We Have Already Seen That Juan Ponce De Leon Had Been Restored To The
Government Of Porto Rico By The Interest Of His Friend Obando, And Had
Sent His Predecessors, Cerron And Diaz, Prisoners Into Spain.
This
circumstance, which he thought a bold stroke in politics, turned much
against himself; for these men presented a petition against him to the
court of Spain, and being strongly supported by the interest of the
admiral, they were sent back to resume their former employments.
By this
reverse, De Leon was reduced to a private condition; but he had made good
use of his time, and had acquired a large fortune, which induced him to
attempt recovering his power and credit by means of discoveries. He
accordingly sailed from the port of St German on the 1st of March 1512,
with two stout ships which he had fitted out at his own expence; and
steering through among the Lucayos islands, he discovered land on the 2d
April, in lat. 30 deg. 8' N. till then unknown to the Spaniards. Elated by
this good fortune, he ran along the coast in search of some good harbour,
and anchored at night near the shore in eight fathoms water. Believing
this land to be an island, and because it appeared beautiful, being all
level, with many pleasant groves, he named it the island of Florida,
also because discovered at Easter, which the Spaniards call Pascha de
Flores. De Leon went on shore at this place to take formal possession of
the country.
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