VALENTINE'S MANUAL
 

VERREZANO'S VOYAGE

NoTE.—It has been a question considerably discussed whether
Hudson is entitled the place in our history, commonly accredited to
him, of having been the fĩrst European discoverer of the mouth of
the Hudson River. By some it is supposed (and we confess ourself
among the number), that Verrezano was. the actual discoverer,
nearĩy an hundred years previous to the visit of I-Iudson. That our
readers may form an opinion on this subject from tbe original report
of the voyage, as well as peruse an interesting account of one of the
earliest European expeditions to the Ainerican coast, we furnish in
part, a copy (in which the ancient English orthography is preserved)
of Verrezano's letter to his Royal Master, the King of France, under
whose   auspices  the   expedition   sailed.
 

To THE Most Christian King of France, Francis the
FiRST:

The Relation of John De Verrezano, a Florentine, of thc
the Land by him discovered in the name of his Ma-
iestie.    Written at Diepe the eight of July, 1524.

I wrote not to your Maiesty, raost Christian King, since
the tirae we suffered the tempest in the north partes, of
the successe of the four shippes which your Maiesty sent
forth to discover new lands by the ocean, thinking your
Maiesty had bene already duely enformed thereof. Now
by these presents I will giue your Maiesty to understand
how by the violence of the windes, we were forced with the
two sliippes, the Norman and the Dolphin, (in such evil
case as they were,) to land in Britaine, wíiere, after wee
had repayred thera in all poynts as was needful, and arraed
them very well, we took our course along by the coast of
Spaine, which your Maiesty shall understand by the profite
that we received thereby. Afterwards with the Dolphin
alone we deterrained to make discouerie of new countries,
to prosecute the nauigation we had already begun, which
I purpose at this present to recount unto your Maiesty, to
make manifest the whole proceeding of the matter.

The 17th of January, the yeere 1,524, by the grace of
God, we departed frora the dishabited rocke by the isle of
Madeira, apperteining to the King of Portugal, with 50
raen, with victuals, weapons and other ship-munition, very
well prouided and furnished for eight months: and sailing
westward with a faire easterly winde, in 25 dayes we ran
500 leagues, and the 20 of Februarie, we were ouertaken
with as sharpe and terrible a tempest as euer any saylors
suffered, whereof with the diuine helpe and merciful as-
sistance of almighty God, and the goodnesse of our shippe,
accompanied with the good happe of her fortunate name,
we were deliuered, and with a prosperous winde foUowed

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