In 1517 he granted a patent to one of his Flemish favourites, containing an exclusive right of importing four thousand Africans into America.

But he lived long enough to repent of what he had thus inconsiderately done.

For in the year 1542 he made a code of laws for the better protection of the unfortunate Indians in his foreign dominions; and he stopped the progress of African slavery by an order, that all slaves in his American islands should be made free.

This order was executed by Pedro de la Gasca.

Manumission took place as well in Hispaniola as on the Continent.