Note 116 — Chapter XX · Conjectures respecting the descendants of the tribes who built the Temples.—Knowledge and education of the Caciques and Priests.—Traditions of the arrival of white strangers from the East.—Las Casas.—Quetzal-Coatl.—Crosses found in Yucatan.—Gomara.—Legend of the flight of Spaniards by sea towards the West after the conquest of Spain by the Saracens.—Fabulous island of Antilia.—Columbus on his outward voyage steers for Antilia.—Trade-winds.—Considerations upon the probabilities of vessels being driven across the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans towards America.
Reading edition
According to Gibbon, the Goths under the command of King Roderick, were defeated by the Saracens on the plains of Xeres in the neighbourhood of Cadiz, upon July 19–26, A.D. 711. This great battle decided the fate of Spain. It was supposed that Roderick was drowned in the river but it was not known with certainty what became of him as his body was never found.
Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, chap. li.
The subject of the flight of the bishops, was afterwards brought into notice by a report of the discovery of the island where they had settled. This fabulous report was believed, in the fifteenth century, to be true. An historian states that:—
“In this yeare also, 1447, it happened that there came a Portugal ship through the Streight of Gibraltar; and being taken with a great tempest, was forced to runne westward more than willingly the men would, and at last they fell vpon an island which had seuen cities, and the people spake the Portugall toong, and they demanded if the Moores did yet trouble Spaine, whence they had fled for the loss which they had received by the death of the King of Spain, Don Roderigo.
The boatswaine of the ship brought home a little of the sand, and sold it unto a goldsmith of Lisbon, out of the which he had a good quantitie of gold.
Don Pedro, understanding this, being then gouernor of the realme, caused all the things thus brought home, and made knowne, to be recorded in the house of Justice.”
The Discoveries of the World, by Antonio Galvano.