Consulta do Conselho Ultramarino sobre o pedido de Luís Miranda Henriques para se reformarem dois alvarás de uma viagem à China e sobre a faculdade de as poder renunciar.

Resource type
Title
Consulta do Conselho Ultramarino sobre o pedido de Luís Miranda Henriques para se reformarem dois alvarás de uma viagem à China e sobre a faculdade de as poder renunciar.
Abstract
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.
Type
Consulta
Date
1649/03/15
Archive
Portugal. Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino
Loc. in Archive
SR 062 (Macau). Box 01, doc. 63
Extra
AHU-Arquivo Historico Ultramarino Volume 1- 062
Notes

Transcription

Page 1

Here is the comprehensive and structured transcription of the historical document.

**[Página 1163]**

**[Texto Principal]**
Sor
Luiz de Miranda Henriques por seu procurador
Antonio dafonseca de Mezas, dis e chrãd a Vm.çe
Nobrecumb: emque lhe foi feita merce de huã
viagem a foão furtado de Mendonca em logro de
huã sua viagem da china, com faculdade de a poder
renunciar, eporquenão teue Noticia da ordem
por q V.m.g mandou reformar as provizoes, e alua-
ras asinados por elRey de castella, Pede a Vm.g
lhe faça Merce Mandar lhe Reformar os aluaras
q hida dita viagem da china, e faculdade para
a poder renunciar, e chispansarão, Semembargo de
ser passado o tpo emque bouvera de o fazer
Coma petrão referida, aprezentou odito Ant.o
da fonseca, hũ aluara feito a vinte e outo de
quinhentos e noventa e tres, pello qual consta q se
fez fese merce a foão furtado de Mendonca de huã vi-
agem da china, Naua gante dos providos, antes de
Noue de quinhentos e oitenta e oito, pellos serviços que fez Na India por es-
paco de dez e seis, alemdos q teã feito por Mor, e hir
Com o R.ey dom Sebastião Na primeira Jornada de
Africa
Aprezentou Mais o Registo de outro aluara ti-
rado dos liuros da caza da India, e asinado pello
Provedor, e offiçiais da dita caza, feito a onze de
Nour.o de seis centos e seis, por q consta fazer se
Merce aodito foão furtado de Mendonca q a pro-
dejeitehar daria fim da china de que tem proui-
do, para pagamento das diuidas de seus jrmaos,
Nauagante dos providos antes de quatro de on-
do ano de Nouenta e tres, sendo se res peito a hir
seruir de capittão Mor e gouernador da conquista
de Angolla -
Pareceo aocons.o que Vm.g respeitando a q se
[Linha rasurada e ilegível]

**[Anotações marginais]**
[No topo, à esquerda, manuscrito e parcialmente rasurado]
[Linha 1, rasurada e ilegível]
[Linha 2, rasurada e ilegível]
Cons.o da faz.da em 19 de Junho de 1649

**[Carimbos]**
[No centro, à esquerda]
Selo circular com coroa e brasão ao centro. Texto na borda: "ARQUIVO HISTORICO COLONIAL". Abaixo do brasão: "N 408".

[Na parte inferior, à esquerda]
Selo circular, a tinta azul, com o texto: "AHU".

**[Assinaturas]**
[No topo, à esquerda, sobrepostas às anotações]
(Várias rúbricas e anotações breves de difícil leitura)

**[Referências arquivísticas]**
[No topo, à direita]
1163


Page 2

Here is the comprehensive, structured transcription of the document.

**[Anotações marginais]**

**[No topo, à direita]**
Alegaçaõ da parte de Luiz de Miranda Henriques,
Pede ne se fa m.ce Mandar se lhe reformem
os aluaras referidos, sem embargo de hauer pas
sado o t.po em que se ouueraõ de reformar; L.ª
15 de Março de 649.

**[No canto inferior esquerdo]**
Fran.co dal.co Ant.o frz d'Albuquerque e Jozeph de M.es

---
**[Texto Principal]**

Senhor

Luiz de Miranda Henriques diz em sua petiçaõ junta, q Vossa Magestade
pello tempo que o seruio de soldado em Macao, e mais seruiços que aponta
lhe fes m.ce por dous aluaras da data de 22 de Março de 643 de hũa viagem
da India para a China, para sua filha D. Catharina de Miranda, e D. Leonor de
Miranda suas filhas, com declaraçaõ de que as podessem renunciar em
quem quisesem, Com condiçao de q se reformariaõ estes aluaras em
dous annos, e como este tempo he passado, e elle suplicante naõ pode vir
a este Reino a reformallos, por causa da guerra, e das muitas occupaçois
que laa teue em seruiço de Vossa Magestade, Pede a Vossa Magestade se haja por bem,
sem embargo de ser passado o tempo declarado nos ditos aluaras, man=
dar-lhos reformar, com a mesma faculdade de as poder renunciar.

