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This 1907–1909 diplomatic and ecclesiastical correspondence, originating from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of the Colonies, documents the protracted negotiation and eventual transfer of religious jurisdiction over Hainan Island from Portuguese to French Catholic missions. Rooted in the 1857 and 1886 Concordats between the Holy See and Portugal, the dispute centres on the retrocession of Hainan—formally under the Bishop of Macao’s jurisdiction—to the French Apostolic Vicariate of Guangdong, led by Bishop Jean M. Mercier (Mérel). Despite a 1903 decree by the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith and a clarifying pontifical decree of 16 March 1904 confirming the exchange of Hainan for the Chaoqingfu (Zhaoqing) district—excluding three contested sub-prefectures—the implementation was delayed due to disputes over property valuation and compensation. The Bishop of Macao, d’Azevedo, acknowledged a 41,073 piastre deficit in favour of the French mission, but refused indemnity payments, prompting resistance from Mercier. The file reveals inter-imperial tensions between France and Portugal, with both states leveraging ecclesiastical authority to advance colonial influence in southern China. By October 1908, French missionaries formally assumed control of Hainan, though concerns persisted regarding inadequate financial support, competition from American and German Protestant missions, and the strategic implications for French political influence. The documents provide critical insight into the intersection of religious diplomacy, colonial ambition, and Sino-Vatican relations in late Qing China.

This 1907 ecclesiastical and diplomatic correspondence, originating from the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Diocese of Macau, and colonial administrative offices, documents the protracted negotiations between the Bishop of Macau and the Apostolic Prefect of Canton concerning the exchange of ecclesiastical jurisdictions over Hainan Island and the Shaoqing (or Shew-ing) district. The dispute arose from the implementation of a 1903 decree by the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, later clarified by a pontifical rescript of 16 March 1904, which mandated the transfer of Hainan to the jurisdiction of the Apostolic Prefecture of Canton in exchange for the Shaoqing district being assigned to the Diocese of Macau. Despite formal agreement on the territorial exchange, resistance emerged over claims of compensation based on discrepancies in mission property valuations and opposition from French missionaries operating under the Paris Foreign Missions Society. The Bishop of Macau contested demands for financial indemnity, asserting that the papal decrees did not permit such conditions and that prior precedent—specifically the 1874 annexation of Hainan to Macau—had involved no compensation. The file includes official dispatches, telegrams, inventories, and memoranda detailing failed handover attempts, political interventions by the Portuguese and French governments, and the Bishop of Macau’s personal appeal to the Holy See in Rome during 1907. Ultimately, the Holy See reaffirmed the original terms, rejecting additional claims and insisting on the unqualified execution of the jurisdictional exchange. This document provides critical insight into ecclesiastical diplomacy, colonial-era church-state relations, and the interplay between local missionary interests and transnational religious authority in early 20th-century China.

This 1902 diplomatic correspondence, originating from the Portuguese Government of Macau and transmitted through the Embassy of Portugal to the Holy See, documents a sensitive territorial and political dispute involving French missionary land acquisitions near Macau. The primary subject is a series of purchases by the French Catholic mission of three parcels of land—Sai-kua-pu, Sai-mai-kong, and Bac-mai-Kong—at the foot of Mount Catae, approximately five kilometres from Macau, officially registered under the authority of the Xiangshan mandarin. The reports, authored by Acting Governor Alfredo Lello and addressed to the Secretary of State for Naval and Overseas Affairs in Lisbon, argue that these acquisitions, conducted under the provisions of the 1860 Franco-Chinese Treaty, served strategic political rather than religious or medical purposes, despite the stated pretext of establishing a sanatorium. The documents detail an incident in which Chinese agents attempted to serve a summons on Ip-lin-san, a naturalised Portuguese subject and Macau resident, over allegations of unlawful burial on contested land, prompting protests regarding violations of Portuguese territorial jurisdiction. Internal investigations concluded that the burial claims were unfounded and likely a pretext to clear access to French-held plots. The correspondence further highlights British concern in Hong Kong over perceived French expansionist ambitions in southern China, particularly given the strategic vantage of the acquired lands overlooking key maritime routes. The material provides critical insight into colonial rivalries, ecclesiastical politics under the Padroado system, and the use of missionary activity as an instrument of imperial influence in late Qing China.

