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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.

Padre Marcelo Mastrilli, a Jesuit, is remembered for his martyrdom in Nagasaki, Japan, and a miracle attributed to him by St. Francis Xavier. In 1636, en route to India, he foresaw his martyrdom in a letter to S. Antonio Tegliez de Silva. In 1634, while dying in Naples, St. Francis Xavier healed him and tasked him with preaching in the Indies, promising him martyrdom. Mastrilli journeyed through Madrid, Lisbon, Goa, Malacca, and Manila before reaching Japan, experiencing miracles along the way. Leaving Goa in April 1636, with twelve companions, Mastrilli's group split up, heading for Malacca. He, along with Padres Baldassarro Citadella, Antonio Capece, and Francesco Carola, sailed on Domenico di Camera's Galeotta, intending to reach Japan, China, and other areas. However, Dutch vessels forced them to Manila. En route, when the Galeotta sprung a leak, Mastrilli reassured everyone with an image of St. Francis Xavier, promising salvation. In Manila, Mastrilli faced difficulties entering Japan due to restrictions on religious figures. It was decided he would go alone, while his companions went to Macao. Before departing, he accompanied the Governor of Manila to conquer Mindanao. During a battle, he flagellated himself, provoking a demonic reaction and receiving a revelation that the victory would be his and that the Governor would facilitate his journey to Japan. Mastrilli, with ten Japanese men disguised as locals, sailed from Manila on July 13, 1637, reaching the Kingdom of Saxuma on September 19. Seeking the Emperor, he landed at Xiguiso but was discovered and arrested with his companions, then taken to Nagasaki. There, he declared his mission to convert the Emperor. Mastrilli endured tortures, maintaining his faith. Sentenced to death, he was thrown into a pit of filth on October 17, 1637. After four days, he was beheaded; an earthquake occurred at his death.

This 17th-century Portuguese colonial administrative document, dated between 1606 and 1634, comprises a series of petitions, royal warrants (alvarás), notarial certifications, and archival annotations originating from the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino and related repositories in Lisbon. It concerns Dom Pedro Mascarenhas, gentleman of His Majesty’s Household and heir to his uncle of the same name, who petitioned the Crown for confirmation and reissuance of a lost royal licence granted on 30 March 1606 authorising a voyage to China. The documentation further reveals that in 1606, a sum of 600,000 réis was allocated to representatives of Lisbon aboard a ship returning from China via Bandar Abbas, intended initially for Dom Pedro Mascarenhas, son of Dom Jorge Mascarenhas, Count of Castanheira, and later transferable to his nephew, Dom Pedro de Melo Mascarenhas. The petitioner requests legal authority to manage the estate, receive revenues, appoint attorneys, and conduct proceedings before royal judges (ouvidores). Multiple attestations by officials including Manuel Jacome Bravo, Chief Keeper of the Torre do Tombo, and notaries such as Pedro António de Carvalho and Gaspar Maldonado, confirm searches in chancery records and the authenticity of transcribed provisions. Marginalia, fiscal stamps (imposto do sello), and repeated archival markings (AHU, M. das C.) reflect bureaucratic verification processes. The text illustrates the operation of Iberian Union-era colonial administration, particularly regarding maritime privileges, succession rights, and Crown revenue management in relation to India, Malacca, Macao, and Japan.

This document is a transcription of an official municipal record dated 1632, originating from Macau, then under Portuguese administration. It records a resolution passed by the municipal council (Câmara) on 7 July 1632 in the City of the Name of God (Macau), concerning the imposition of additional customs duties to alleviate the city’s financial debt. The meeting was attended by ordinary judges Francisco Rodrigues da Silva and Salvador Pinto de Moraes, councillors Diogo Vas Bavaro and Rodrigo Sanches de Paredes, and Procurator of the City Antonio Prounca. The councillor for the month, Diogo Vas Bavaro, informed the assembly that the city's debt had resulted in the detention of local merchants’ commercial goods in Japan, necessitating urgent fiscal measures. To address this, a proposal was made to increase existing duties by two per cent, bringing the total levy to seven per cent. After deliberation, the measure was unanimously approved. The record was formally drawn up and signed by Tristão Tavares Alferes, Clerk of the City. The document bears dual archival stamps from the Arquivo Histórico Colonial in Lisbon and contains marginal annotations indicating its origin and year. A second page lists officials serving under the Governor of China, with a certification of authenticity by José Joaquim Barrois, Secretary of the Senate. This primary source provides critical insight into the fiscal policies, administrative structures, and economic challenges faced by the Portuguese colonial municipality of Macau in the early 17th century, particularly in relation to trade relations with Japan.

