10 300
THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT TO PROVIDE SLAVES TO THE SPANISH INDIES
1
●
(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION.) “ASSIENTO.”
Five manuscript leaves from
the original contract for the acquisition of African slaves.
Folio leaves 355 through
357, written in a neat cursive hand.
Lima, 16 December, 1665
[2,000/3,000]
LEAVES
355
THROUGH
359,
OFFICIAL COPIES OF A COMPLAINT BEFORE THE ROYAL COUNCIL
(
REAL CONSEJO
)
OF PERU REGARDING THE
“
ASSIENTO
”
OR
“
AGREEMENT
”
TO PROVIDE
AFRICAN SLAVES FOR THE SPANISH INDIES
.
The agreement referred to here was made with
Domingo Grillo and Ambrosio Lomelin, two enterprising Italian merchants. (see Maria Vega Castro,
El Trafico de Esclavos con America. Assientos de Grillo y Lomelin, 1663-1674). Grillo and
Lomelin had essentially established a monopoly to provide the Spanish colonies in “Las Indias” with
African slaves. The problem discussed on these pages seems to be the sale of slaves by Grillo and
Lomelin in other parts of the dominion, specifically Panama. The agreement, or “assiento,” was later
given to the British in 1713 following the Treaty of Utrecht.