In two years he cast one hundred and fifty large pieces of artillery; but he had no master who understood it, and consequently the pieces were so poorly made that none of them stood the test.

I saw twenty pieces out of thirty-six burst at the first shot, as the gunner, one Pedro Castano, who is in this court, will tell; consequently they did not dare to test the cannon with the royal test.

There was an excellent founder there, named Don Diego de Prado, who had made considerable artillery in Lisboa.

Silva refused to accept him, but on the contrary let him go to Espana by way of India, although he should have diligently looked for him.

He is a friar here now, named Basilio.