The
Requerimiento
Requerimiento (1510) (Document written by jurist Palacios Rubios,
of the Council of Castile):
"On the part of the King, Don Fernando, and of Doña Juana, his
daughter, Queen of Castille and León, subduers of the barbarous
nations, we their servants notify and make known to you, as best we
can, that the Lord our God, Living and Eternal, created the Heaven and
the Earth, and one man and one woman, of whom you and we, all the men
of the world at the time, were and are descendants, and all those who
came after and before us. But, on account of the multitude which has
sprung from this man and woman in the five thousand years since the
world was created, it was necessary that some men should go one way and
some another, and that they should be divided into many kingdoms and
provinces, for in one alone they could not be sustained.
Of all these nations God our Lord gave charge to one man, called St.
Peter, that he should be Lord and Superior of all the men in the world,
that all should obey him, and that he should be the head of the whole
human race, wherever men should live, and under whatever law, sect, or
belief they should be; and he gave him the world for his kingdom and
jurisdiction.
And he commanded him to place his seat in Rome, as the spot most
fitting to rule the world from; but also he permitted him to have his
seat in any other part of the world, and to judge and govern all
Christians, Moors, Jews, Gentiles, and all other sects. This man was
called Pope, as if to say, Admirable Great Father and Governor of men.
The men who lived in that time obeyed that St. Peter, and took him for
Lord, King, and Superior of the universe; so also they have regarded
the others who after him have been elected to the pontificate, and so
has it been continued even till now, and will continue till the end of
the world.
One of these Pontiffs, who succeeded that St. Peter as Lord of the
world, in the dignity and seat which I have before mentioned, made
donation of these isles and Tierra-firme to the aforesaid King and
Queen and to their successors, our lords, with all that there are in
these territories, as is contained in certain writings which passed
upon the subject as aforesaid, which you can see if you wish.
So their Highnesses are kings and lords of these islands and land of
Tierra-firme by virtue of this donation: and some islands, and indeed
almost all those to whom this has been notified, have received and
served their Highnesses, as lords and kings, in the way that subjects
ought to do, with good will, without any resistance, immediately,
without delay, when they were informed of the aforesaid facts. And also
they received and obeyed the priests whom their Highnesses sent to
preach to them and to teach them our Holy Faith; and all these, of
their own free will, without any reward or condition, have become
Christians, and are so, and their Highnesses have joyfully and
benignantly received them, and also have commanded them to be treated
as their subjects and vassals; and you too are held and obliged to do
the same. Wherefore, as best we can, we ask and require you that you
consider what we have said to you, and that you take the time that
shall be necessary to understand and deliberate upon it, and that you
acknowledge the Church as the Ruler and Superior of the whole world,
and the high priest called Pope, and in his name the King and Queen
Doña Juana our lords, in his place, as superiors and lords and kings of
these islands and this Tierra-firme by virtue of the said donation, and
that you consent and give place that these religious fathers should
declare and preach to you the aforesaid.
If you do so, you will do well, and that which you are obliged to do to
their Highnesses, and we in their name shall receive you in all love
and charity, and shall leave you, your wives, and your children, and
your lands, free without servitude, that you may do with them and with
yourselves freely that which you like and think best, and they shall
not compel you to turn Christians, unless you yourselves, when informed
of the truth, should wish to be converted to our Holy Catholic Faith,
as almost all the inhabitants of the rest of the islands have done.
And, besides this, their Highnesses award you many privileges and
exemptions and will grant you many benefits.
But, if you do not do this, and maliciously make delay in it, I certify
to you that, with the help of God, we shall powerfully enter into your
country, and shall make war against you in all ways and manners that we
can, and shall subject you to the yoke and obedience of the Church and
of their Highnesses; we shall take you and your wives and your
children, and shall make slaves of them, and as such shall sell and
dispose of them as their Highnesses may command; and we shall take away
your goods, and shall do you all the mischief and damage that we can,
as to vassals who do not obey, and refuse to receive their lord, and
resist and contradict him; and we protest that the deaths and losses
which shall accrue from this are your fault, and not that of their
Highnesses, or ours, nor of these cavaliers who come with us. And that
we have said this to you and made this Requisition, we request the
notary here present to give us his testimony in writing, and we ask the
rest who are present that they should be witnesses of this Requisition."