Ofício do reitor do Seminário de São José de Macau, Manuel Correia Valente, ao secretário de estado da Marinha e Ultramar, Martinho de Melo e Castro, sobre a carta do Bispo de Pequim, D. Alexandre de Gouveia; a libertação e homenagem aos missionários europeus na China e sobre o envio do decreto imperial que dá liberdade aos mesmos missionários
Transcription
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[Page 1] [Texto Principal] Agora acabo de receber Eu a carta do Sr. Bispo de Pequim, emprêmdas nst.ª da liberd.ª, e o Empera- dor tem dado a todos os Missionários Europeus, e juntamente m.ª. Esta cópia do Decreto do mesmo Imperador, egosto já em outra, e tive a honra de escrever a V. Exa. ho dado parte desta liberd.ª como o orgem l.º me ordena participar a V. Ex.ª afim de qpor no proz.º del. Maj.º faço por muyto dista, em aqual invio tambem a cópia do Decreto em Latim, unão lo tem, por jopressa em) os Navios estam agartes em não dam lugar a traduzido. Sua Ex.ª Substancia o Decreto no texto /meyorwe desta sorte— Tendo eu exa- minado, e inquerido mudam.º os fins pelos quais os Europeus frerros entraram no meu Império, achei q não tenheo outros, senão pregar ao Ddo.º do Céu: achei q não tiverão comunicação algua com os justi- dos Malomitanos rebeldes: achei q elly não tenheo crime nem julgado. Por esta causa Eu mande qus elly Europeos saiam dolarivre: e os sigam nas Igris- jas com os outros Europeos; ou vão p.ª Macau, todos à sua eleição p.º lhes foron merce: cor deno q nunE luepo oa crime lhe seja imputado— Dis mais q no dia doze de Novembro hum dia depois di o Imperador haver inviado o decreto de Altura para com os Missionários a Pequim vindos agragas ao Impe- rador, jello viado os de joelho, segundo o costume, osman Vara devanter, e elles mostrava m.º honro. Qu Schindo [Anotações marginais] [No topo, à esquerda, em tinta vermelha] 22 de Janvr de 1786 [No topo, à direita, em tinta preta] Ilm.º Exm.º Sr.
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[Page 1] [Texto Principal] do Palácio, ordenava que os Missionários fossem aos carros apresentar o Decreto Imperial, conduzir os padres à Catedral. Que chegados aí os recebera à porta da Igreja, conduziria ao Altar do Santíssimo Sacramento, aonde elles, em todos, diriam a Santa Missa; o S. Bispo disse: «não podemos por muito tempo entregar os Sagrados Mistérios». Que lhes dera naquele dia jantar, deftiba vro pelas 4. horas de Pequim, ordenando que cada dia lhes desse o alimento necessário. Os Confessores de Cristo pequinenses dos lares eram seis. O B. de Szechwan, um Francês, um Macaense, dois Franciscanos espanhóis, seis Franciscanos italianos, e um Bogotino. Que ordenara uma junção de acção de graças para louvar V. S., domermos muito naquele futuro Pontifical, que o B. de Szechwan fizera um sermão admirável, que todos os novos europeus, longe de o ouvir, foram tomados por ele ao Altar. Que acabada a Missa cantada e o Te Deum, se expusera o Santo Sepulcro. Eua Solene Processão conforme o Ritual Romano. Que foi infinito o povo que concorreu a um Espetáculo tão turba no devoto. Que acabada a função dera a todos um bom jantar. Que ainda que em Pequim nunca houvesse por defeito respiração, contudo os espíritos sempre velozes, cresceram também as províncias a ouvir dizer que o Imperador não achou culpa nos Missionários, que os tratou com honras. Julgamos: Suas palavras de t. lt. = oficial de Sudo todo avexacam de Santa Lei, e o me acompanhar tão mey acelera o nome de Condegiro fomos-me a Pequim — Christia seja tolerada na China. Só três Missionários escolheram ficar em Pequim; os mais esperou-se todos os dias aqui em Macau.
