More Theses on the Discovery of America

Abstract

In 1473, João Vaz Corte-Real and Álvaro Martins Homem received the donatories of Angra and Vila da Pïaia on the Island of Terceira in the Azores for having discovered the Island of Cod (Newfoundland) (i.e., south of Greenland, on the American Continent, Canada)¹ (see Figure 13.1). If Columbus lied and did not travel to Frisland-Iceland and Frisland-Greenland in 1477, he could have based his story on information collected in Lisbon about the voyage of those two Azoreans. If he were a foreigner, however, who would have risked giving him that information? Having taken the oath of secrecy of the Order of Christ, the navigators certainly would not have been forthcoming with geographical references, and the ordinary seamen would not have possessed such cosmo-geographic knowledge. Even if he were Portuguese, Columbus would have had access only to those secrets if he were in the confidence of the Master of the Order of Christ. He would have had to have been both Portuguese and highly respected.