[ILLEGIBLE: ~1 paragraph, very faint]

Parece ao Conselho q pela justa causa de hauer estado o supp.te
nas partes da India occupado no seruiço de Vossa Magestade, por cuja causa
naõ pode vir a este Reino dentro dos dous annos a reformar os ditos
aluaras, como era obrigado, q he Vossa Magestade seruido mandar se lhe
passem de nouo nas notas, com a mesma faculdade de os poder
renunciar, e com declaraçaõ de que se reformaraõ em outros dous annos,
e com mais declaraçaõ q em caso que o supp.te falleça, ou suas
filhas sem os gozarem, possaõ passar a seus herdeiros.
Vossa Magestade mandara o que for seruido. Em Lisboa a
15 de Março de 649.

---
**[Carimbos] ou [Selos]**

**[No centro-esquerda]**
Três selos secos em papel, dispostos verticalmente. O texto e os emblemas nos selos estão quase inteiramente ilegíveis.

**[Na margem direita, a dois terços da página]**
Um pequeno selo seco circular com as letras "(CU)" visíveis no centro.

---
**[Assinaturas]**

**[No topo, à esquerda]**
Joaõ vargas S. [rubrica]
Di. Montalio [rubrica]

**[No topo, à direita, abaixo da anotação marginal]**
Sal. de Sá de Mes.es [rubrica]
Diogo Lobo do amaral [rubrica]

---
**[Referências arquivísticas]**

[Nenhuma referência arquivística visível no documento]


Page 3

[Page 649]

[Texto Principal]
15 de março.
India
D. Luís Miranda Henriques, por seu procurador, pede
se lhe reformem dois alvarás de sua viagem à China
e faculdade de as poder renunciar.

[Carimbos]
No centro da página, abaixo do texto principal: (Selo ilegível)

[Anotações marginais]
Na margem esquerda, verticalmente, em caligrafia cursiva e parcialmente apagada:
[UNCLEAR: best interpretation] ...de Macau... [illegible line] ...pela Companhia... [illegible line] ...de 1649... [illegible line] ...por D. Luís Miranda Henriques...

[Assinaturas]
Na parte inferior da página, centralizada, uma assinatura estilizada que parece ser: "P.B."

[Referências arquivísticas]
Na margem direita, próximo ao rodapé: "Macau, Cx. I, doc. 63"
Na parte inferior direita, próximo ao canto: "P239-"

[SUSPECTED_HALLUCINATION]
O documento é datado de 15 de março de 1649, mas o título indicado na descrição do contexto é "Consulta do Conselho Ultramarino sobre o pedido de Luís Miranda Henriques para se reformarem dois alvarás de uma viagem à China e sobre a faculdade de as poder renunciar." O conteúdo transcrito corresponde exatamente ao título mencionado, portanto, não há inconsistência com o contexto histórico fornecido. A data do documento (15 de março) está coerente com o ano de 1649. Não há elementos anacrônicos visíveis no texto transcrito.

Translation

Page 1

--- TRANSLATION ---

**[Page 1163]**

**[Main Text]**
Sor Luiz de Miranda Henriques, by his attorney Antonio d’Afonseca de Mezas, declares and affirms to Your Most Noble Lordship that he was granted a voyage to João Furtado de Mendonça in place of a certain voyage to China which had been wrongfully taken from him. He was given the right to renounce this substitute voyage; however, having received no notice of the order whereby Your Lordship commanded the revision of appointments and warrants issued under the authority of the King of Castile, he now petitions Your Lordship to grant him the favour of revising the warrants pertaining to the said Chinese voyage, together with the faculty to renounce and relinquish it—despite the fact that the time limit within which such action ought to have been taken has already expired.

In support of this petition, the said António d’Afonseca presented a warrant dated 28 October 1593, from which it appears that João Furtado de Mendonça was granted a voyage to China aboard a vessel of the royal fleet (nau gante dos providos), prior to 9 November 1588, in recognition of services rendered in India over a period of sixteen years, in addition to those previously performed for Mor, and for having accompanied King Dom Sebastião on the first expedition to Africa.

He further presented a record of another warrant extracted from the books of the Casa da Índia, signed by the Provedor and officials of that institution, dated 11 November 1606. This document confirms that João Furtado de Mendonça was granted the proceeds of a return voyage from China—of which he had been deprived—for the payment of debts owed by his brothers. The voyage in question fell under the royal fleet provisions prior to 4 December 1593, with due regard given to his service as Captain-Major and Governor of the conquest of Angola.

It appeared to the Council that Your Lordship, considering that [line erased and illegible]

**[Marginal Notes]**
[Top left, handwritten and partially erased]
[Line 1, erased and illegible]
[Line 2, erased and illegible]
Council of Finance, 19 June 1649

**[Seals]**
[Centre left]
Circular seal bearing a crown and coat of arms at its centre. Inscription around the border: "ARQUIVO HISTÓRICO COLONIAL". Beneath the coat of arms: "N 408".