This fragmented 16th–17th century Portuguese colonial administrative document, likely originating from Macao and dated between the 1520s and 1625, comprises a series of translated fiscal, military, and diplomatic records concerning the establishment and governance of Portuguese settlements in maritime Asia. The text details the foundation of Malacca after its conquest by Afonso de Albuquerque in 1511, attributing its early development to figures such as Dom João Sanches or his daughter, and references the death of St. Francis Xavier in the region. It chronicles Portuguese commercial and military activities along the China coast, particularly at Lampacao and Macao, including trade fairs, conflicts with Chinese authorities, and the strategic use of fortified positions on riverine frontiers such as Fantan. The account describes armed resistance led by local leaders (e.g., the "chuncho"), negotiations with regional polities like Hipa, and the growing integration of Portuguese settlers through intermarriage and alliances with local officials. Fiscal management is a central theme, with records of customs revenues, expenditures exceeding 855,000 réis between years 622 and 625 (likely Islamic or local calendar dates), and concerns over unsustainable taxation. Reference is made to key individuals including Din Rg Yeus, Deiran, Godeleyo, Don Martin Alfego, and Miguel de Souta, within contexts of ecclesiastical influence, trade regulation, and imperial defence. The document also outlines requests from Macao for royal permission to conduct annual voyages to Japan and Manila, citing economic hardship and Chinese restrictions. Strategically, it underscores the importance of fortifications—particularly the taipa at St. Paul’s—and the need for sustained provisioning of munitions and supplies to maintain control amid ongoing hostilities. Endorsed by probable signatures of D. João de Lemos, Secretary of State of India, and linked to the Marquês de Tenguer, this manuscript offers critical insights into Iberian colonial administration, Sino-Portuguese relations, and the political economy of early modern Asian trade networks.

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.

This is a 17th-century administrative document, dated March 1626, originating from the Portuguese Estado da Índia, concerning proposed revisions to maritime trade contracts for voyages to Japan and Mozambique. The memorandum, issued under the authority of D. Francisco da Gama, Viceroy of Portuguese India (Count of Vidigueira), details fiscal and logistical arrangements approved by the Council of State and Treasury officials. It records António d’Tuniera de Moraes’s proposals, including the adjustment of Macau’s quota from thirty thousand to forty-eight thousand xerafins following treasury reassessment, with reference to the sale of the fevrad do fon, gellog? for thirty-nine thousand xerafins. The text outlines provisions for cavalry allowances and discusses contractual difficulties arising from insufficient time prior to fleet departure. Additional proposals include four planned voyages to Mozambique. The document reflects on the financial strain of the royal treasury, justifies partial revenue retention by merchants, and recommends a one-quarter levy on voyage proceeds to alleviate state burdens. Marginal annotations, archival stamps—such as those from the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino (AHU) and Arquivo Histórico Nacional—and internal references indicate its provenance within official colonial record-keeping systems. Despite textual anomalies, including suspected transcription errors in dates (e.g., 1627), names, and terms like “nachfrimach mentas” or “Vráge Serdada”, the document provides critical insight into early 17th-century Iberian imperial administration, fiscal policy, and intra-Asian maritime logistics during the Iberian Union. It serves as a primary source for understanding crown-merchant relations, contract enforcement, and economic challenges within the Portuguese colonial empire.

