VI 
PREFACE. 
at Agra, and at Cormentin. The consequences of 
these discoveries, were immense wealth, and the best 
profit was probably that afforded by ivory. In 1 39% 
owing to the violent agitation of France, in conse- 
quence of the civil war and the illness of Charles VL 
the commerce of Africa was entirely abandoned ; and 
the factories for which such great sacrifices had been 
made, fell into the hands of the Dutch, the Portu- 
guese, the English, and the Spaniards. The Portu- 
guese wero the most ardent plunderers, as they were 
authorised by the Popes, who conceded to them in 
perpetuity all the territories which they might dis- 
cover from Cape Bojador to the Indies inclusively ; 
they therefore made several fortunate expeditions, 
and for a long time enjoyed a decisive superiority. 
Pope Martin V. in the plenitude of his divine au- 
thority, very liberally granted to Portugal, the right 
of seizing and confiscating all the property of infidels, 
in order that they might have the opportunity of be- 
coming converts, to which he added a plenary indul- 
gence for the souls of those who might fall in such 
pious expeditions. This donation, which was made 
in 1432, was afterwards confirmed and augmented 
by Popes Eugene IV. Nicolas V. and Sextus IV. ; 
and the kings of Portugal assumed the title of 
Lords of Guinea and the Coast of Africa." 
Spain now became anxious to have a share in the 
acts of temporal authority of the sovereign pontifs; 
and in 149^, Alexander VI. divided his liberalities, 
by investing Spain and Portugal with the territories 
of the East and West Indies. 
The English were slow in their courses, and were 
restrained by the express orders of their court, which, 
out of respect for the Popes, and consideration for 
Portugal, would not permit its subjects to proceed 
towards the western coast of Africa; nor did they 
emancipate themselves from this restriction, till the 
middle of the sixteenth century, when being at vv^ar 
Avith Portugal, they directed their arms against her 
establishments, and gradually succeeded in destroy- 
ing their power. 
