# European Treaties bearing on the History of the United States and its Dependencies to 1648/Document 02

​2. The Papal Bull Inter Caetera (Pope Calixtus III.) March 13, 1456.
INTRODUCTION.
Calixtus III., who succeeded Nicholas V. on April 8, 1455, was a Spaniard of fiery spirit and religious zeal, who exerted himself to the utmost to rouse the nations of Europe to a crusade against the Turk. For this purpose he despatched legates to many countries, and among them he sent Alvaro, bishop of Silves, an executor of the bull Romanus pontifex and a man of great authority in the Roman Court, as legate a latere to King Alfonso V. of Portugal. At the same time ( February-March, 1456) he granted that monarch a number of concessions, including the following bull, for which Prince Henry and Alfonso had petitioned.
Besides confirming the bull Romanus pontifex, this bull conferred upon the Portuguese military Order of Christ, of which Prince Henry was governor, the spiritualities in all the lands acquired and to be acquired "from Capes Bojador and Nam through the whole of Guinea and beyond its southern shore as far as to the Indians". Whether the phrase "usque ad Indos " referred to the subjects of Prester John or to the East Indians remains a point of controversy.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
Text: MS. An official copy of the bull, made on August 16, 1456, in the house of King Alfonso's master of requests, at the instance of the king's procurator, is in the National Archives in Lisbon, gav. 7a, maço 13, no. 7.
Text: Printed. J. Ramos-Coelho, Alguns Documentos ( 1892), pp. 20-22; L. M. Jordão, Bullarium, pp. 36-37.
References. L. von Pastor, Geschichte der Päpste, I. ( 1901) 655 ff.; H. Vignaud , Histoire Critique, I. 205-206.
TEXT. ​
In nomine Domini, Amen. Noverint universi presens publicum instrumentum inspecturi, quod anno a nativitate Domini millesimoquatuorcentesi­ moquinquagesimo sexto, decimasexta mensis Augusti, coram egregio legum Doctore Lupo Valasci de Serpa, illustrissimi domini nostri domini Al­ fonsi, Portugalie et Algarbii regis Cepteque domini, et in ejus sacro pallacio supplicacionum expeditore, in presencia mei, notarii et testium infrascripto­ rum, in domo habitacionis ejusdem doctoris, comparuit Alvarus Petri legum licentiatus et ejusdem Serenissimi Regis generalis et legitimus procurator et ejus nomine presentavit dicto doctori quasdam litteras apostolicas Calisti Pape Tercii, quasdam alias Nicolai Pape Quinti in se continentes, non viciosas, non rasas, non cancellatas, set omni suspicione carentes et sigillo plumbeo sigillatas, quarum tenor de verbo ad verbum sequitur et est talis:
Calistus episcopus, servus servorum Dei. Ad perpetuam rei memoriam. Inter cetera que nobis, divina disponente clementia, incumbunt peragenda, ad id nimirum soliciti corde reddimur, ut singulis locis et presertim que Sarracenis sunt finitima, divinus cultus ad laudem et gloriam Omnipotentis Dei et fidei Christiane exaltacionem vigeat et continuum suscipiat incre­ mentum, et, que regibus et principibus per predecessores nostros, Romanos pontifices, bene merito concessa sunt, [et] ex causis legitimis emanarunt, ut, omnibus sublatis dubitacionibus, robur perpetue firmitatis obtineant, apos­ tolico munimine solidemus. Dudum siquidem felicis recordationis Nicolaus Papa V., predecessor noster, litteras concessit tenoris subsequentis:
[Here follows the bull Romanus Pontifex, printed above, Doc. 1.]
Cum autem sicut [nobis relatum est] pro parte Alfonsi Regis et Henrici Infantis predictorum ipsi supra modum affectent quod espiritualitas in eisdem solitariis insulis, terris, portubus, et locis in mari occeano versus meri­ dionalem plagam in Guinea consistentibus, quas idem infans de manibus Sarracenorum manu armata extraxit, et Christiane religioni, ut prefertur, conquesivit, prefate Militiae Jhesu Christi, cujus reddituum suffragio idem infans hujusmodi conquestam fecisse perhibetur, per Sedem Apostolicam perpetuo concedatur, ac declaratio, constitutio, donatio, concessio, appro­ priatio, decretum, obsecratio, exhortatio, injunctio, inhibitio, mandatum, et ​voluntas, nec non littere Nicolai predecessoris hujusmodi, ac omnia et singula in eis contenta confirmentur, quare pro parte regis et infantis pre­ dictorum nobis fuit humiliter supplicatum, ut declarationi, constitutioni, donationi, concessioni, appropriationi, decreto, obsecrationi, exhortationi, in­ junctioni, inhibitioni, mandato et voluntati, ac litteris hujusmodi et in eis contentis pro illorum subsistentia firmiori, robur apostolice confirmationis adjicere, nec non spiritualitatem ac omnimodam jurisdictionem ordinariam tam in predictis acquisitis quam aliis insulis, terris, et locis per eosdem regem et infantem seu eorum successorem, in partibus dictorum Sarracenorum in futurum acquirendis, prefate militie et ordini hujusmodi perpetuo concedere, aliasque in premissis oportune providere de benignitate apostolica dignaremur.