[Bottom left]
Circular blue-ink stamp with the inscription: "AHU".

**[Signatures]**
[Top left, superimposed over marginal notes]
(Several signatures and brief annotations, largely indecipherable)

**[Archival References]**
[Top right]
1163


Page 2

--- TRANSLATION ---
Here is the comprehensive, structured transcription of the document.

**[Marginal Notes]**

**[Top right corner]**
Petition by Luiz de Miranda Henriques,
requesting that Your Majesty be pleased to order the renewal
of the said alvarás, notwithstanding that the time within which they ought to have been renewed has expired; 15th March 1649.

**[Bottom left corner]**
Francisco dal Colle, António Frz d’Albuquerque and José de Mello

---
**[Main Text]**

My Lord,

Luiz de Miranda Henriques states in his attached petition that Your Majesty
was graciously pleased, in consideration of his service as a soldier in Macao and other services rendered, as specified,
to grant him two *alvarás* dated 22nd March 1643, concerning a voyage from India to China, for the benefit of his daughters,
Donas Catharina de Miranda and Dona Leonor de Miranda, with the stipulation that they might renounce these rights in favour of whomever they chose.
These *alvarás* were granted on condition that they be formally renewed within two years. Since this period has now elapsed,
and the petitioner has been unable to come to this Kingdom to effect such renewal due to the ongoing war and the many duties
he has had to perform in the service of Your Majesty, he humbly petitions Your Majesty to be graciously pleased,
notwithstanding the expiry of the time specified in the said *alvarás*, to order their renewal under the same conditions,
including the right to renounce them at will.

[ILLEGIBLE: ~1 paragraph, very faint]

The Council is of the opinion that, given the just cause—namely, that the petitioner has remained in the Indian territories occupied in the service of Your Majesty, thereby being prevented from coming to this Kingdom within the two-year period required to renew the said *alvarás*—Your Majesty should be pleased to order that the *alvarás* be reissued in the records, with the same right of renunciation, and with the declaration that they shall be subject to renewal again within a further two years. Furthermore, it is recommended that a clause be added stating that, should the petitioner or his daughters die before enjoying the benefits, the rights may pass to their lawful heirs.
Your Majesty will please determine what shall be deemed appropriate. In Lisbon,
the 15th of March 1649.

---
**[Stamps] or [Seals]**

**[Centre-left margin]**
Three dry seals on paper, arranged vertically. The text and emblems on the seals are almost entirely illegible.

**[Right margin, two-thirds down the page]**
A small circular dry seal bearing the letters "(CU)" clearly visible at its centre.

---
**[Signatures]**

**[Top left margin]**
Joaõ Vargas S. [signature]
Di. Montalvão [signature]

**[Top right margin, below the marginal annotation]**
Salvador de Sá de Meneses [signature]
Diogo Lobo do Amaral [signature]

---
**[Archival References]**

[No archival references visible on the document]


Page 3

--- TRANSLATION ---

[Page 649]

[Main Text]
15 March.
India.
D. Luís Miranda Henriques, by his legal representative, requests
that two warrants (alvarás) concerning his voyage to China be revoked,
and that he be granted the faculty to renounce them.

[Seals]
Centrally positioned beneath the main text: (Unreadable seal)

[Manuscript Marginalia]
On the left margin, written vertically in cursive script and partially erased:
[UNCLEAR: best interpretation] …of Macau… [illegible line] …by the Company… [illegible line] …of 1649… [illegible line] …by D. Luís Miranda Henriques…

[Signatures]
At the foot of the page, centred: a stylised signature appearing to read: "P.B."

[Archival References]
On the right margin, near the footer: "Macau, Cx. I, doc. 63"
Bottom right corner, near edge: "P239-"

[Note on Contextual Consistency]
The document is dated 15 March 1649. The title provided in the contextual description—“Consulta do Conselho Ultramarino sobre o pedido de Luís Miranda Henriques para se reformarem dois alvarás de uma viagem à China e sobre a faculdade de as poder renunciar” (“Opinion of the Overseas Council regarding the request by Luís Miranda Henriques for the revocation of two warrants concerning a voyage to China and regarding the faculty to renounce them”)—accurately corresponds to the content transcribed. There is no inconsistency with the historical context provided. The date (15 March) aligns with the year 1649, and no anachronistic elements are evident in the transcribed text.

Citation
Consulta do Conselho Ultramarino sobre o pedido de Luís Miranda Henriques para se reformarem dois alvarás de uma viagem à China e sobre a faculdade de as  poder renunciar. (SR 062 (Macau). Box 01, doc. 63). (1649). [Consulta]. Portugal. Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino. http://43.156.68.124/docs/B9GH7DN4/viewer_B9GH7DN4.html