This 16th–17th century archival document, originating from Macao and held in the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino (Lisbon), comprises a series of official reports addressed to the Portuguese monarch detailing the religious institutions operating in the city. Dated 1582 and 1621, and authored by Miguel Pinheiro Ravasco, the texts provide an account of convents and religious colleges under the Franciscan, Dominican, Augustinian, and Jesuit orders, as well as the Misericórdia brotherhood and a Santa Clara retreat for orphan girls. The documents record the number of religious personnel, their sources of income—including rents, alms, trade licences, and royal grants—and property holdings in Macao, Goa, and Malacca. Particular attention is given to financial arrangements such as the annual allocation of cruzados and taéis for missions in Japan and China, revenue from pharmacies and urban properties, and suspended payments due to logistical and administrative challenges. The reports also note permissions granted for trading Japanese silk under royal protection, though actual shipments were rare due to poverty and supply issues. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of these religious houses for sacramental administration and evangelisation. The material reflects the economic, ecclesiastical, and colonial structures of the Portuguese Empire in Asia and serves as a primary source for understanding early modern Catholic missionary activity, urban religious life, and colonial administration in Macao.

Official copy (*treslado*) of financial receipts from 1613, transcribed in February 1616, documenting loans advanced in Macao for the provisioning of the Portuguese China fleet under Captain-General Miguel de Sousa Pimentel. The documents record multiple transactions administered by André Dias, factor (feitor) and governor of the armada, with Francisco Duarte and later Francisco de Sá acting as scriveners. Between October and November 1613, sums totalling over 9,000 pardaus in reais were received from merchants, officials, and private lenders, including funds from the municipal council of Macao and individuals such as Estevão Borges and João Francisco Sem Biques. Loans were issued at an interest rate of twenty-five per cent, repayable in Malacca, with Miguel de Sousa Pimentel personally assuming financial risk aboard the galleon *São Bento*. Entries detail disbursements for fleet maintenance, duties, and operational expenses, with formal acknowledgements of receipt and liability declarations preserved. The original receipts were certified as accurate by Manuel Nogueira Dandrade, scrivener of the Treasury, on 13 February 1616, based on records sent from China by André Dias under warrant from the Chief Purveyor. Held in the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino (AHU), this document provides critical insight into early 17th-century Luso-Asian maritime finance, colonial administrative practices, and credit mechanisms within the Estado da Índia’s naval operations.

Royal decree issued by the King of Portugal on 3 September 1615, originating from Lisbon and addressed to the Viceroy of India, concerning the financial provision for Jesuit missionaries in China. The document records the monarch’s decision to augment the annual stipend granted to the Company of Jesus in the Chinese mission by one thousand xerafins, increasing the total allocation from two thousand to three thousand xerafins per annum. This increase is conditional upon confirmation that the number of Jesuit religious in China has risen to twenty-one, exceeding the original fourteen who had been supported under the prior arrangement. The augmentation is explicitly tied to the presence of at least seven additional missionaries beyond the original complement. The Viceroy of India is instructed to verify this numerical increase through official certification listing all religious stationed in the missions under Jesuit authority, including those in China, before disbursement may proceed. Failure to provide documented evidence will result in the suspension of both the additional payment and any future increments. Endorsed by Rui Dias de Meneses and bearing archival stamps from the Biblioteca Nacional Secção Ultramarina and Arquivo Histórico Colonial, Lisboa, the document forms part of the Portuguese colonial administrative records relating to Asia (AHU_CU_Índia). It reflects the Crown’s fiscal oversight of missionary activities in its overseas territories during the early seventeenth century.

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.

