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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.

This 17th-century administrative petition, dated 15 March 1649, forms part of the deliberations of the Overseas Council (Conselho Ultramarino) concerning Luís de Miranda Henriques, a Portuguese subject resident in Macau. Submitted through legal representation, the document records Henriques’ request for the revocation and renewal of two royal warrants (*alvarás*) originally issued on 22 March 1643, granting him rights to a voyage from India to China for the benefit of his daughters, Donas Catharina and Leonor de Miranda, with the facultative right to renounce them. The petitioner asserts that due to ongoing military conflict and continuous service to the Crown in the Indian territories, he was unable to return to Portugal within the stipulated two-year period to renew the warrants. The Council recommends reissuing the *alvarás* under the same conditions, extending the renewal deadline by an additional two years and allowing succession by lawful heirs should the beneficiaries predecease their entitlement. Endorsed by officials including Salvador de Sá de Meneses and Diogo Lobo do Amaral, the document reflects bureaucratic procedures governing colonial trade privileges and royal patronage within the Portuguese Empire. Located in the Arquivo Histórico Colonial (reference AHU, Macau, Cx. I, doc. 63), this record provides insight into imperial administration, familial inheritance strategies, and the logistical constraints affecting colonial subjects’ compliance with metropolitan legal requirements during the mid-17th century.

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 17th-century archival document, originating from Macau and dated 25 September 1645, comprises a formal petition addressed to the Portuguese monarch from the Municipal Council (Câmara) of Macau, with additional administrative entries and signatures from February and November 1645. The primary text, signed by Rafael Arrais de Morais on behalf of the council, emphasizes the strategic and economic importance of preserving Macau amid concerns over military vulnerability and trade instability. It argues against proposals to abandon the settlement, particularly those advanced by António Fialho, and stresses Macau’s potential for generating royal revenue through revived trade with Japan and Manila, as well as its shipbuilding capacity. The document highlights a critical shortage of gunpowder for defence and requests urgent supply, asserting that maintaining Macau serves the Crown’s interests in the Orient. A secondary communication, dated 25 November 1645, references English ships dispatched under the Count of Aveiro, whose arrival via Batavia caused diplomatic tension due to Chinese opposition to foreign vessels, prompting procedural concerns over unauthorised correspondence channels. Marginal annotations, seals bearing the insignia of Portugal and inscriptions such as “ARQUIVO HISTÓRICO COLONIAL” and “CÂMARA DE MACAU”, and multiple signatures—including those of officials like Manoel de Figueiredo e Araújo and Alvaro de Fartilho—attest to the document’s administrative provenance. Despite physical deterioration, ink bleed-through, and some illegibility, the text provides vital evidence of colonial governance, imperial diplomacy, and geopolitical anxieties within the Portuguese Estado da Índia during the mid-1640s.

This 17th-century royal letter, dated 16 October 1643, is a manuscript document from the Portuguese Crown addressed to Jorge Mascarenhas, Marquis of Montalvão, member of the Council of State and President of the Treasury. Written in Enxoura, the document concerns the urgent preparation of ships for a voyage to India, referencing vessels described as 'coral vessels'—a term possibly indicating textual corruption or scribal error, potentially intended as *correios* (dispatch ships) or *caravelas*. The King notes a recommendation from António Ferreira Fialho, conveyed via the Marquis, that greater damage to these ships may render their voyages more advantageous, a claim requiring further examination by the Councils of Finance and Commerce. The Council of State provisionally endorsed dispatching the *Candelaria* and the *Carrias São João*, pending consultation with key officials, including Fialho and Gonçalo Ferreira de Lima. The text reflects administrative decision-making within the Portuguese imperial bureaucracy and highlights logistical and fiscal considerations in maritime operations. Archival markings include contemporary annotations, seals—both wax and ink—and later cataloguing stamps from the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino and the Inspeção das Bibliotecas e Arquivos, indicating provenance and preservation within Portuguese colonial archives. Housed in Macau, Box 1, doc. 22, this document offers critical insight into Iberian naval administration, colonial logistics, and early modern statecraft.

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.

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.