clemency, through no fitting merits of ours, we have been raised to
so holy a see as Peter's, 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; that besides you have already 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 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 the inhabitants of them with the
dwellers therein; that hitherto having been earnestly engaged in the
siege and recovery of the kingdom itself of Granada you were unable
to accomplish this saintly and praiseworthy purpose; but at length,
as was pleasing to the Lord, the said kingdom having been regained,
not without the greatest hardships, dangers, and expenses, that with
the wish to fulfil your desire, you chose our beloved son, Christopher
Colon, a man assuredly worthy and of the highest recommendations as
well as furnished with ships and men equipped for like designs, to
make diligent quest for these far-away, unknown mainlands and islands
through the sea, where hitherto no one has sailed; who in fine, with
divine aid, nor without the utmost diligence, sailing in the Ocean
Sea discovered certain very far-away 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, nor users
of flesh meat; and, as your aforesaid envoys are of opinion, these very
peoples living in the said islands and countries believe in one God,
Creator in heaven, besides being sufficiently ready in