In the yeere 1492, in the time of Don Ferdinando, king of Castile, he being at the siege of Granada, dispatched one Christopher Columbus, a Genoway, with three ships to goe and discouer Noua Spagna : who first had offered his seruice for a westerne discouerie vnto king John of Portugal; but he would not entertaine him.

He being sufficiently furnished for this enterprise, departed from the towne of Palos the third day of August, hauing with him as captaines and pilots, Martin Alfonso Pinzon, Francis Martinez Pinzon, Vincent Yannes Pinzon, and Bartholomew Columbus his brother, with 120 persons more in his companie : and some affirme that they were the first that sailed by latitudes. They tooke the canaries in their way, and there refreshed themselues ; taking their course thence [through the Sargassum Sea] towards Cipango: but finding the sea by the way full of weeds they were amazed, and with great feare arriued at the Antiles the tenth day of October, and the first island that they descried was called Guanahany : where they went on land, and tooke possession of it, and named it San Saluador. This island standeth in 25 of degrees northerly latitude. And after that they found many islands, which they called the Princes because they were the first that they had discouered.