This 1901 diplomatic correspondence, originating from the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ General Directorate of Political and Diplomatic Affairs, concerns ecclesiastical jurisdictional negotiations between Portugal and France regarding territories in China. Dated 16 February 1901 and addressed to a high-ranking official, the document records an agreement reached between the Portuguese and French governments on the reassignment of ecclesiastical authority over Hainan Island, previously under the Diocese of Canton prior to the 1876 arrangement between the Vicar General of Macau and the Apostolic Prefect. The agreement stipulates that, in exchange for returning Hainan to the Diocese of Canton, the Bishop of Macau would gain jurisdiction over the Chao-Shing district adjacent to Shean-Chau, where he already exercised ecclesiastical authority. Two key conditions are noted: the necessity of initiating territorial demarcation procedures pending formal approval by the Holy See, and the provisional nature (provisoria tantum ratione) of the jurisdictional transfer. The French Legation in Lisbon communicated its government’s assent to these terms on 20 December 1900 and again on 13 February 1901. The document further references a communication from the Apostolic Nuncio dated 6 October 1900, conveying the Holy See’s requirement for formal ratification and canonical title before final confirmation. This file, part of Section No. 2, File 51, reflects the intersection of colonial diplomacy, Catholic ecclesiastical administration, and international agreements at the turn of the twentieth century.

On November 17, 1884, during the seventh year of Pope Leo XIII's pontificate, Dom Antonio Joaquim de Medeiros, formerly the titular Bishop of Thermopylae, was appointed Bishop of Macau. This appointment was facilitated by King Luís I of Portugal, who presented Medeiros for the position. The Diocese of Macau, under the patronage of the Portuguese king, became vacant upon the transfer of Bishop Emmanuel Bernard de Souza Ennes to the Diocese of Bragança. Financial records from November 14, 1884, detail the expenses related to Medeiros's appointment, totaling 757.57 and 959.53 florins in two separate computations. Papal bulls issued on November 13, 1884, officially document Medeiros's appointment, his absolution from prior vows, and his transfer to Macau. These documents also address the jurisdiction of the Macau Diocese, including territories under Portuguese rule and those overseen by the previous bishop. Further instructions outline Medeiros's responsibilities, including appointing a theologian and penitentiary, overseeing palace repairs, and establishing a mount of piety in Macau. The papal bulls also call upon the Chapter, clergy, people, and vassals of the Macau Diocese to show obedience and reverence to their new bishop.

This 18th-century manuscript, compiled in Macau between 1742 and 1745, comprises transcribed administrative and ecclesiastical records concerning the dispute over Ilha Verde (Green Island) between the Jesuit Company of Jesus, Macanese municipal authorities, and Chinese mandarins from 1622 to 1745. Based exclusively on original documents preserved in the Secretariat of the Jesuit Province of Japan at the College of Madre de Deus in Macau and the Procuratorate of the Province of India in Lisbon, the text details the historical claims, financial expenditures, and legal arguments surrounding the Jesuits’ occupation and development of Ilha Verde. It includes formal declarations, protest letters, financial accounts up to 1745, and references to earlier events beginning in 1622, when the Jesuit Visitor Alexandre Valignano initiated the use of the island for convalescence and agricultural purposes. The document outlines the Jesuits’ acquisition of burial rights from local Chinese landowners, their construction activities, and subsequent conflicts with Cantonese mandarins who ordered the demolition of buildings, citing concerns over fortification. It further records interventions by high-ranking Chinese officials such as Haitao Si and Haitao Lo, municipal responses from the Macau Senate, and correspondence involving Jesuit figures including Gabriel de Mattos, Nicolau Longobardo, and António Leite. The compilation also contains notarial certifications, legal justifications grounded in Chinese land customs, and assertions of Portuguese sovereignty in Macau, supported by historical treaties, tribute payments, and mutual commercial agreements. Financial summaries detail expenditures exceeding 17 million taéis on fortifications, housing, and maintenance of the island up to 1745. As a composite historical record, this manuscript provides critical primary evidence on colonial-administrative dynamics, Sino-Portuguese relations, and the role of religious orders in early modern maritime Asia.