Nos igitur attendentes religionem dicte militie in eisdem insulis, terris, et locis, fructus afferre posse in Domino salutares, hujusmodi suplicationibus inclinati, declarationem, constitutionem, donationem, appropriationem, de­ cretum, obsecrationem, exhortationem, injunctionem, inhibitionem, manda­ tum, voluntatem, litteras, et contenta hujusmodi et inde secuta quecunque rata et grata habentes, illa omnia et singula auctoritate apostolica tenore presentium, ex certa scientia, confirmamus et approbamus, ac robori perpetue firmitatis subsistere decernimus, supplentes omnes defectus, si qui forsan intervenerint in eisdem. Et nichilominus auctoritate et scientia predictis, perpetuo decernimus, statuimus, et ordinamus, quod spiritualitas et omnimoda jurisdictio ordinaria, dominium, et potestas, in spiritualibus duntaxat in insulis, villis, portubus, terris, et locis a capitibus de Bojador et de Nam usque per totam Guineam et ultra illam meridionalem plagam usque ad Indos, acquisitis et acquirendis, quorum situs, numerum, qualitas, vocabula, desig­ nationes, confines, et loca presentibus pro expressis haberi volumus ad militiam et ordinem hujusmodi perpetuis futuris temporibus spectent atque pertineant; illaque eis ex nunc tenore, auctoritate, et scientia predictis con­ cedimus et elargimur. Ita quod prior major pro tempore existens ordinis dicte militie omnia et singula beneficia ecclesiastica, cum cura et sine cura, secularia et ordinum quorumcunque regularia, in insulis, terris, et locis pre­ dictis fundata et instituta, seu fundanda et instituenda, cujuscunque qualitatis et valoris existant seu fuerint, quotiens illa in futurum vacare contigerit, con­ ferre et de illis providere; nec non excommunicationis, suspensionis, priva­ tionis, et interdicti, aliasque ecclesiasticas sententias, censuras, et penas, quociens opus fuerit ac rerum et negotiorum pro tempore ingruentium qualitas id exegerit proferre; omniaque alia et singula que locorum ordinarii in locis in quibus spiritualitatem habere censentur de jure vel consuetudine facere, disponere, et exequi possunt et consueverunt pariformiter, absque ulla differentia facere, disponere, ordinare, et exequi possit et debeat, super quibus omnibus et singulis ei plenam et liberam tenore presentium concedimus facultatem, decernentes insulas, terras, et loca acquisita et acquirenda hujusmodi nullius diocesis existere, ac irritum et inane si secus super hiis a quoquam quavis auctoritate scienter vel ignoranter contigerit attemptari, non obstantibus constitutionibus et ordinationibus apostolicis nec non statutis, consuetudinibus, privilegiis, usibus, et naturis dicte militie, juramento con­ firmatione apostolica vel quavis alia firmitate roboratis, ceterisque contrariis quibuscunque. Nulli ergo omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostrorum confirmationis, approbationis, constitutionis, supplectionis, decreti, statuti, ​ordinationis, voluntatis, concessionis, et elargitionis infringere vel ei ausu temerario contraire. Si quis autem hoc attemptare presumpserit, indigna­ tionem Omnipotentis Dei ac beatorum Petri et Pauli apostolorum ejus se noverit incursurum. Datum Rome apud Sanctum Petrum, anno Incarna­ tionis Dominice millesimo quadringentesimo quinquagesimo quinto, tertio idus Martii, pontificatus nostri anno primo.
Quibus quidem litteris sic presentatis, prefatus procurator, nomine dicti Serenissimi Regis dicto doctori exposuit quod pro servicio ejusdem regis oportebat ipsum habere unum vel plura transunta dictarum litterarum apos­ tolicarum. Iccirco petebat per me notarium publicum infrascriptum, cum autoritate predicti doctoris sibi in publica forma concedi. Prefatus vero doc­ tor, auctoritate sui publici officii, sibi fieri mandavit.
Acta fuerunt hace in civitate Ulixbonense, in predicta domo habitationis ejusdem doctoris, anno, mense, et die quibus supra, presentibus ibidem venerabilibus viris, ALFONSO JOHANNIS, DIDACO ALFONSI, PHILIPPO ALFONSI, et ALVARO MARTINI scripto­ ribus in curia prefati Serenissimi Regis, testibus ad hoc vocatis specialiter et rogatis.
