... to France as a navigator as early as 1508. He became a bold corsair, and a terror to the merchant-ships of Spain and Portugal, seizing many vessels. In 1522 he captured the treasure-ship sent by Cortez to Charles V. with the spoils of Mexico, valued at $1,500,000. Verrazzano, according to a letter from the navigator to Francis I., dated July 8, 1524, and published in the collection of voyages by ...