The final action of the Holy See in this matter is indicated by a Bull of Leo X (Praecelsae, dated November 3, 1514) granted to Portugal; it confirms all previous papal gifts to that power of lands in the East, and grants to her both past and future discoveries and conquests, there and elsewhere.  Disputes arising between Spain and Portugal over the ownership of the Moluccas or Spice Islands (see letters of Carlos I to his ambassadors at Lisbon, February 4 and December 18, 1523; and the treaty of Vitoria, February 19, 1524), the Junta of Badajoz is convened (April 11-May 31, 1524) to settle this question; and that body fixes the Line of Demarcation three hundred and seventy leagues west of San Antonio, the most westerly of the Cape Verde Islands. (In this connection are presented the opinions of Hernando Colon, Sebastian Cabot, and other competent judges; and letters from Carlos I to the Spanish deputies.) This settlement proving ineffectual, the Moluccas are relinquished to Portugal by the treaty of Zaragoza (April 22, 1529), Spain retaining possession of the Philippine Islands, although the terms of that treaty placed them outside of her jurisdiction.

Reverting to a somewhat earlier date, we note incidentally the Bull of Alexander VI (Eximiae, November 16, 1501) which authorizes the Spanish monarchs to levy tithes on the natives and inhabitants of their newly-acquired possessions in the western world; and proceed to a summary of the life and voyages of Fernao de Magalhaes (commonly known as Magellan).  Synopses are given of many documents published by Navarrete, dated from 1518 to 1527:  a contract by Magalhaes and Falero to deliver to the House of Commerce of Seville one-eighth of all gains accruing to them from their future discoveries; a petition from the same men to Carlos I regarding the expedition which they are about to undertake; remonstrances against the undertaking, by the Portuguese ambassador in Spain, Magalhaes’s request for more money; various appointments in the fleet; restriction of the number of seamen; instructions to Magalhaes; a royal order that Ruy Falero shall not accompany the expedition; Magalhaes’s last will; the expense account of the fleet; an attempted mutiny on one of the ships; Francisco Albo’* journal of Magalhaes’s voyage; description of the cargo brought back to Spain by the “Victoria;” investigation of Magalhaes’s death; treaties with the natives of the Moluccas; advice given to the emperor by Diego de Barbosa; Brito’s account of Magalhaes’s voyage; and the confiscation of two of his ships by the Portuguese.