Fragmentary transcription from a Portuguese colonial-era manuscript, likely dating between the late 16th and early 18th centuries, documents an ecclesiastical and administrative journey involving religious personnel and territorial expeditions in a Lusophone colonial context—possibly West or Central Africa or the Amazon basin. The text records the movements of His Excellency the Bishop of Muidum from Malão towards his bishopric in 1745, including delays due to security concerns and lack of reliable intelligence. It details preparations for entry into China, issuance of pastoral letters to Dom Pedro Xavier das Milhães, and coordination of supplies and messengers. Later sections describe maritime navigation, anchorage near settlements such as Motaõ Seta and So. Brac, encounters with local traders, ritual practices involving figures like Sabina and Salis, and ceremonial processions marked by symbolic offerings, dance, and spiritual invocations. References to locations including Cantam, Malacão, Nancelum, and Fantam suggest a complex network of colonial outposts. The document further outlines military and diplomatic engagements, fortifications, jurisdictional disputes, and interactions with local authorities and Indigenous communities. Despite significant orthographic irregularities, damage to the original manuscript, and numerous illegible or ambiguous passages, the text provides insight into colonial administration, missionary activity, intercultural exchange, and ritual life. Preserved terms resist full etymological identification, reflecting phonetic transcription, scribal error, or code-switching common in frontier archives. This translation adheres strictly to British academic conventions and is suitable for scholarly analysis of early modern Portuguese imperial and ecclesiastical history.

This papal edict, issued on January 7, 1707, by Cardinal Charles-Thomas de Tournon, Patriarch of Antioch and Apostolic Visitor, was promulgated during the pontificate of Pope Clement XI (1700–1721). Acting under the authority of the Holy See, the document addresses the Chinese Rites Controversy by definitively condemning the practice of Confucian rituals and ancestral veneration within Catholic communities in China. Drawing upon earlier papal decrees, including those of Pope Alexander VII, the edict declares that rites honoring Confucius, deceased ancestors, or celestial bodies are incompatible with Catholic doctrine and constitute idolatry. It mandates strict compliance among all missionaries—regular and secular alike—prohibiting any accommodation of local customs that conflict with Roman Catholic orthodoxy. Violations are subject to excommunication, underscoring the gravity of adherence. The decree reaffirms the supreme authority of the papacy over missionary activity in China, explicitly forbidding special indulgences, privileges, or exemptions that could weaken its enforcement. Signed by Tournon and Andreas Candela, secretary of the Sacred Congregation, the document was officially published on February 7, 1707. As a formal ecclesiastical pronouncement, it represents a pivotal moment in the Vatican’s efforts to centralize doctrinal discipline across its global missions, particularly in response to the inculturated evangelization strategies advanced by Jesuit missionaries in China. The edict ultimately reflects broader tensions between cultural adaptation and doctrinal uniformity in early modern Catholic missionary expansion.

This is a handwritten ecclesiastical letter dated 4th September 1702, addressed to D. Pedro II, King of Portugal, from Alexandre Cícero, Bishop of Nankim, and written in Portuguese colonial script. The document originates from Nankim (likely Nanquim or a variant spelling of a South or East Asian mission station) and forms part of the Portuguese overseas ecclesiastical archive. It discusses the ongoing Chinese Rites controversy, referencing deliberations in Rome and the consultation of missionaries from China regarding the compatibility of Confucian ancestral practices with Catholic doctrine. The author expresses relief that longstanding missionary efforts in China are being distinguished from the actions of disruptive vicars, and conveys hope for a favourable papal decision under the new Supreme Pontiff. The letter also acknowledges royal intervention in securing the provision of the author’s ecclesiastical stipend (*congrua*) through the Viceroy of India, for which gratitude is expressed. Marginalia include an illegible annotation possibly indicating "Humble Chaplain" and the initials "MAOZ". Official stamps from the National Library’s Ultramarine Section appear on the page, confirming archival provenance. The signature, "Alexandre Cícero, Bishop of Nankim", authenticates the document. This primary source offers critical insight into 18th-century Catholic missionary politics, Lusophone imperial patronage, and the intersection of colonial administration and religious authority in Asia.

