01-20-2006, 11:48 PM
"The past of Civilized Europe."
The Bull Inter Caetera (Alexander VI.) May 4, 1493 Alexander, Bishop,
servant of the servants of God, to the illustrious sovereigns, our very
dear son in Christ, Ferdinand, king, and our very dear daughter in Christ,
Isabella, queen of Castile, Leon, Aragon, Sicily, and Granada, health and
apostolic benediction. Among other works well pleasing to the Divine
Majesty and cherished of our heart, this assuredly ranks highest, that in
our times especially the Catholic faith and the Christian religion be
exalted and be everywhere increased and spread, that the health of souls
be cared for and that barbarous nations be overthrown and brought to the
faith itself.
Wherefore inasmuch as by the favor of divine clemency, we, though of
insufficient merits, have been called to this Holy See of Peter,
recognizing that as true Catholic kings and princes, such as we have known
you always 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 also that you have long since 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 Saracens--we therefore are rightly led, and hold it
as our duty, to grant you even of our own accord and in your favor those
things whereby with effort each day more hearty you may be enabled for the
honor of God himself and the spread of the Christian rule to carry forward
your holy and praiseworthy purpose so leasing to immortal God.
We have indeed learned that you, who for a long time had intended to seek
out and discover certain islands and mainlands remote and unknown and not
hitherto discovered by others, to the end that you might bring to the
worship of our Redeemer and the profession of the Catholic faith their
residents and inhabitants, having been up to the present time greatly
engaged in the siege and recovery of the kingdom itself of Granada were
unable to accomplish this holy and praiseworthy purpose; but the said
kingdom having at length been regained, as was pleasing to the Lord, you,
with the wish to fulfill your desire, chose our beloved son, Christopher
Columbus, a man assuredly worthy and of the highest recommendations and
fitted for so great an undertaking, whom you furnished with ships and men
equipped for like designs, not without the greatest hardships, dangers,
and expenses, to make diligent quest for these remote and unknown
mainlands and islands through the sea, where hitherto no one had sailed;
and they at length, with divine aid and with the utmost diligence sailing
in the ocean sea, disscovered certain very remote islands and even
mainlands that hitherto had not been discovered by others; wherein dwell
very many peoples living in peace, and, as reported, going unclothed, and
not eating flesh. Moreover, as your aforesaid envoys are of opinion, these
very peoples living in the said islands and countries believe in one God,
the Creator in heaven, and seem sufficiently disposed to embrace the
Catholic faith and be trained in good morals. And it is hoped that, were
they instructed, the name of the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, would
easily be introduced into the said countries and islands. Also, on one of
the chief of these aforesaid islands the said Christopher has already
caused to be put together and built a fortress fairly equipped, wherein he
has stationed as garrison certain Christians, companions of his, who are
to make search for other remote and unknown islands and mainlands.
In the islands and countries already discovered are found gold, spices,
and very many other precious things of divers kinds and qualities.
Wherefore, as becomes Catholic kings and princes, after earnest
consideration of all matters, especially of the rise and spread of the
Catholic faith, as was the fashion of your ancestors, kings of renowned
memory, you have purposed with the favor of divine clemency to bring under
your sway the said mainlands and islands with their residents and
inhabitants and to bring them to the Catholic faith. Hence, heartily
commending in the Lord this your holy and praiseworthy purpose, and
desirous that it be duly accomplished, and that the name of our Savior be
carried into those regions, we exhort you very earnestly in the Lord and
by your reception of holy baptism, whereby you are bound to our apostolic
commands, and by the bowels of the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, enjoy
strictly, that inasmuch as with eager zeal for the true faith you design
to equip and despatch this expedition, you purpose also, as is your duty,
to lead the peoples dwelling in those islands and countries to embrace the
Christian religion; nor at any time let dangers or hardships deter you
therefrom, with the stout hope and trust in your hearts that Almighty God
will further your undertakings. And, in order that you may enter upon so
great an undertaking with greater readiness and heartiness endowed with
benefit of our apostolic favor, we, of our own accord, not at your
instance nor the request of anyone else in your regard, but out of our own
sole largess and certain knowledge and out of he fullness of our apostolic
power, by the authority of Almighty God conferred upon us in blessed Peter
and of the vicarship of Jesus Christ, which we hold on earth, do by tenor
of these presents, should any of said islands have been found by your
envoys and captains, give, grant, and assign to you and your heirs and
successors, kings of Castile and Leon, forever, together with all their
dominions, cities, camps, places, and villages, and all rights,
jurisdictions, and appurtenances, all islands and mainlands found and to
be found, discovered and to be discovered towards the west and south, by
drawing and establishing a line from the Arctic pole, namely the north, to
the Antarctic pole, namely the south, no matter whether the said mainlands
and islands are found and to be found in the direction of India or towards
any other quarter, the said line to be distant one hundred leagues towards
the west and south from any of the islands commonly known as the Azores
and Cape Verde. With this proviso however that none of the islands and
mainlands, found and to be found, discovered and to be discovered, beyond
that said line towards the west and south, be in the actual possession of
any Christian king or prince up to the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ
just past from which the present year one thousand four hundred ninety
three begins.
