In 1504, Roderigo de Bastidas, formerly mentioned, with the aid of John de Ledesma, and others of Seville, fitted out two ships, and taking John de Cosa as his pilot, went on discovery to the Terra Firma of America, where Carthagena now stands.  He is said to have here met with Lewis de la Guerra, and they in conjunction landed in the island of Codego, where they made prisoners of 600 savages.  Going a little farther along the coast, they entered the Gulf of Uraba, where they found sand mingled with gold, being the first of that kind which was brought to Spain.  From thence they sailed for St Domingo, loaded with slaves, but almost famished for want of victuals, as the natives refused to traffic with them for any.  In the end of this year Isabella, queen of Castile, died.  While she lived, no subject of Arragon, Catalonia, Valencia, or any other of the provinces, depending on her husband King Ferdinand, was allowed to sail to any of the newly-discovered countries; but only her own subjects of Castile and Biscay, by whom all these lands were discovered; excepting only such of her husbands subjects as might be in a servile capacity to her own, or a few that could procure special licenses.

In 1505, on the twenty-fifth of March, Francisco de Almeida, the viceroy of India, sailed from Lisbon with a fleet of twenty-two sail.  On his way to India, he stopped at Quiloa, where he built a fort, appointing Peter Fereira to command it.  From beyond Melinda he passed over to the island of Anguediva, of which he appointed Emanuel Passavia to be captain.  He built a fort also at Cananor, of which he gave the command to Laurence de Brito; and one at Cochin, which was given in charge to Alphonso de Noronha.  This year likewise, Peter de Anahay built a fort at Sofala, of which he was made captain.  In the latter end of this year the viceroy commanded his son Laurenco to go to the islands of Maldivia.  Beating up against contrary winds, he arrived at these islands which in ancient times were called Traganae[19], but Ytterubenero by the Moors, and by us Ceilan.  Here he went on shore, and entered into treaty with the people, and returned to Cochin.  In the middle of this island there is a high rock, having the print of a mans foot, said to have been that of Adam when he ascended to heaven, which the Indians hold in great reverence.

In 1506, after the death of Isabella, King Philip and Queen Joan came to take possession of the crown of Castile, and.  King Ferdinand retired into his own dominions of Arragon.  In that same year Philip died, and Ferdinand resumed the government, giving license to all Spaniards to go to the new discovered countries; but not allowing the Portuguese to go there.  In this year, likewise, Christopher Columbus died, in the month of May, and was succeeded in his dignities by his son Don Diego.