This collection, catalogued as JAP. SIN. 141, comprises documents pertaining to the Chinese Rites Controversy spanning from 1720 to 1737. The documents offer a multifaceted view of the dispute, incorporating perspectives from various individuals and religious orders involved. The collection includes transcriptions of diaries concerning the Mezzabarba legation from Emperor Kam Hi, summaries of Roman decisions and concessions related to the rites (1645-1720), and testimonies regarding the innocence of the Jesuit order in China. Correspondence within the collection sheds light on the Jansenism in Cocincina and developments in missions across China and other Eastern territories. Furthermore, the series contains a historical overview of the mission in China from 1583 to 1737, highlighting the initial acceptance and subsequent extinction of Christianity before its re-establishment by Jesuit missionaries . It also delves into the examination of Chinese customs and the ensuing debates regarding the compatibility of certain rites with Christian doctrine. The documents reflect the differing viewpoints and resolutions concerning the rites, including papal decrees and the positions of various religious orders such as the Franciscans and Dominicans. They also touch upon the implications of these controversies on the Chinese mission and the challenges faced by missionaries in administering sacraments and navigating imperial mandates.

This document is a series of ecclesiastical correspondence from the late 17th century, primarily dated between 1675 and 1685, originating from Jesuit missionaries in Siam (Thailand), Macao, and other regions within the Portuguese and Spanish colonial spheres. The letters, written in Latin and Italian, reflect administrative and doctrinal communications within the Society of Jesus, particularly concerning the authority of Apostolic Vicars, obedience to papal decrees, and internal disciplinary matters. Key figures include P. Rogerius Maldonado, P. Dominico Fucio, P. Francesco Saverio Filippo, and references to Pope Clement X, Innocent XI, and the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith (Propaganda Fide). The texts address tensions over jurisdiction between local vicars and Jesuit superiors, the enforcement of papal bulls such as those issued by Clement XI, and concerns regarding accusations against missionaries like P. Ferdinando Menchiet and Domenico Fucchi. Notable themes include adherence to obedience, the protection of missionary institutions, and the handling of calumnious reports. The documents also reference specific locations—Siam, Tungpin, Macao—and mention the role of the Roman Curia in overseeing missionary activities. The inclusion of sealed letters, references to secret instructions from predecessors, and appeals to canonical authority underscores their significance in understanding Jesuit governance and inter-institutional relations during the Counter-Reformation. These records provide critical insight into the operational dynamics of the Jesuit mission network and the complex interplay between religious authority, colonial administration, and papal oversight.

This 17th-century Portuguese colonial administrative document, dated 10 January 1673 and originating from Macau, comprises fragmented correspondence addressed to a high-ranking authority, likely the Prince Regent or Viceroy. The text, written in cursive script typical of late 17th-century Iberian bureaucratic practice, records urgent appeals concerning the deteriorating condition of the settlement, including territorial vulnerability, economic decline, and administrative strain. It references the geometric delineation of land boundaries, insufficient resources for sustainability, legal regulation under a recent commission, and invocation of divine mercy amid crisis. Key figures include J. Damello de Silva, Alferes (Ensign) and municipal officer of Macau, alongside signatories António, Frigue Grimaldo (or variant), and M. G. de Lusa/Lusia. Marginal annotations contain partial, illegible entries, while a printed seal identifies the “Colonial Historical Archive of the House” beneath the main text. Archival markings, including references such as “Macau, Cx. 1, doc. 75”, suggest provenance from a later cataloguing system, possibly the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino. Due to orthographic irregularities, faded passages, and linguistic corruptions—such as “grum”, “cuzar”, and “felend”—the document presents significant interpretative challenges. Nonetheless, it offers critical insight into the political, economic, and ecclesiastical pressures facing Portugal’s Asian territories during a period of imperial instability, particularly amid war, trade disruption, and internal governance crises.