And we make, appoint, and depute you and your said heirs and successors
lords of them with full and free power, authority, and jurisdiction of
every kind; with this proviso however, that by this our gift, grant, and
assignment no right acquired by any Christian prince, who may be in actual
possesssion of said islands and mainlands prior to the said birthday of
our Lord Jesus Christ, is hereby to be understood to be withdrawn or
taking away. Moreover we command you in virtue of holy obedience that,
employing all due diligence in the premises, as you also promise--nor do
we doubt your compliance therein in accordance with your loyalty and royal
greatness of spirit--you should appoint to the aforesaid mainlands and
islands worthy, God-fearing, learned, skilled, and expeienced men, in
order to instruct the aforesaid inhabitants and residents in the Catholic
faith and train them in good morals.
Furthermore, under penalty of excommunication "late sententie" to be
incurred "ipso facto," should anyone thus contravene, we strictly forbid
all persons of whatsoever rank, even imperial and royal, or of whatsoever
estate, degree, order, or condition, to dare without your special permit
or that of youraforesaid heirs and successors, to go for the purpose of
trade or any other reason to the islands or mainlands, found and to be
found, discovered and to be discovered, towards the west and south, by
drawing and establishing a line from the Arctic pole to the Antarctic
pole, no matter whether the mainlands and islands, found and to be found,
lie in the direction of India or toward any other quarter whatsoever, the
said line to be distant one hundred leagues towards the west and south, as
is aforesaid, from any of the islands commonly known as the Azores and
Cape Verde; apostolic constitutions and ordinances and other decrees
whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding. We trust in Him from whom
empires and governments and all good things proceed, that, should you,
with the Lord's guidance, pursue this holy and praiseworthy undertaking,
in a short while your hardships and endeavors will attain the most
elicitious result, to the happiness and glory of all Christendom. But
inasmuch as it would be difficult to have these present letters sent to
all places where desirable, we wish, and with similar accord and knowledge
do decree, that to? copies of them, signed by the hand of a public notary
commissioned therefor, and sealed with the seal of any ecclesiastical
officer or ecclesiastical court, the same respect is to be shown in court
and outside as well as anywhere else as would be given to these presents
should they thus be exhibited or shown. Let no one, therefore, infringe,
or with rash boldness contravene, this our recommendation, exhortation,
requisition, gift, grant, assignment, constitution, deputation,
decree,mandate, prohibition, and will. Should anyone presume to attempt
this, be it known to him that he will incur the wrath of Almighty God and
of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul.
Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, in the year of the incarnation of our Lord
one thousand four hundred and ninety-three, the fourth of May, and the
first year of our pontificate.
Gratis by order of our most holy lord, the pope. June.
For the referendary, For J. Bufolinus, A. de Mucciarellis. A.
