The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-15
WHO FIRST DISCOVERED AMERICA? Was It Madocs---A Welsh Forerunning of
 Columbus.
Forerunning of
Columbus.

ap Owen GwSnedd in this work is as follows:--
 "David Alp Owen"
 Prince Owen Gwynedd being dead, the succession was of right to de- scend to his eldest legitimate son. Iorwerth Drwyndwn, otherwise called Edward with the broken nose; by req son of that blemish upon his face he was laid aside as unit to take upon the government of North Wales. There fore his younger brothers began every one to aspire in hopes of succeeding their father; but Howel, who was of all the eldest, but base born. begotten of an Irish woman, finding the others could not agree, stept In himself. and took upon him the government. But David. who was legitimateiy born, could not brook that a bastard should ascend his fathers throns; and, there fore. he made all preparations possible to pull HoweI down Howel. on the other hand, was as resolute to main tain his ground. and was not willing so quickly to deliver up what he had so long got possession of; and so both brothers meeting together in the field were resolved to try their title by the point of the sword. The battle had not lasted long but Howel was slain, and then David was unanimously proclaim ed and saluted Prince of North Wales, which principality he enjoyed without any molestation till Llewelyn. Iorwerth Drwyndwn's son., came of age, as will hereafter appear.
 But Madoc. another of Owen Gwy- medals sons, finding how his brothers contended for tho prtncipality, and that his native country was like to be tur- moiled in civil war, did thmink 1t his better prudence' to try his fortunes abroad; and, therefore. leaving North L.. sailed with a small fleet of ships which he. had rigged and manned for that purpose to the westward, and leaving Ireland upon the north he came at length to an unknown country. where l most things appeared to him new and 1 ucustomary, and the manner of the atiVes far differet from what he had the learned Humfrey Llwyd, must of necessity be some part of that vast tract of ground of which the Spaniards. since Hanno's time. boast themselves | to be the first discoverers: and by 1 which order in cosmography seems to he some part of Nova Hispania or | Florida; whereby 1t Is manifest that this country was discovered by the Bri-
 tons long before either Columbus or Americus Vesputins sailed thither. "Concerning Madoc's voyage to that l country, and afterwards his return
 from thence. there be many fabulous | stories and idle tales inveated by the | vulgar, who are sure never to diminish | from what they hear, but will add to | and increase any fable as far as their 1 invention will prompt them. How | ever it is certain that aMdoc arrived | in this country. and after he had view l ed the fertility and pleasantness of H. | he thought it expedient to invite more l of his countrymen out of Britain; and
 therefore. leaving most of those he had bought with him already behind, he | returned to Wales. Being arrived l there, he began to acquaint his friends
 with what fair and extensive land l he had met with but few peaceful in 1 habitants, whilst they in Wales em- ployed all their skill to supplant one l another only for a ragged portion oi
 rocks and mountains (evidently refer
 ring to North Wales). Therefore. he
 would persuade them to change theil
 present state of danger and continua 1 clashings for a more quiet being oi | ease and enjoyment.
 | And so. having got a considerable
 numberof Welsh together, he bid his 1 final adien to his native country, ant
 sailed with ten ships to them, he hac | left behind It Is, therefore, To bt l supposed that Madoc and hls people
 inhabited part of that country, since
 called Florida. by reason that IL ap
 pears from Francis Loves, an author
 of no small reputation, that Tn Acu' | fanus and other places the people non
 ored and worshipped the Cross
 whence 1t may be naturally concluded 1 that Christians had been there oefor'
 the coming of the Spaniards, ana wh' | these Christians might be, unless I
 were this colony of Madaws, cannot o' | easily imagined. But by reason Una