Coast of America in a Dutch Bottom, and being about to land for refreshment, the Natives kept them off by Force, till at last this Stedman told his fellow Dutch Seamen that he understood what the Natives spoke.

The Dutch bade him speak to them, and they were thereupon very courteous; they supplied them with the best things they had, and told Stedman, that they came from a Country called Gwynedd, (North Wales) in Prydam, (prydain) fawr, Great Britain.[z] It is supposed by Mr. Lloyd that this place was situated between Virginia and Florida. It is farther said by this Gentleman, that one Oliver Humphreys, a Merchant, who died, not long before the Date of this Letter, told him, that when he lived at Surinam, he spoke with an English Privateer or Pirate, who being near Florida a careening his Vessel, had learnt, as he thought the Indian Language, which his Friend said was perfect Welsh. "My Brother, Mr. Lloyd adds, having heard this, (Mr. Jones's Adventures) and meeting with this Jones at New York, desired him to write it, with his own Hand, in his House; and to please me and my Cousin Thomas Price (of Llanvyllin) he sent me the Original. This Jones lived within 12 Miles of New-York, and was Contemporary with me and my Brother at Oxford. He was of Jesus College, and called then Senior Jones, by Way of distinction."

[Footnote z: This must be a mistake, for this Island was not called Great Britain, at soonest, till the Accession of James the first; Or, these Welsh People were the Descendants of a New Colony from Britain, since James's Accession. The latter is most probable, for the Stuart Family had been on the English Throne about 40 Years, when this Oliver Humphreys died.]

The Flight of Jones this Gentlemen supposes to have taken place about the time of Bacon's Rebellion in Virginia, and that he was with the Indians about the Year 1669.[aa]

[Footnote aa: Mr. Jones's Narrative says 1660: this Gentleman, says, 1669; but Mr. Jones's is the best Authority, for his Narrative is dated March 10th 1685-6, some Years before the time that Mr.

Lloyd supposes that he was among the Indians. The other Date is either, 1675, or 1673-4.

See the Gentleman's Magazine. Vol. 47. p. 449.]

The Date of Mr. Lloyd's Letter is Dolobran. 8m 14 D. 3/4.

There is also in Mr. Owen's British Remains an Extract from Dr.

Robert Plott's Writings, in which the Doctor declares his Belief in Prince Madog's Emigration, and Mr. Jones's Narrative.

About the same time, Sir Thomas Herbert published his Travels, in which he mentions Prince Madog's Voyages. His Narrative, in some things not material to the question before us, differs from Llwyd and Powel. He adds that David the Son of Owen Gwynedd having slain his illegimate Brother Howel in Battle, was best approved of, and chosen Prince of North Wales; because by the comeliness of his Person, and Ingenuity, he had gained the affections of the Lady Emma Plantagenet, Sister to King Henry the Second.[bb] This Writer must have seen Llwyd's and Powel's Account, and adds, that Madog after his last Voyage, returned no more.[cc.]

[Footnote bb: Warrington's History of Wales, p. 312. Edit. 1788.]

[Footnote cc: Herbert's Travels, p. 394, &c. The Differences we find between the Writers who have mentioned prince Madog's Voyages, seem to imply that they derived their Information form different Sources.]