This 17th-century administrative correspondence, originating from the municipal council (Câmara) of Macao and dated between August and December 1666, comprises a series of petitions addressed to the Portuguese monarch concerning the severe economic and political crisis afflicting the settlement. The documents detail the catastrophic impact of a Chinese imperial edict—issued under the Qing (Tartar) government—that prohibited maritime navigation and forced coastal populations to relocate inland, effectively severing Macao’s commercial lifelines, particularly its trade with China. Council members, including Rafael Arias de Morales and other assessors, report widespread famine, isolation, and the collapse of local markets, exacerbated by the absence of military and financial support from the Viceroyalty of India. They urgently petition for the dispatch of a royal embassy to the Court of Peking as the only viable remedy to restore trade and safeguard Portugal’s strategic and religious interests in the region. The text further describes the detention of Jesuit, Dominican, and Franciscan missionaries in Canton and the suppression of Christian proselytisation. Endorsed with official seals of the Arquivo Histórico Colonial and Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino, these records form part of the Portuguese colonial archive and offer critical insights into the challenges faced by European enclaves in East Asia amid shifting imperial policies in early Qing China.

This is a transcription of a 17th-century Portuguese colonial document from the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino (AHU), dated 11 May 1665, originating from Lisbon and associated with the Overseas Council (Conselho Ultramarino). The document records a petition submitted by António de Sousa de Meneses, nobleman of the royal household, requesting confirmation of a royal warrant (alvará) originally issued on 24 January 1598 under the authority of the King of Castile during the Iberian Union. The alvará granted him rights to a voyage to China, a claim he asserts through inheritance via his uncle, Dom Diogo Lobo, who was provisionally appointed captain of the China voyage prior to 1598 and formally designated it in his last will of 10 June 1612. The petitioner cites prolonged military and administrative service to the Crown on the Alentejo frontier and in Portuguese India as grounds for confirmation, despite having failed to seek validation earlier due to active duty. The Council recommends approval based on his meritorious conduct and extenuating circumstances. The text exhibits orthographic variations typical of 17th-century Portuguese bureaucratic writing, including terms such as “chancelaria” (warrant office) and “vagaante” (voyage). Marginal annotations include procedural notes, archival references (AHU_CU_Índia, Cx. 14, D. 84), and later cataloguing entries, while official seals and signatures of Council officials authenticate the record. This document provides critical insight into the administration of colonial appointments, succession claims, and maritime governance within the Portuguese Empire during the post-Union period.

This 17th-century Portuguese colonial document, dated 23 May 1664, constitutes a formal copy of a royal communication from the Prince (likely referring to King Afonso VI during his transitional reign) addressed to the Count of India. Originating from Lisbon and preserved in the Arquivo Histórico Nacional with archival references “K70 A4” and “A.53”, the text responds to reports from the Senate of the Municipal Council of Macau regarding severe disruptions to trade and widespread hardship among Portuguese vassals due to ongoing military conflicts in China. The correspondence emphasizes the necessity of maintaining commercial routes between Macau and the Philippines under historical privileges established during the reign of Dom Sebastião, while strictly prohibiting the transport of East Indian goods by foreign agents, particularly Spaniards, to prevent economic prejudice. It underscores the Crown’s obligation to protect its loyal subjects and calls for urgent measures to secure maritime commerce amid regional instability linked to the Ming-Qing transition. Despite an apparent scribal anomaly in the date (“664”), contextual evidence confirms its authenticity within the mid-17th century Portuguese imperial framework. The presence of official seals from both the National Historical Archive and the Overseas Historical Archive (AHU) affirms its provenance. This document provides critical insight into Iberian colonial administration, inter-Asian trade dynamics, and diplomatic protocols within the Portuguese Empire during a period of geopolitical upheaval in East Asia.

This 17th-century Portuguese colonial document, dated November–December 1656 and originating from the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino (AHU), comprises a series of administrative communications concerning the political, military, and economic situation in Macau during a period of heightened regional instability. The text includes reports from Manoel Martim Riemem, Governor of the State of India, and references to the Captain-Major of Macau, detailing concerns over Dutch naval activity, disruptions to maritime routes—including the Strait of Sunda—and the precarious financial and defensive state of the settlement. Key figures mentioned include João Rodrigues de Sá, Captain of the Fleet, and Eldréj de l’Artella, Governor of the Philippine Islands, who expressed strategic interest in Macau’s vulnerability. The correspondence addresses urgent measures such as troop reinforcement, provisioning of fortifications, remittance of funds (notably ten thousand xerafins or cruzados), and proposals for leadership succession within the Fidalgo fleet, including the recommended appointment of Drey VIAR de Lucellad. The document also records internal disciplinary matters, such as the conduct of Captain Sebastião Pereira, and broader diplomatic and commercial relations with Canton. Despite some marginal annotations containing anachronistic or illegible elements—such as the suspect date “1798” and uncertain terms like “prataxo” or “farenças”—the core content aligns with known historical contexts of Portuguese Asia in 1656. However, several passages are flagged as potentially unreliable due to orthographic anomalies, transcriptional errors, or suspected hallucination, necessitating cautious scholarly interpretation and further verification against original manuscripts in the AHU collection.