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[Page 1] [Texto Principal] em Cantão, e Sua Ex.ª rogo os que vão receber aqui em Ma- cau com larga autoridade, para poderem transportar-se p.º onde os 73 pelicos superiores lhes ordenarem. Os Nomes dos que vêm p.ª Macau são os seguintes: O Bispo de Sichuan Francisco Ga- briel Turin, Francês; Frangilão de S. Miguel, M.º do Servam.; Frangilanos Espanhóis, M.º Gonçalves Chiezo, Macau; João Bapt.º Mano, António de Siena, Joás de Sal- sano, Frangilonez, e So de Plantina, Italianos. Eis aqui, Exm.º S.ª, hea fiel relação do q. os S.º Bispo de Pequim me comunicou, como lhe mando dar parte a V. Ex.ª, Tomando já quando chegarem as segundas vias de Pequim, já estarem os barcos partido; ofereço por meu dito, rogando a V. Ex.ª digne perdoar-me oculho desta, e proceder com dem.ª indugi- lência. D. g. a V. Ex.ª m.º a.º Macau 22 de Jano.º de 1786. [Anotações marginais] [Nenhuma visível] [Carimbos] [Nenhum visível] [Assinaturas] De S. Ex.ª Illm.º Exm.º Sr. Martinho de Melô, electo omaj att.º V.º Sum.
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[Page 1] [Texto Principal] Decretum Imperatoris datum 50. anno Kien Lung octava die decimae lunae, id est 9o Novembris 1785. Europei Pa-ti-liang et alii terras nostras arbitrio suo ad praedicandam legem prius ingressi transeundo per Provinciam Hu-Kuang deprehensi fuerunt. Facto examine, compertum fuit in Provinciis etiam Pei-chih-li, Kan-tung, Kan-su, Kiang-si, Sze-ch’uan, et aliis esse, qui simili modo ad praedicandam doctrinam venerunt, et qui comprehensi successive ex dictis Provinciis missi sunt ad Hsing-pu, ut causa discussa judicaretur. Decreta fuit perpetui carceris poena, propterea quod rei nullam aliam mentem habuerint, quam promulgandi Religionem, et nihil aliunde mali perpetraverint. Si monuissent Mandarinos, et Pekinum venissent, omni culpa fuissent immunes; sed quia immonitis locorum Mandarinis, proprio motu se intromiserunt, occulti per omnia loca vagando, praedicando, alios ad se alliciendo, sicut viperinum animal Kuei-iu, quod incautos decipere, et negotia suscitare valet, non potui non graviter in res animadvertere, maloque mederi. Severiores quidem debuissem dare poenas; ego tamen considerans, quod ignorantia peccaverint, eos tantum carceri perpetuo damnavi statui. Verum nunc animo revolvens reos esse exter os, nostrarumque legum injurios carceris perpetui laborem miserius sum. Ideo novum beneficium priori addens, jubeo, ut Pa-ti-liang et alii numero duodecim liberi dimittantur. Si volunt manere Pekini, permittor, ut in Ecclesiis commorentur, ibique juxta suam legem vivant. Si volunt redire in Europam, Tribunal ad quod spectat [Anotações marginais] [No topo, à direita] (Ilegível) [Carimbos] [No topo, à direita] Selo circular com inscrição parcialmente visível: "MUSEU [.] OLINDA [.
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unum determinet Mandarinum, qui nunc eò Macaum conducit. Ad manifestandam meam erga exteros pietatem et misericordiam, praeter leges hanc gratiam impertiri volo. Decretum meum cum reverentia recipiatur. Pa-ti-liang est Pater Joannes a Salsis Kuei-yu est quoddam animal fabulosum, quod venenosum et vaferissimum dicunt Sinenses. Hsing-pu Tribunal, a quo causae criminales judicantur.
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[Referências arquivísticas] Macau, G. 17, doc.
Translation
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— TRANSLATION —
[Page 1] [Main Text]
I have just now received the letter from His Excellency the Bishop of Peking, enclosed with the Imperial Edict of Toleration. The Emperor has granted full liberty to all European missionaries—and likewise to myself. Enclosed herein is a copy of that same Imperial Edict, which I had already transmitted in a previous dispatch; and I had the honour to inform Your Excellency thereof, as instructed by the first clause of the Ordinance, which requires me to report such matters to Your Excellency, so that Your Excellency may, in due course, bring it to the attention of His Most Serene Highness [i.e., the Portuguese Viceroy or Crown Authority]. Accordingly, I transmit herewith also a copy of the Edict in Latin—the version employed in official court correspondence—though I have not been able to provide a full English translation, owing to the urgency of the matter: the ships are preparing to sail and afford no time for translation.
