_Christopher Colonus_, generally (though by mistake) call’d _Columbus_, was born in _Arbizolo_, a Village in the Dominion of _Genoa_, near _Savona_; his Father liv’d by Fishing in the Midland-Sea: So that _Sebastian Schroter_, and others besides him, are mistaken, saying, _Colonus_ was born in the City _Cucureum_, and descended of the Noble Family _Pilistrelli_: For _Peter Bezarus_, _Colonus_ his Countrey-man, gives unquestionable Proofs of his mean Extract; and amongst other things, That the Common-wealth of _Genoa_ refus’d to receive the great Legacy which _Colonus_ left them in his Will, because they fondly thought it a derogation to their Honor, being so great a Republick, to take any thing of Bequest from a Fishers Son: Yet his Majesty of _Castile_ thought otherwise, not onely enriching him with Wealth, and a fair Revenue for his Discovery of the _West-Indies_; but also, though of a low derivation, rais’d him to great Honor, Ennobling him the first of his Family with Dignities, Titles, and Escutcheon, which rank’d him in place among his Prime Nobility. [Sidenote: His Life.] [Sidenote: Strange Accident. _Hist. Peru._] [Sidenote: Makes his Address at _Genoa_.] [Sidenote: _To the Portuguese_,] [Sidenote: _English_,] [Sidenote: And _Castilian_ King, concerning a New World.] [Sidenote: Sails from _Cadiz_ to discover New Countreys.] [Sidenote: His People rebel.] [Sidenote: Discovers _Hispaniola_.] [Sidenote: Trades with the Natives.] _Colonus_, whom we shall henceforth call _Columbus_, spent his Youth near the Sea, where he was busie exploring the Winds, considering their Natures, and the Quarters whence they rose, especially with the setting of the Current from the _Atlantick_ to the _Mediterrane_. The Western Winds, which often, as well as the _Levant_, blow several days together from the great Ocean, much amusing him, hinted at last some Notions, that there might be another World, and new Places to be discover’d, beyond the setting of the Sun; and that the _Ne plus ultra_ should not be, if he could help it, the commanding Terminary of the Earth that way. He also spent much time, being of a solid Judgment, in the Emendations of Charts and Maps, then very much improvable: And the _Portuguese_, who at that time had got the start in Navigation from all other People, being then busie to find a way by the South of _Africa_ to the _East-Indies_, not contented to go by hearsay, he went himself in Person a Voyage with them. Soon after _Columbus_ settled himself in the Island _Madera_, where an Accident hapned, which _Francis Lopez de Gomesa_ relates thus: “The Master of a Ship, whose Name and Countrey lies buried in Oblivion (though some would have him to be of _Spain_, some an _Andalusian_ or _Biscayner_, and others a _Portuguese_) Trading the _Canaries_ and _Flemmish-Isles_, was surpris’d by a hideous Tempest from the East, which hurried him _nolens volens_ through dreadful Waves,