106 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SEA 



lands to such princes as might bring them under the dominion 

 of the Church and propagate the true faith among the inhabit- 

 ants. Immediately on the return of Columbus from his first 

 voyage in 1493, the Spanish monarchs accordingly obtained a 

 bull from Pope Alexander VI. confirming them in the newly- 

 discovered regions; and in order to prevent disputes with 

 Portugal as to the extent of their respective claims, another 

 bull was issued, on 4th May 1493, containing the famous line 

 of demarcation between their territories. This was an ideal 

 straight line drawn from the North Pole to the South Pole, 

 passing 100 leagues to the west of the Azores and Cape 

 Verde Islands. All islands or lands discovered to the west 

 of this line by the Spaniards, and which had not been in the 

 possession of any Christian Power before the preceding Christ- 

 mas, were to belong to the Spanish crown ; and all territory 

 discovered to the east of it was to belong to Portugal. The 

 Pope, moreover, granted a monopoly of commerce within those 

 immense regions to the respective crowns, so that other nations 

 could not trade thither without license from the Spanish or 

 Portuguese sovereigns. 1 Spaniards even were not allowed to 

 go to the New World either to trade or form establishments 

 without royal license and authority. Disputes arose between 

 Spain and Portugal as to the equity of the Pope's line of 

 demarcation, and by the Treaty of Tordesillas, 7th June 1494, 

 they agreed that the inter-polar line should pass 370 leagues 

 to the west of Cape Verde Islands. 2 The exclusive rights con- 

 ferred by the Pope were rigorously enforced by Spain and 

 Portugal. Navigation to their new possessions, or the carrying 

 on of any trade or commerce with them, without royal license 

 was made punishable by death and confiscation of goods. 3 



Early in her reign Elizabeth had occasion to protest against 



1 Hullarium Jlomanum Novissimum, i. 346. " Insulse novi Orbis h, Ferdinando 

 Hispaniarum Rege, et Elisabeth Regina repertaj, et reperiendae, conceduntur eisdem, 

 propaganda) fidei Christiana) causa . . . omnes insulas et terras firmas inventas et 

 inveniendas, detectas ad detegendas versus Occidentem et Meridiem fabricando, et 

 construendo unam lineam a Polo Arctico scilicet Septentrione, ad Polum Antarcti- 

 cum, scilicet Meridiem, sive terra) firnue, et insulaj inventa: et inveniendse sint 

 versus Indian! aut versus aliarn quamcumque partem, qua; linea distet a qualibet 

 Insularum, qua) vulgariter nuncupantur de los Azores y cabo vierde, centum 

 lamcis versus Occidentem et Meridiem," &c. Art. 8, "prohibet aliis accessum ad 

 illas insulas pro mercibus habendis absque Regis licentia." 



2 Harrisse, The Diplomatic History of America, 78. 

 * Selden, Mare Clausum, i. c. xvii. 