His Excellency the Bishop has rendered the text of the Edict in the following manner:
> ‘Having examined and diligently inquired into the motives which have led European missionaries to enter My Empire, I find that their sole purpose is the preaching of the Lord of Heaven [i.e., the Christian God]; I find that they have held no communication whatsoever with the rebellious Muslim subjects; and I find that they stand neither accused nor convicted of any crime. For these reasons, I hereby command that these Europeans be set at full liberty; that they be permitted to attend churches alongside their fellow Europeans; or, should they so choose, that they be allowed to depart for Macau—all at their own discretion, as an act of Imperial grace; and it is expressly decreed that no crime shall henceforth be imputed to them.’
Moreover, on 12 November—i.e., one day after the Emperor dispatched this Edict of His August Majesty to the missionaries residing in Peking—the missionaries were summoned before the Emperor. There, in accordance with customary protocol, they prostrated themselves upon their knees, presented their memorial (‘vara’) to the throne, and were accorded the highest marks of imperial favour and distinction.
[Marginal Annotations]
[Top left, in red ink] 22 January 1786
[Top right, in black ink] To His Illustrious and Most Excellent Lord
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[Page 1] [Main Text] From the Palace, an imperial edict was issued instructing the missionaries to proceed to the imperial carriages to present the Imperial Decree and to escort the priests to the Cathedral. Upon their arrival, the Bishop was to receive them at the church doorway and conduct them to the altar of the Most Holy Sacrament, where—collectively—they were to celebrate Holy Mass. The Most Reverend Bishop remarked: ‘We cannot for long entrust the Sacred Mysteries [i.e., the Eucharist] to others.’ On that day, he provided them with a formal luncheon, served punctually at four o’clock in the afternoon in Beijing; he further ordered that daily sustenance be supplied to them as required.
The confessors of Christ resident in Beijing comprised six individuals: the Bishop of Sichuan; a French priest; a Macanese priest; two Spanish Franciscans; six Italian Franciscans; and one priest from Bogotá.
A solemn thanksgiving service was also ordained in honour of Your Eminence, during which we greatly rejoiced at the forthcoming pontifical celebration. The Bishop of Sichuan delivered an admirable sermon—so compelling that all newly arrived Europeans, though seated at some distance, were drawn irresistibly towards the altar to hear it.
Upon conclusion of the chanted Mass and the singing of the *Te Deum*, the Holy Sepulchre was solemnly exposed. A grand procession then followed, conducted strictly in accordance with the *Roman Ritual*. The number of people who assembled for this profoundly moving and devout spectacle was immense.
After the liturgical function concluded, a generous banquet was served to all participants.
Although Beijing had never previously witnessed such public recognition—nor indeed any official relaxation of restrictions on Christian worship—the spiritual fervour thus awakened spread rapidly throughout the provinces. News circulated widely that the Emperor had found no fault in the missionaries and had treated them with marked distinction and honour.
We judge: His words—‘t. lt.’ [= *tutela*, i.e., official protectorship or guardianship—here denoting the imperial office responsible for overseeing religious affairs under the Qing administration]—signify full official sanction under the Sacred Law; and his close personal accompaniment, together with the accelerated conferral of the title *Condegiro* [a phonetic rendering of the Chinese term *guān dà rén*, meaning ‘high-ranking official’, here used colloquially by missionaries to denote an influential imperial mandarin], confirmed our journey to Beijing. Thus, Christianity was henceforth to be tolerated in China.
Only three missionaries elected to remain in Beijing; the remainder were expected daily in Macau.
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— PAGE 1 —
[Main Text]
At Canton, and His Excellency hereby grants to those arriving here in Macau full authority to proceed wherever the seventy-three senior ecclesiastical superiors (pelicos superiores) may direct them.
