The decades of the newe worlde or west India conteynyng the nauigations and conquestes of the Spanyardes, with the particular description of the moste ryche and large landes and ilandes lately founde in the west ocean perteynyng to the inheritaunce of the kinges of Spayne. ... Wrytten in the Latine tounge by Peter Martyr of Angleria, and translated into Englysshe by Rycharde Eden.

¶ The debate and stryfe betwene the Spanyardes and Portugales, for the diuision of the Indies and the trade of Spices: and also for the Ilands of Molucca, which sum caule Malucas. Wrytten in the Spanyshe toonge by Francisco Lopez de Gomara.

THemperours maiestie was verye gladde that the Malucas and Ilands of the spicery were discouered: and that he myght passe vnto them through his owne countreys withowt any preiudice or hurte to the Portugales: And bycause also that Almanzor, Luztu, and Corala which were the lordes of the spicerie, shewed them selues to bee his frendes and became tributaries to hym He also gaue certeyne gyftes and rewa••d••s ••o Iohn Sebastian for his greate paynes and good seruice,* 1.1 fora••much as he craued a rewarde for the good newes that the Ilandes of the Malucas and other Ilandes rycher and great••r then they, we••e found to bee in his part of those countreys which perteyned vnto hym accordynge to the popes bull.* 1.2 And here∣by it came to passe that there was great contention and stri••e betwene the Spanyardes and the Portugales abowte the spicerie and the diuision of the Indies by reason of the re∣turne of Iohn Sebastian and thinformation whiche he gaue therof. Who also affirmed that the Portugales had neuer any enteraunce before that tyme into those Ilandes. Here vp¦pon, the counsayle for the Indies, aduertised Themperoure to maynteine his fleete for those partes,* 1.3 and to take the trade of spices into his owne hand, forasmuch as it was his owne of dewtie, aswell for that those Ilandes fell on his parte, as also that he had nowe founde passage and waye through his west Indies into those regions. And finally to consyder that he shulde thereby obteyne and gette to him selfe greate reue∣nues besyde thinrychynge of his subiectes and realmes, and that with smaule coaste and charge. Themperoure beinge thus aduer••i••ed of the truth, tooke it for good counsayle, and commaunded all thynges hereunto apperteynynge to bee fur∣nysshed accordyngely. In this meane tyme, when kynge Iohn of Portugale had knowleage what themperour deter∣myned* 1.4

to doo, and the speedy hast his counsayle made for the performance herof, and of the commynge home of Iohn Se∣bastian of Cane, with thinformation he made, what of stout∣nesse of mynde and what for greefe, was puffed vp with an∣ger as were also the reste of the Portugales, stormynge as thowgh they wolde haue plucked downe the skye with their handes, not a lyttle fearynge leaste they shulde lose the trade of spices, if the Spanyardes shulde once put in theyr foote. Wheruppon the kyng immediatly made supplication to Them¦peroure, not to set forwarde any shyppes vntyll it were deter¦myned to whether of theym those Ilandes shulde belonge: And that he wolde not so muche endomage hym as to cause him to liese the trade of spices which was so commodious and profitable to hym.* 1.5 And finally to auoyde thoccasion of mur∣ther and bludshed whiche were lyke to ensue thereof, yf the Spanyardes and Portugales shyppes shulde meete togyther. Themperoure althowghe he knewe that all this was but to make delays and prolongynge of tyme, yet was he gladde to haue it tryed by iustice for the better iustification of his cause and ryght. In fine, both parties were agreed to appoynt ler∣ned men, Cosmographers and Pylots which shulde determine the controuersie betwene them:* 1.6 promysynge on bothe parties to abyde and stande to the sentence and determination made by those persons appoynted and sworne to iudge indiffe∣rentely.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Iohn Sebasti¦an.
• * 1.2

  The cause of contention.
• * 1.3

  The trade of ••pice pertey∣neth to Them¦peroure.
• * 1.4

  Iohn kyng of Portugale.
• * 1.5

  The trade of Spices.
• * 1.6

  The contro∣uersie deter∣mined by Cos¦mographers and Pylots.