Et ego, DIDACUS GONSALVI, regali auctoritate publicus notarius, predicta­ rum litterarum, apostolicarum presentacioni, requisicioni, et auctoritatis prestationi, dum sic fierent et agerentur cum prenominatis testibus presens fui, et hoc presens publicum instrumentum manu propria scripsi, et me sub­ scripsi et signo meo signavi.
[Notarial sign.]
TRANSLATION.
In the name of God, amen. Be it known to all who shall examine the present public instrument that in the fourteen hundred and fifty-sixth year from the nativity of our Lord, on the sixteenth day of the month of August, in the presence of the eminent doctor of laws, Lopo Vasques de Serpa, master of requests in his sacred palace of the most illustrious lord, our lord Alfonso, king of Portugal and Algarve and lord of Ceuta, in the pres­ ence of me, the notary, and of the witnesses whose names are written below, Alvaro Pirez, licentiate of laws and general and lawful procurator of the said Most Serene King, appeared in the dwelling-house of the said doctor and in the king's name presented to the said doctor certain apostolic let­ ters of Pope Calixtus III., containing within them certain others of Pope Nicholas V., not defective, erased, or cancelled, but free from all suspicious indication, and sealed with a leaden seal, the tenor of which, word for word, is as follows:
Calixtus, bishop, servant of the servants of God. For an abiding memorial. Among other works, which, by the merciful dispensation of Providence, it is incumbent upon us to accomplish, we are rendered deeply solicitous at heart with respect to this--that in all places, and especially in those bordering upon the Saracens, divine worship may flourish to the praise and glory of Almighty God and the exalting of the Christian faith, and may obtain continual increase, and that by means of apostolic protection we may establish th ​ose grants to kings and princes, justly made by our predecessors the Roman pontiffs, and based on legitimate grounds, so that through the removal of all doubts they may possess perpetual validity. Indeed a short while ago Pope Nicholas V., of happy memory, our predecessor, granted letters of the following tenor:
[Here follows the Papal Bull - Romanus Pontifex, Doc. 1.]
Since, however, as has been reported to us on behalf of the aforesaid King Alfonso and the Infante Henry, they are extremely eager that ecclesiastical jurisdiction in the said solitary islands, lands, harbors, and places, situated in the ocean toward the southern shore in Guinea, which the said infante withdrew with mailed hand from the hands of the Saracens, and conquered for the Christian religion, as is stated, may be granted forever by the Apos­ tolic See to the aforesaid Order of Jesus Christ, by the support of whose revenues the said prince is asserted to have made this conquest; and that the declaration, constitution, gift, grant, appropriation, decree, entreaty, exhor­ tation, injunction, inhibition, mandate, and will, and the letters of the said Nicholas, our predecessor, and all and singular contained therein, may he confirmed; therefore, on the part of the said king and infante we were humbly besought that we might be graciously pleased of our apostolic good-will to add the support of the apostolic confirmation to the declaration, constitu­ tion, gift, grant, appropriation, decree, entreaty, exhortation, injunction, inhibition, mandate, and will, and to the said letters and what is contained therein, in order to establish them more firmly; and to grant in perpetuity to the military order aforesaid, ecclesiastical and all kinds of ordinary jurisdic­ tion, both in the acquired possessions aforesaid, and in the other islands, lands, and places, which may hereafter be acquired by the said king and prince or by their successor, in the territories of the said Saracens; and otherwise, in respect to the premises, to make convenient provision. We, therefore, long­ ing that the religion of the said order may be able in the Lord to bear wholesome fruit in the said islands, lands, and places, influenced by these supplications, and considering as valid and acceptable the above-mentioned declaration, constitution, gift, appropriation, decree, entreaty, exhortation, injunction, inhibition, mandate, will, letters, and contents, and everything done by virtue thereof, through our apostolic authority and of our certain knowl­ edge, do confirm and approve them, all and singular, by the tenor of these presents, and supplying all defects, if there should be any therein, we decree that they remain perpetually valid. And moreover by the authority and with the knowledge aforesaid, we determine, ordain, and appoint forever that ecclesiastical and all ordinary jurisdiction, lordship, and power, in ecclesiasti­ cal matters only, in the islands, villages, harbors, lands, and places, acquired and to be acquired from capes Bojador and Nam as far as through all Guinea, and past that southern shore all the way to the Indians, the position, number, nature, appellations, designations, bounds, and localities of which we wish to be considered as expressed by these presents, shall belong and pertain to the said military order for all time; and in accordance with the tenor of these presents, by the authority and knowledge