sh fleet in the harbour of
Pandarane, which would hardly have been done during a time of peace--E.

[11] By some strange typographical mistake, Lichefild makes this date
1525, both in the text and in a marginal note, thus adding no less
than twenty years to the true chronology. In Astleys Collection, the
conclusion of this voyage is dated 22d July 1506; but we have chosen
to retain the regular series of dates as given by Castaneda. Owing to
the mistake in Lichefilds translation not being detected till a part
of this chapter was printed off, it has been repeated in our
introduction to this article, which our readers are requested to
correct.--E.

[12] In Astley, the ship commanded by Pedro Mendoza, is said to have been
stranded during the homeward voyage, fourteen leagues from the
_Aguada_, or watering-place of St Blas, and never more heard of.--Astl.
I. 58.

[13] Astley concludes the account of the honours conferred on Pacheco in
the following words: "But soon after imprisoned, and allowed him to
die miserably. A terrible example of the uncertainty of royal favour,
and the little regard that is had to true merit!"--Astl. I. 58.

CHAPTER VII.

LETTERS FROM LISBON IN THE BEGINNING OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY, RESPECTING
THE THEN RECENT DISCOVERY OF THE ROUTE BY SEA TO INDIA.[1]

INTRODUCTION.

The following letters bear to have been written by some Italian public
agents and merchants, to their employers and friends, and contain a
curious record of the first impressions made on the public mind by the
wonderful discoveries which navigation was then opening up to the
European world. They are selected from the _Novus Orbis_, a work which
was published by _Simon Grynaeus_ early in the sixteenth century.
According to M. de la Richarderie,[2] this collection was formed by Hans
Heteirs, canon of Strasburg, and was printed under the care of Simon
Grynaeus, by Isaac Hervag, in folio, at Basil in 1532. We learn likewise
that it passed rapidly through several editions, having been reprinted at
Basil in 1535, 1537, and 1555; and at Paris in 1582. The edition used on
the present occasion is printed at Basil in 1555 by Jo. Hervag. Its
principal contents, besides those translated for the present chapter, are
the voyages of Cada Mosto, already given; the discovery of America by
Christopher Columbus, which will form the first article in our subsequent
volume; the vo