Santoseverino. L. Podocatharus
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related contact information:
United Confederation of Taino People
U.S. Regional Coordinating Office
P.O. Box 4515
Grand Central Station
New York, NY 10163
Phone: 212-604-4186
E-mail: uctp1493@yahoo.com
The Bull Inter Caetera (Alexander VI.) May 4, 1493 Alexander, Bishop,
servant of the servants of God, to the illustrious sovereigns, our very
dear son in Christ, Ferdinand, king, and our very dear daughter in Christ,
Isabella, queen of Castile, Leon, Aragon, Sicily, and Granada, health and
apostolic benediction. Among other works well pleasing to the Divine
Majesty and cherished of our heart, this assuredly ranks highest, that in
our times especially the Catholic faith and the Christian religion be
exalted and be everywhere increased and spread, that the health of souls
be cared for and that barbarous nations be overthrown and brought to the
faith itself.
Wherefore inasmuch as by the favor of divine clemency, we, though of
insufficient merits, have been called to this Holy See of Peter,
recognizing that as true Catholic kings and princes, such as we have known
you always 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 also that you have long since 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 Saracens--we therefore are rightly led, and hold it
as our duty, to grant you even of our own accord and in your favor those
things whereby with effort each day more hearty you may be enabled for the
honor of God himself and the spread of the Christian rule to carry forward
your holy and praiseworthy purpose so leasing to immortal God.
We have indeed learned that you, who for a long time had intended to seek
out and discover certain islands and mainlands remote and unknown and not
hitherto discovered by others, to the end that you might bring to the
worship of our Redeemer and the profession of the Catholic faith their
residents and inhabitants, having been up to the present time greatly
engaged in the siege and recovery of the kingdom itself of Granada were
unable to accomplish this holy and praiseworthy purpose; but the said
kingdom having at length been regained, as was pleasing to the Lord, you,
with the wish to fulfill your desire, chose our beloved son, Christopher
Columbus, a man assuredly worthy and of the highest recommendations and
fitted for so great an undertaking, whom you furnished with ships and men
equipped for like designs, not without the greatest hardships, dangers,
and expenses, to make diligent quest for these remote and unknown
mainlands and islands through the sea, where hitherto no one had sailed;
and they at length, with divine aid and with the utmost diligence sailing
in the ocean sea, disscovered certain very remote islands and even
mainlands that hitherto had not been discovered by others; wherein dwell
very many peoples living in peace, and, as reported, going unclothed, and
not eating flesh. Moreover, as your aforesaid envoys are of opinion, these
very peoples living in the said islands and countries believe in one God,
the Creator in heaven, and seem sufficiently disposed to embrace the
Catholic faith and be trained in good morals. And it is hoped that, were
they instructed, the name of the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, would
easily be introduced into the said countries and islands. Also, on one of
the chief of these aforesaid islands the said Christopher has already
caused to be put together and built a fortress fairly equipped, wherein he
has stationed as garrison certain Christians, companions of his, who are
to make search for other remote and unknown islands and mainlands.
In the islands and countries already discovered are found gold, spices,
and very many other precious things of divers kinds and qualities.
Wherefore, as becomes Catholic kings and princes, after earnest
consideration of all matters, especially of the rise and spread of the
Catholic faith, as was the fashion of your ancestors, kings of renowned
memory, you have purposed with the favor of divine clemency to bring under
your sway the said mainlands and islands with their residents and
inhabitants and to bring them to the Catholic faith. Hence, heartily
commending in the Lord this your holy and praiseworthy purpose, and
desirous that it be duly accomplished, and that the name of our Savior be
carried into those regions, we exhort you very earnestly in the Lord and
by your reception of holy baptism, whereby you are bound to our apostolic
commands, and by the bowels of the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, enjoy
strictly, that inasmuch as with eager zeal for the true faith you design
to equip and despatch this expedition, you purpose also, as is your duty,
to lead the peoples dwelling in those islands and countries to embrace the
Christian religion; nor at any time let dangers or hardships deter you
therefrom, with the stout hope and trust in your hearts that Almighty God
will further your undertakings. And, in order that you may enter upon so
great an undertaking with greater readiness and heartiness endowed with
benefit of our apostolic favor, we, of our own accord, not at your
instance nor the request of anyone else in your regard, but out of our own
sole largess and certain knowledge and out of he fullness of our apostolic
power, by the authority of Almighty God conferred upon us in blessed Peter
and of the vicarship of Jesus Christ, which we hold on earth, do by tenor
of these presents, should any of said islands have been found by your
envoys and captains, give, grant, and assign to you and your heirs and
successors, kings of Castile and Leon, forever, together with all their
dominions, cities, camps, places, and villages, and all rights,
jurisdictions, and appurtenances, all islands and mainlands found and to
be found, discovered and to be discovered towards the west and south, by
drawing and establishing a line from the Arctic pole, namely the north, to
the Antarctic pole, namely the south, no matter whether the said mainlands
and islands are found and to be found in the direction of India or towards
any other quarter, the said line to be distant one hundred leagues towards
the west and south from any of the islands commonly known as the Azores
and Cape Verde. With this proviso however that none of the islands and
mainlands, found and to be found, discovered and to be discovered, beyond
that said line towards the west and south, be in the actual possession of
any Christian king or prince up to the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ
just past from which the present year one thousand four hundred ninety
three begins.