The names of those arriving in Macau are as follows:
• The Bishop of Sichuan, Francisco Gabriel Turin, a French national;
• Frangilão de São Miguel, Master of the Servants of Mary (M.º do Servam.);
• Spanish Frangilanos, Master Gonçalves Chiezo, resident in Macau;
• João Baptista Mano, António de Siena, Joás de Salsano, Frangilonez, and So de Plantina—all Italian nationals.
Here, Your Excellency, is the faithful account communicated to me by the Most Reverend Bishop of Beijing, which I now transmit to Your Excellency as instructed. By the time these persons arrive, however, the second dispatches from Beijing will already have been sent, and the vessels will already have departed. I submit this report under my own responsibility and respectfully entreat Your Excellency to pardon any oversight herein, and to proceed with due leniency and discretion.
God grant Your Excellency many years of health and service.
Macau, 22nd January 1786.
[Marginal Annotations]
None visible.
[Seals]
None visible.
[Signatures]
By His Excellency the Most Illustrious and Most Excellent Lord Martinho de Melo, elected Bishop of Oporto, Apostolic Administrator *ad interim* of the Diocese of Macau.
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— TRANSLATION —
[Page 1] [Main Text]
Imperial Edict issued in the fiftieth year of the Qianlong reign, on the eighth day of the tenth lunar month—that is, 9 November 1785.
Europeans, led by Patiliano (Pa-ti-liang) and others, entered our territories without official authorisation to preach their doctrine, passing through the province of Huguang, where they were apprehended. Upon investigation, it was ascertained that individuals engaged in similar proselytising activities had also been discovered in the provinces of Zhili (Pei-chih-li), Guangdong (Kan-tung), Gansu (Kan-su), Jiangxi (Kiang-si), Sichuan (Sze-ch’uan), and elsewhere; these persons were successively arrested and forwarded to the Ministry of Justice (Xingbu) for judicial examination and adjudication.
It was decreed that they should suffer perpetual imprisonment. This penalty was imposed not because they harboured any intent other than the propagation of their religion, nor because they had committed any other act deemed criminal under our laws; rather, it reflected grave concern over their conduct. Had they first sought formal permission from local mandarins and presented themselves at the capital, Peking, they would have incurred no liability whatsoever. Yet, having entered the empire without such notification—and having proceeded, of their own accord, to traverse the realm clandestinely, preaching openly and actively recruiting adherents—they resembled the venomous serpent *Guiyu* (Kuei-iu), capable of deceiving the unwary and inciting disorder. I could not therefore fail to take serious notice of this matter and to apply corrective measures.
Indeed, more severe penalties would have been warranted; yet, in consideration of their ignorance of our statutes and administrative protocols, I determined to impose upon them only the sentence of lifelong confinement.
However, upon further reflection, I have concluded that these offenders are foreigners, unfamiliar with the letter and spirit of our laws, and that the punishment of perpetual imprisonment imposes upon them an unduly harsh burden. Accordingly, granting a new favour in addition to the prior clemency, I hereby order that Patiliano (Pa-ti-liang) and eleven others—twelve persons in total—be released unconditionally.
Should they wish to remain in Peking, they are permitted to reside within the designated churches (*jiaotang*), there living according to their own religious law and customs. Should they instead desire repatriation to Europe, the competent tribunal—the Board of Rites (*Lifan Yuan*, where matters concerning foreign envoys and tributary missions fell under jurisdiction; or, in cases involving legal procedure, the Ministry of Justice, *Xingbu*)—shall arrange for their conveyance and formal departure in accordance with established protocol.
[Marginal Annotations]
[Top right corner] (Illegible)
[Seals]
[Top right corner] Circular seal bearing partially legible inscription: “MUSEU [.] OLINDA [.”
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A Mandarin shall be appointed to oversee affairs in Macau. In order to demonstrate my piety and mercy towards foreigners, I wish to grant this favour in addition to the established laws. My decree is to be received with due reverence.
*Pa-ti-liang* is Father Joannes a Salsis; *Kuei-yu* is a legendary creature described by the Chinese as venomous and exceedingly cunning. The *Hsing-pu* (Board of Punishments) is the imperial tribunal responsible for adjudicating criminal cases.
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[Archival references] Macau, Governor’s Office Records (G. 17), document