Ferdinand knew well how to judge this shrewd
Aragonese character, and what arguments were most likely to appeal to
it. He told the Spanish ambassadors to say that Spain would immediately
set to work to convert the vast new lands to Christianity; that the
Spanish explorers would take great care not to intrude into Portugal's
African Indies, which shows how confused geography still was in
everybody's mind; and that, whatever the Pope's decision, Spain would
defend her discoveries from any other claimant. This being made clear,
the ambassadors were to present Ferdinand and Isabella's supplication
that a papal bull, or decree, might be issued, granting them all lands
discovered in the past and future by their Admiral Don Cristobal Colon.
Ferdinand of Spain being now a much more powerful king than John of
Portugal, the Pope granted all that Spain asked, but was careful not to
admit that Columbus had discovered the real India; for the bull refers
only to "insulae et terra firma remota et incognita" or "islands and a
remote and unknown mainland."
Meanwhile, all sorts of intrigues were going on between the two
monarchs. John had spies at Ferdinand's court to discover the
negotiations with Rome, and others to find out how Columbus's
preparations were getting along; Ferdinand also sent spies to Portugal.
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