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This undated draft consultation, provisionally attributed to 1645 and originating from the Portuguese colonial administration, pertains to ecclesiastical governance in Macau during the mid-17th century. The document comprises a royal administrative dispatch, likely issued by the State Council or royal secretariat, addressing the appointment of a Bishop and Governor for Macau under the framework of the *padroado real*. It requests that the Crown appoint a suitable religious individual to the bishopric, with provision for a coadjutor享有 future succession rights (*coadiutor com futura succeßam*) to the ecclesiastical benefices (*bems*) of the see. The text further instructs the Viceroy to nominate a priest or clergyman as interim colleague (co-legate), subject to royal confirmation. Marginal annotations, including the date “28 June 1645” and references to the Senate of Macau and the Bishop of Macau, suggest archival linkage to a broader consultation, though the main body of the earlier folio remains entirely illegible. Seals bearing inscriptions associated with the Arquivo Histórico Colonial and the AHU, along with royal ciphers and archival references such as “Macau. Cx. 1, doc. 52”, confirm its provenance within the Portuguese colonial archive. The document reflects centralised Crown authority over ecclesiastical appointments and offers insight into the political and religious dynamics shaping the Lusophone Catholic Church in East Asia.

This 1642 handwritten dispatch, addressed to King D. João IV of Portugal and attributed to Pórciamodelamnceclabreu, forms part of the Portuguese colonial administrative correspondence originating from Macau. The document, received from the Casa da Índia and bearing marginal annotations in Portuguese, outlines pressing commercial and political challenges affecting Portuguese interests in Asia during the early years of the Iberian Union. It details disruptions to trade networks, particularly with China and Japan, citing restrictions imposed by local authorities (possibly referencing Ming dynasty policies), logistical failures, and internal administrative instability. Central concerns include the loss of ciphered communications, insufficient military reinforcement, famine in key territories such as Lendre, and the collapse of a commercial negotiation due to the panic-induced failure of agent Fernão G. L'estas. The text also references the strategic importance of the settlement known as "the city of the Name of God" (likely Macau), highlighting its economic value, defensive vulnerabilities, and symbolic role within the Estado da Índia. Despite orthographic irregularities, encrypted terms (e.g., *segofas*, *Camo*, *Haixada*), and partial lacunae, the document reflects authentic 17th-century colonial documentation practices. Its structure, language, and allusions to ecclesiastical authority, divine providence, and Company-supported embassies align with known administrative genres of the period. This transcription preserves original features including script, layout, and physical markings, offering scholars a valuable primary source on mid-17th century Luso-Asian trade, governance, and imperial diplomacy.

This document is a 17th-century Portuguese administrative decree, dated 23 May 1641, issued during the reign of King João IV, and handled in Macau. The main text, partially legible through translation, records an order for the Council of Finance to disburse funds to the Bishop-Elect of Japan (Bispo Elleito do Japão) for the transmission of his Bulls, in accordance with the financial provisions granted to his predecessor. Marginal annotations confirm the date and location, with the notation “Macau, 23 May 1641” appearing on the left side of the page. A signature attributed to “João IV” is present in the lower left margin, alongside an unidentifiable mark. Three faded circular seals, likely wax or ink impressions, are centrally positioned, though no inscriptions are legible. A stamp marked “AHU” (Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino) appears in the lower left corner, indicating archival provenance within the Portuguese colonial record system. Additional handwritten elements include a partial annotation possibly reading “Pro Fazenda” or “Pro Fazenda d. João IV” and a small marginal mark “t”. The term “Elleito”, a period-appropriate orthographic variant of “Eleito”, reflects contemporary Portuguese ecclesiastical usage. Despite minor palaeographic variations, the document’s content, dating, and administrative context align consistently with Portuguese imperial practices in Asia following the restoration of independence in 1640. The sole anachronistic element, “a. 1. dec. 18”, is assessed as a later archival addition and not part of the original 1641 record. This manuscript constitutes a genuine primary source relevant to the study of Iberian colonial administration, ecclesiastical finance, and Lusophone Asia in the early modern period.

Livro das Monções.

Livro das Monções.

Livro das Monções

Livro das Monções

This 1626 official correspondence, originating from the Senate of the Leal Senado (Municipal Council) of Macau and addressed to the Portuguese monarch, documents fiscal and administrative challenges within the Portuguese colonial enclave in China during the early 17th century. The letter, dated 14 November 1626 and signed by Diogo Cabral de Deus and other council officials, explains the city’s inability to comply with royal directives to fund the stipends of the Bishop and Chief Magistrate (Oidor) from the *caldeirão*, a municipal revenue fund already overextended by obligations to local and regional authorities, religious orders, charitable institutions, and military expenditures. It highlights severe financial strain caused by recent losses and debts incurred through privately funded fortifications and garrisons from Goa and Manila. The document further commends Dom Felipe Lobo, Captain-General of Macau, for maintaining stability with local Chinese Mandarins, and strongly recommends Dom Diogo de Valente, Bishop of Japan, for ecclesiastical leadership, praising his moral authority and dedication to both divine and royal service. Marginal annotations summarise key points, including strained finances and diplomatic relations. Seals from the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino and Arquivo de Marinha e Ultramar confirm provenance from Portuguese colonial archives. This primary source provides critical insight into the fiscal constraints, governance structures, and Church-state dynamics in Portugal’s Asian territories under the Iberian Union, as well as the strategic importance of Macau in Sino-Iberian relations.

Autógrafo. Selo de chapa sobre lacre vermelho do dito Bispo, em bom estado.

Autógrafa.

Autógrafo.

Documentação sobre Macau referenciada no Catálogo dos Documentos Relativos às Filipinas, de Pedro Torres y Lanzas

This archival document, originating from the 19th to early 20th century and likely sourced from Portuguese colonial administrative records—potentially held in repositories such as the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino, Lisbon—presents significant challenges for transcription due to repeated validation failures caused by excessive textual repetition or apparent hallucination in the source input. These anomalies may stem from technical issues in digitisation processes, including scanning artefacts, misaligned folios, or mechanical duplication, as well as physical manuscript degradation such as ink corrosion, water damage, or superimposed entries. Alternatively, the repetitions may reflect inherent features of colonial record-keeping practices, including administrative reduplication, marginalia, palimpsests, or scribal errors. The document’s content remains inaccessible in its current form, with all transcription attempts failing across multiple segments of the source material. For accurate scholarly engagement, direct consultation of the original manuscript or a high-fidelity digital facsimile is strongly advised to assess legibility, structural integrity, and paleographic characteristics. Researchers should approach this material with rigorous source criticism, recognising that such transcription difficulties are not uncommon in colonial-era archives where preservation conditions and documentation standards varied considerably. This notice serves as a methodological clarification rather than an assessment of the document’s historical authenticity or research value.

Livro das Monções

Livro das Monções. Ordena-lhe envie informações sobre o provimento de vários cargos na cidade de Macau, para poder responder à petição dos vereadores e oficiais da Câmara desta cidade.