Royal writ issued in 1603 granting the inhabitants of Macau, within the Portuguese State of India, the right to elect a Judge of Orphans every three years, modelled on practices in Goa and other cities of the State of India. The officeholder is to serve a single three-year term and may not be re-elected unless removed for cause or misconduct. The document further authorises the election of a Clerk of Orphans, to be held for life by a qualified individual. The writ commands the Viceroy of the Indies, the Judges of the High Court (Relação), magistrates of the State of India, the Captain-General of the Fleets, and the Ombudsman (Ouvidor) of Macau—or their successors—to uphold and enforce the provisions without imposing additional conditions or impediments. It mandates the registration of this decree in the official records of the High Court and Chancellery of the State of India, as well as in the municipal books of Macau. Issued under royal authority, the writ is to be treated as legally binding with the same force as if formally signed and sealed, overriding any conflicting provisions in the Ordinances of King D. Manuel. This document serves as an administrative and legal instrument reflecting colonial governance structures, civic organisation, and imperial authority in early seventeenth-century Macau.

This 17th-century Portuguese colonial regulation outlines the judicial powers, administrative responsibilities, and institutional framework governing the office of the Ouvidor (royal judge) of Macao within the Estado da Índia. Dated and structured as a formal regimento (charter), the document defines the Ouvidor’s jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases, including final adjudication in first-instance matters and procedures for appeals to the Relação appellate court in Goa. It establishes the Ouvidor’s dual role as Judge of Orphans, details staffing arrangements—including two escribãos (clerks), one meirinho (bailiff), and four subordinates—and specifies protocols for issuing cartas de segura (letters of protection) with prior approval from the Captain. The text delineates hierarchical relations between the Ouvidor and other authorities, particularly the Captain of Macao, clarifying non-interference in Captaincy affairs while affirming the Ouvidor’s autonomous judicial function. Provisions address conflict resolution, suspension procedures, challenges to judicial impartiality (suspeição), and financial administration, including the collection and disbursement of fines. Salaries are to be paid quarterly through the Malacca factory, recorded officially, and verified via documentation entered into central registers. The regulation asserts supremacy over conflicting local customs or ordinances and mandates its registration in key administrative and judicial archives across the Portuguese imperial network, including Goa and Africa. Intended for scholarly analysis, this document offers critical insights into colonial legal structures, bureaucratic practices, and jurisdictional hierarchies in early modern Portuguese Asia.

Bula pela qual Gregório XIII instituiu a diocese de Macau, que seria sufragânea da arquidiocese de Goa e concedendo ao rei de Portugal o direito de padroado e de apresentação do bispo da nova diocese. Publicada em Bullarium Patronatus Portugaliae. Olisipone: ex Typograhia Natione, 1868, pp. 243-245 e Corpo Diplomático Portuguez contendo os actos e relações políticas e diplomáticas de Portugal com as diversas potencias do mundo desde o século XVI até aos nossos dias. Lisboa: Typographia da Academia Real das Sciencias, 1884, vol. X, pp. 498-503.

This historical document transcription, originating from the Jesuit Mission of Tumkin in Macao between 1711 and 1720, forms part of a series of ecclesiastical records compiled by João Alvares and later forwarded to the Procuratorship in Lisbon. The text details missionary activities across contested territories such as Tonkin (Tunkim), Funckim, and Dunkin during periods of intense persecution under royal decrees. It documents the spiritual labours, administrative challenges, and sacramental ministries of Jesuit missionaries including Francisco Nogueira Rodrigues, Father Ruiz, and Father Ignacio Martiny, among others. The narrative highlights efforts to sustain clandestine Christian communities amid political hostility, forced concealment, imprisonment, and martyrdom. Key figures such as Father Marinho Coelho, Father Jerónimo de Azevedo, and Alexandre de Rhodes are noted for their linguistic and pastoral contributions. The abstract includes statistical accounts of conversions, baptisms, and confessions, alongside reports of resistance from local authorities, particularly Mandarins, who enforced prohibitions against Christian practice through edicts, confiscations, and corporal punishment. Despite severe hardship—including famine, illness, and isolation—missionaries continued administering sacraments in secret, often relying on native catechists and covert networks. The document reflects colonial-era religious conflict, indigenous engagement with Catholicism, and institutional struggles within the Society of Jesus, preserved in Portuguese ecclesiastical archives for doctrinal and administrative review.