Page:European treaties bearing on the history of the United States and its dependencies.djvu/197

Rh After said authorizations were presented by the said representatives it was declared that, inasmuch as there existed a doubt between the said Emperor and King of Castile, etc., and the said King of Portugal, etc., concerning the ownership, possession, and rights, or possession, or quasi-possession, navigation, and trade of the Moluccas and other islands and seas, which each one of the said lords, the Emperor and King of Castile and the King of Portugal, declares as his, both by virtue of the treaties made by the most exalted, powerful, and Catholic sovereigns, Don Fernando and Doña Isabella, rulers of Castile, grandparents of the said Emperor and the King, Dom John II., of Portugal (may they rest in glory), about the demarcation of the ocean sea, and by virtue of other rights and privileges which each one of the said emperor and monarchs asserts to belong and pertain to said islands, seas, and lands belonging to him of which he is in possession; and inasmuch as the said emperor and monarchs considering the very close relationship and great affection existing between them, and which not only should very rightly be preserved, but as far as possible be increased, and in order to free themselves from the doubts, complaints, and disputes that might arise between them, and the many troubles that might ensue among their vassals and subjects and the natives of their kingdoms, the said emperor and monarchs, and the said attorneys acting in their names, have covenanted and agreed as to the said doubts and disputes in the following form and manner:

1. First, the said Grand Chancellor, the Bishop of Osma, and the Commander-in-chief of Calatrava, attorneys of the said emperor and sovereign of Castile, declared that they, in his name, and by virtue of their said power of attorney, would sell and in fact did sell from this day and for all time, to the said King of Portugal, for him and all the successors to the crown of his kingdoms, all right, action, dominion, ownership, and possession, or quasi-possession, and all rights of navigation, traffic, and trade in any manner whatsoever, that the said Emperor and King of Castile declares that he holds and could hold howsoever and in whatsoever manner in the said Moluccas, the islands, places, lands, and seas, as will be declared hereafter; this, with the declarations, limitations, conditions, and clauses contained and stated hereunder, for the sum of three hundred and fifty thousand ducats of gold, paid in the current money, of gold or silver, each ducat being valued in Castile at three hundred and seventy-five maravedis. The said King of Portugal will give and pay this amount to the said Emperor and King of Castile, and to the persons whom his Majesty may appoint, in the following manner: one hundred and fifty thousand ducals to be paid at Lisbon within the first fifteen or twenty days after this contract, confirmed by the said Emperor and King of Castile, shall have arrived at the city of Lisbon, or wherever the said King of Portugal may be; thirty thousand ducats to be paid in Castile—twenty thousand at Valladolid and ten thousand at Seville, by the twentieth day of the month of May of this present year; seventy thousand ducats to be paid in Castile at the May fair of Medina del Campo of this same year, at the terms of the payments of said fair, and the hundred thousand ducats remaining at the October fair at the said town of Medina del Campo, of this same year, at the terms of the payment of the same—all to be paid over and above the rate of exchange. If necessary, notes will