As the Poet seems to be returning thanks to a Friend for a Favour, I am of opinion that he only alludes to Madog’s Success, and expressing his Hope that he should be as successful in his pursuits.  Therefore in the third Line, I would read, not, wyf, “I am,” but wych, “bold,” “Courageous;” &c. and in the fifth Line, I would read not f’ enaid oedd, “my Soul or Ambition was,” but ei enaid oedd, “His Soul, or Ambition was.”

A Gentleman, who, upon the whole, approved of these Alterations, observed that in the fifth Line, alteration was not necessary; for f’naid oedd, literally, “he was my Soul,” was an apostrophe; in other Words, “I revere his Memory.”

The four last of the above Lines were sent to me above 30 Years ago, by my late learned and excellent Friend, Dr. John Collet, of Newbury, Berks, which I endeavoured to translate as above.

They were thus rendered into Latin by the late Dr. Samuel Johnson.

  Inclytus hic Haeres magni requiescit Oenii,
  Consessus tantum mente modoque patrem. 
  Servilem talis Cultum contempsit Agelli
  Et petiit Terras per Freta longa novas.[i]

[Footnote i:  Public Advertiser.  May 25th 1787.  Sir Thomas Herbert’s Translation, though faithful, is not literal.

But, in my opinion, neither He nor Dr. Johnson enter into the real meaning of the Poet.]

It hath been said by some Writers that these Lines were found cut upon a stone in Mexico, but this is said without Foundation.  It is much more probable that they were written, on the above occasion, by Sir Meredyth ab Rhys, who flourished about 300 Years after Madog’s Voyages.  However it is certain that they were written, at least, 15 Years before Columbus first sailed on his American Voyage; when no European Nation had any idea of a Western Continent.  Of consequence, the Story was not invented to be the Foundation of a Dispute between the Britons and the Spaniards about the Discovery of the New World.

Another Writer who alludes to Madog’s Voyage is the Author of a Book entitled “a brief Description of the whole World.”  Edit. 5th.  London Printed, for John Marriott, 1620.

“I am not ignorant that some who make too much of vain Shews, and of the British Antiquities, have given out to the World, and written some things to that purpose, that Arthur some time King of Britain had both Knowledge of those parts (the New World) and some Dominion in them; for they find (as some report) that King Arthur had under his Government many Islands and great Countries towards the North and West, which one of some special Note hath interpreted to signify America, and the Northern parts thereof, and thereupon have gone about to entitle the Queen of England (Elizabeth) to be the Soveraigne of these Provinces by right of Descent from King Arthur.  But the Wisdom of our State has been such as to neglect that Opinion, imagining it to be grounded upon fabulous Foundations, as many