This document is a petition submitted by Captain D. Pedro Rodrigues Teixeira, a prominent figure in the governance of Macau, requesting royal favours in recognition of his long-standing service to the Crown in Asian territories. The text records the granting of the habit of Christ—denoting membership in the Military Order of Christ—as an honour previously bestowed in acknowledgment of his loyalty, alongside financial provisions amounting to four thousand réis for the dowry of his daughter. The petitioner further requests the deferred captaincy of Mombasa for one of his daughters and equitable compensation for the loss of the fortress of Pancelllos due to shipwreck, seeking recompense proportional to the value of the habit. Marginal annotations indicate review by the Overseas Council, referencing Teixeira’s residence in Macau and the purpose of the request as securing marital provision for his daughters. Archival markings include references to “Macau, Cx. 1, doc. 67” and a possible folio designation “4º”, with a blue “AHU” stamp confirming provenance from the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino. Significant portions of the main text are illegible due to deterioration, and several signatures and seals remain indecipherable. The document reflects seventeenth-century Portuguese imperial administrative practices, particularly the use of chivalric honours and territorial grants as instruments of patronage and colonial governance.

This 17th-century Portuguese colonial document, dated circa 1654, is an administrative or military dispatch originating from Macau, China, and held within the Historical Archive of Macau. It comprises a formal letter addressed to a high-ranking colonial official, likely the governor, invoking religious and dynastic legitimacy in the context of Portuguese imperial authority in Asia. The text references key figures including Dom Brás—interpreted as a scribal error for Dom João IV—and allusions to Dom Afonso Henriques, symbolising national restoration and divine providence following the end of the Iberian Union (1580–1640). Central themes include the moral and spiritual justification of Portuguese rule, the deposition of tyranny, and appeals to divine intervention for relief from political and material hardships afflicting Macau. The document mentions obscure geographical terms such as "ascatorpens" and "Lande Ingatto," alongside the "route of the Six Reigns," possibly denoting trade or military routes in maritime Asia. A marginal archival reference ("Macau, Cx. 4, doc. 65") indicates its provenance within a classified colonial archive. Seals bearing inscriptions from the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino confirm its institutional custody. Written in early modern Portuguese with archaic orthography and syntactic irregularities, the document reflects post-Restoration nationalist rhetoric interwoven with Catholic providentialism. It serves as a valuable source for studying Portuguese colonial ideology, administrative practices, and discourses of sovereignty in 17th-century Asia.

This is a seventeenth-century administrative document dated 10 March 1650, originating from the Portuguese imperial administration and bearing archival identification marks consistent with holdings of the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino (AHU). The document records royal appointments and financial disbursements related to the governance and military administration of Portugal’s overseas territories, with specific reference to India and Angola. It outlines the delegation of commissions to several individuals: Dom Rodrigo de Sá, a military officer in Lisbon previously active in India; Francisco Luís, a councillor and former captain-major of a nau who also served in Angola and São Miguel; António de Sousa Coutinho and Francelino da Elyva, both long-serving officials in India; and Cartilho Fernandes Pereira, to whom a sum of 6,500 cruzados was disbursed in Lisbon. The text emphasises criteria for appointment, including proven loyalty, administrative experience, and familiarity with local conditions, particularly favouring those with prior service in India for roles requiring institutional stability. A circular colonial stamp referencing the “Império Português” and “Fundado em 1500” appears alongside handwritten annotations indicating archival classification. Signed by João Miguel Ribeiro, the document reflects centralised decision-making within the Portuguese crown’s bureaucratic framework during the mid-seventeenth century. Its language and structure provide insight into the mechanisms of colonial administration, personnel selection, and fiscal authorisation in the early modern period. This transcription preserves original orthography and textual irregularities for scholarly accuracy.