aforesaid, we grant and give them these. So that the prior major, for the time being, of the said military order may and ought to collate and provide to all and singular ecclesiastical benefices, with or without cure of souls, and whether tenable by seculars or by regulars of whatsoever orders, founded and instituted, or to be founded or instituted, in the said islands, lands, and places, of whatever nature and value the benefices ​are or shall be, as often as they may fall vacant in the future. Also, he may and ought to pronounce ecclesiastical sentences, cen­ sures, and penalties of excommunication, suspension, deprivation, interdict. and other sentences, whenever the necessity may arise and the nature of affairs and the course of circumstances may require. And all and singular other acts which, in the places wherein the local ordinaries are held to possess ecclesiastical jurisdiction by law or custom, they are able or are accustomed to perform, determine, and execute, the prior major may and ought to per­ form, determine, order, and execute, in like manner and without any differ­ ence. In respect to all and singular these things, we grant him full and free faculty by virtue of these presents, decreeing that these islands, lands, and places, acquired and to be acquired, are included in no diocese and that, if it shall happen that anyone, by whatever authority, shall wittingly or un­ wittingly attempt anything in respect to these matters which is inconsistent with these provisions, it shall be null and void; the apostolical constitutions and ordinances, also the statutes, customs, privileges, use, and natural rights of the said military order, though strengthened by oath, by apostolical confir­ mation, or by any other binding force, and any other things whatsoever, to the contrary notwithstanding. Let no one, therefore, infringe or with rash boldness contravene this our confirmation, approbation, constitution, comple­ tion, decree, statute, order, will, grant, and gift. 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, on the thirteenth day of March, in the year of the incarnation of our Lord one thousand four hundred and fifty-five, in the first year of our pontificate.
These letters having been thus presented, the aforesaid procurator, in the name of the said Most Serene King, explained to the said doctor that for the service of the said king it was necessary that he should have one or more copies of the said apostolic letters; therefore he asked that they be granted to him in public form, by me the undersigned notary public, with the authority of the aforesaid doctor. The aforesaid doctor by authority of his public office ordered it to be done.
These things were transacted in this very city of Lisbon, in the aforesaid dwelling-house of the said doctor, in the year, month, and day above-men­ tioned, there being present the venerable men: ALFONSO YAÑES, DIOGO ALFONSO, FILIPPO ALFONSO, and ALVARO MARTINES, scribes in the court of the aforesaid Most Serene King, especially called and summoned to witness this; and I, DIOGO GONÇALVES, notary public, by royal authority, was present with the aforenamed witnesses at the presentation, examination, and guaranty of authority of the aforesaid apostolic letters, while they were thus made and prepared, and I wrote this present public instrument with my own hand, and I subscribed myself and signed it with my sign.
* ↑ Pastor, Geschichte der Päpste, I. ( 1901) 660 ff.
* ↑ Doc. 1, note 43.
* ↑ Damião de Goes, Chronica de Joam II. ( 1567), c. 10.
* ↑ Santarem, Quadro Elementar ( 1842- 1876) X. 59-64.
* ↑ See below, note 14.
* ↑ Cf. note 3 in Beazley, "Prince Henry of Portugal and the African Crusade", Am. Hist. Rev., XVI. 11-23.
* ↑ Vignaud, Histoire Critique, I. 205, 206; and cf. Doc. 1, note 30.
* ↑ For fuller title, see the bibliography of Doc. 1.
* ↑ The text is from a copy of the bull made in the house of King Alfonso's master of requests at the instance of the king's procurator, on Aug. 16, 1456, and preserved in the National Archives at Lisbon, gav. 7a, maço 13, no. 7.
* ↑ Lopo Vasques, a native of Serpa, stood high in the favor of King Alfonso, by whose order he translated from Latin into the vernacular a work entitled Tomada de Constantinopla pelo Graõ Turco. D. Barbosa Machado, Bibliotheca Lusitana, III. ( 1752) 21.
* ↑ In MS., pumblio.
* ↑ Not in the MS.
* ↑ In MS., insolis.
* ↑ The Order of Christ was founded in 1319 by King Diniz in conjunction with Pope John XXII. and was endowed with the greater part of the wealth of the recently dis­ solved Order of the Templars. Prince Henry's African expeditions were made under its banner, and it was granted ecclesiastical and other revenues from many of the newly found lands, in the islands of the Atlantic, Africa, and the Far East. Since its growing wealth threatened to make it a danger to the kingdom, its grandmastership was perma­ nently united with the crown of Portugal in 1551. In 1789 it was secularized. For an account of this order to 1551 see H. da Gama Barros, Historia da Administração Publica em Portugal nos Seculos XII. a XV., I. ( 1885) 382-388.
* ↑ In MS., singulla.
* ↑ In MS., millitie.
* ↑ In MS., nullus.
* ↑ In MS., millitie.
* ↑ Doc. 1, note 44. According to our present reckoning, 1456.