Archivio Segrcto 
23 
of the bulls, bull by bull, and book by book. Usually each volume covers one 
class of bulls for one pontificate. In many cases where no such general in¬ 
ventory exists, the several volumes of bulls have individual rubricellae. The 
general rubricellae were found, where tested, complete, except that in some 
cases one or two stray bulls bound in at the end of a volume were not men¬ 
tioned. The folio references are often incorrect, but as the bulls are mentioned 
in order, it is not difficult to find them. The rubricellae give, in addition 
to the folio number, the name of the person addressed, his diocese, and a word 
or two on the character of the business; as, indulgence, or, concerning a parish. 
To find a particular bull is difficult; the most useful references to have are the 
name of the person addressed, and the diocese, the opening clauses, and the 
year of the pontificate. In some cases the original bull itself bears a reference 
to the register. On the other hand to go through the collection as a whole 
or for a period, for some particular subject, relating to a particular diocese 
or country, is only laborious. 
Alexander VI. The register of Alexander VI. consists of 113 numbers, 
772 - 884 . Of these 772-866 are litterae communes; 867 - 873 , litterae secretae; 
874 , de curia; 875 - 878 , ofdciorum, of which 876-878 are labelled I., II., and 
III., respectively, while 875 is without such class number; 879 - 883 , litterae 
diversae, of which 879-882 are numbered I., II., III., and IV., while 883 is 
without class number: 884 , expectatio. The whole series is also numbered 1 - 
113 in the order given. The total number of bulls amounts to about 17,000. 
Indice 276 contains rubricellae of the litterae communes, the other volumes, 
except 872 , have individual rubricellae, but these are not reliable. The litterae 
communes were examined so far as the rubricellae allowed, but one could not 
be sure of exhausting American material without reading all bulls addressed to 
Spanish dioceses, and perhaps those of Portugal, for which time did not suf¬ 
fice. The other series were thoroughly gone through. There are large lacunae 
in the series of litterae secretae, some of which are mentioned in marginal 
notes dated Apr. 26, 1532. The series of litterae diversae also seems incom¬ 
plete, as years 1, 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11 are represented by almost a complete 
volume each, while there are no bulls of year 6 and very few of year 2. It 
is possible that the latter gap accounts for the absence of the bull of Sept. 26, 
1493, to Ferdinand and Isabella, confirming and extending the original grant 
of rights in the New World, dated May 3, 1493; while it seems probable that 
the bull of Nov. 16, 1501, granting the ecclesiastical tenths of the new lands 
to the king, has disappeared from 871 , where folios 7 to 19 are missing; the 
bull registered on folios 3 to 6 being such a grant of tenths for the kingdom 
of Granada. Groups of bulls on similar subjects or to the same person are 
often found together. No bulls directly relating to America and not already 
printed, were found. 
The references to such as there are, follow: 
775 . ff. 42-43. May 3, 1493. To Ferdinand and Isabella, Inter caetera. 
777 . ff. 122-124. June 25, 1493. To Bernardo Buil. 
ff. 192-193. May 4, 1493. To Ferdinand and Isabella, Inter caetera. 
879 . f. 234. May 3, 1493. To Ferdinand and Isabella, Eximiae. 
Besides these there are some other bulls of interest. 
869 . Contains many bulls granting favors to Ferdinand and Isabella. It 
would require careful study of the phraseology of some to determine 
whether they extended to the Indies or not. 
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