Papal bulls:  Inter caetera (May 3), Eximiae (May 3), Inter caetera (May 4), Extension de la concesion (September 25)—­1493.  Treaty of Tordesillas—­June 7, 1494. [Note on correspondence of Jaime Ferrer—­1493-95.] Compact between the Catholic Sovereigns and the King of Portugal—­April 15, 1495.  Papal bull, Praecelsae—­November 3, 1514.  Instructions from the King of Spain to his ambassadors—­February 4, 1523.  Letter from Carlos I to Juan de Zuniga—­December 18, 1523.  Treaty of Vitoria—­February 19, 1524.  Junta of Badajoz:  extract from the records (April 14-May 13), opinions of cosmographers (April 13-15), letters to the Spanish delegates (March 21, April 10)—­1524.  Treaty of Zaragoza—­April 22, 1529.

Sources:  See Bibliographical Data at end of this volun

Translations:  The Papal Bulls are translated by Rev. Thomas Cooke Middleton, D.D., O.S.A.; the Treaty of Zaragoza, by Jose M. Asensio; the remaining documents of this group are compiled, translated, and arranged by James A. Robertson.

Papal Bulls of 1493

Inter Caetera—­May 3

Alexander, etc., to the illustrious sovereigns, our very dear son in Christ, Ferdinand, King, and our very dear daughter in Christ, Helisabeth [Isabella], Queen, of Castile and Leon, Aragon, Sicily, and Granada health and apostolic benediction.  Among other works well pleasing to his divine Majesty, and cherished of our heart, this assuredly ranks highest that in our times especially the Catholic faith and the Christian religion be everywhere increased and spread, as well as that the health of souls be procured, and barbarous nations overthrown and brought to the faith itself.  Wherefore inasmuch as by the favor of divine clemency, through no fitting merits of ours, we have been raised to this holy see of Peter, recognizing that as true Catholic kings and princes such as we have always known you to be, and as your illustrious deeds already known to almost the whole world declare, you not only eagerly desire but with every effort, zeal, and diligence, without regard to hardships, expenses, dangers, with the shedding even of your blood, are laboring to that end; recognizing besides that already you have long ago dedicated to this purpose your whole soul and all your endeavors—­as witnessed in these times with so much glory to the divine name in your recovery of the kingdom of Granada from the yoke of the Moors—­we therefore not unrighteously hold it as our duty to grant you even of our own accord and in your favor those things, whereby daily and with heartier effort you may be enabled for the honor of God himself and the spread of the Christian rule to accomplish your saintly and praiseworthy purpose so pleasing to immortal God.  In sooth we have learned that, according to your purpose long ago, you were in quest of some far-away islands and mainlands