And we make, appoint, and depute you and your said heirs and successors
lords of them with full and free power, authority, and jurisdiction of
every kind; with this proviso however, that by this our gift, grant, and
assignment no right acquired by any Christian prince, who may be in actual
possesssion of said islands and mainlands prior to the said birthday of
our Lord Jesus Christ, is hereby to be understood to be withdrawn or
taking away. Moreover we command you in virtue of holy obedience that,
employing all due diligence in the premises, as you also promise--nor do
we doubt your compliance therein in accordance with your loyalty and royal
greatness of spirit--you should appoint to the aforesaid mainlands and
islands worthy, God-fearing, learned, skilled, and expeienced men, in
order to instruct the aforesaid inhabitants and residents in the Catholic
faith and train them in good morals.
Furthermore, under penalty of excommunication "late sententie" to be
incurred "ipso facto," should anyone thus contravene, we strictly forbid
all persons of whatsoever rank, even imperial and royal, or of whatsoever
estate, degree, order, or condition, to dare without your special permit
or that of youraforesaid heirs and successors, to go for the purpose of
trade or any other reason to the islands or mainlands, found and to be
found, discovered and to be discovered, towards the west and south, by
drawing and establishing a line from the Arctic pole to the Antarctic
pole, no matter whether the mainlands and islands, found and to be found,
lie in the direction of India or toward any other quarter whatsoever, the
said line to be distant one hundred leagues towards the west and south, as
is aforesaid, from any of the islands commonly known as the Azores and
Cape Verde; apostolic constitutions and ordinances and other decrees
whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding. We trust in Him from whom
empires and governments and all good things proceed, that, should you,
with the Lord's guidance, pursue this holy and praiseworthy undertaking,
in a short while your hardships and endeavors will attain the most
elicitious result, to the happiness and glory of all Christendom. But
inasmuch as it would be difficult to have these present letters sent to
all places where desirable, we wish, and with similar accord and knowledge
do decree, that to? copies of them, signed by the hand of a public notary
commissioned therefor, and sealed with the seal of any ecclesiastical
officer or ecclesiastical court, the same respect is to be shown in court
and outside as well as anywhere else as would be given to these presents
should they thus be exhibited or shown. Let no one, therefore, infringe,
or with rash boldness contravene, this our recommendation, exhortation,
requisition, gift, grant, assignment, constitution, deputation,
decree,mandate, prohibition, and will. Should anyone presume to attempt
this, be it known to him that he will incur the wrath of Almighty God and
of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul.
Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, in the year of the incarnation of our Lord
one thousand four hundred and ninety-three, the fourth of May, and the
first year of our pontificate.
Gratis by order of our most holy lord, the pope. June.
For the referendary, For J. Bufolinus, A. de Mucciarellis. A.
Santoseverino. L. Podocatharus
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related contact information:
United Confederation of Taino People
U.S. Regional Coordinating Office
P.O. Box 4515
Grand Central Station
New York, NY 10163
Phone: 212-604-4186
E-mail: uctp1493@yahoo.com