[75] De Faria says fifty-five, and that they were all rewarded by the
    king.—­Astl.  I. 40. c.

[76] The translator values this pension at 200l. a-year, perhaps equal in
    present value to 2000l.—­E.

[77] This does not appear to have been actually done until his return
    from India the second time, as will be mentioned hereafter.—­E.

[78] According to Astley, but without quoting any particular authority,
    De Gama had a grant from the king of the title of Don for himself and
    his descendants, and a pension of 3000 ducats:  Coello was raised to
    the rank of Fidalgo, or gentleman, and had an appointment of 100
    ducats yearly.—­Astl.  I. 40.

SECTION III.

Voyage of Pedro Alvarez Cabral to India in 1500; being the second made by the Portuguese to India, and in the course of which Brasil was Discovered.

The certainty of a navigable communication with India, and the vast riches that were to be had in that country, being now ascertained, the king resolved to prosecute the discovery, on purpose to spread the gospel among the idolaters, and to augment his own revenues and the riches and prosperity of his subjects.  For these purposes, he determined to attempt the settlement of a factory in Calicut by gentle means; hopeful that they might be persuaded to a friendly intercourse, and might afterwards listen to the word of God.

He therefore commanded that a fleet of ten ships and two caravels should be got ready against next year, to be well laden with all the commodities which De gama had reported to have current sale in Calicut.  There went others also to Sofala and Quiloa, where also he commanded factories to be established, both on account of the gold which was to be found there, and that the ships might have a place to touch and refresh at in their way to and from India.  Over the fleet intended for Calicut, he appointed Pedro Alvarez Cabral, a gentleman of an honourable house, to be captain-general, Sancho de Toar being captain of his ship.  The names of the other captains, so far as have come to my knowledge, were Nicholas Coello, Don Luis Continho, Simon de Myseranda, Simon Leyton, Bartholomew Diaz, who discovered the Cape of Good Hope, and his brother Diego Diaz, who had been purser to Vasco do Gama in the former voyage.  Of the caravels, Pedro de Tayde[1] and Vasco de Silviera, were captains.  Arias Correa was appointed supercargo of the whole fleet, and was ordered to remain as factor in Calicut, having Gonsalo Gil Barboso and Pedro Vas Caninon as his clerks.  Two ships were to remain with the merchandize at Sofala, where Loriso Hurtado was to be factor.  In the whole of this fleet there embarked 1500 men[2].