Alvará (cópia) de D. Filipe II, rei de Portugal e de Espanha, que concede aos moradores de Macau o privilegio de poderem eleger juiz e escrivao dos órfãos, a semelhança do que se praticava nas cidades da índia.

Resource type
Author/contributor
Title
Alvará (cópia) de D. Filipe II, rei de Portugal e de Espanha, que concede aos moradores de Macau o privilegio de poderem eleger juiz e escrivao dos órfãos, a semelhança do que se praticava nas cidades da índia.
Abstract
Royal writ issued in 1603 granting the inhabitants of Macau, within the Portuguese State of India, the right to elect a Judge of Orphans every three years, modelled on practices in Goa and other cities of the State of India. The officeholder is to serve a single three-year term and may not be re-elected unless removed for cause or misconduct. The document further authorises the election of a Clerk of Orphans, to be held for life by a qualified individual. The writ commands the Viceroy of the Indies, the Judges of the High Court (Relação), magistrates of the State of India, the Captain-General of the Fleets, and the Ombudsman (Ouvidor) of Macau—or their successors—to uphold and enforce the provisions without imposing additional conditions or impediments. It mandates the registration of this decree in the official records of the High Court and Chancellery of the State of India, as well as in the municipal books of Macau. Issued under royal authority, the writ is to be treated as legally binding with the same force as if formally signed and sealed, overriding any conflicting provisions in the Ordinances of King D. Manuel. This document serves as an administrative and legal instrument reflecting colonial governance structures, civic organisation, and imperial authority in early seventeenth-century Macau.
Type
Alvará
Date
1603/01/24
Short Title
Documentos Relevantes para a História desta Região do Mundo
Archive
Portugal. Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino
Loc. in Archive
Macau, cx. 1, doc. 2
Extra
AHU-Arquivo Historico Ultramarino Volume 1 - 002
Notes

Transcription

Page 1

Alvará de S.M.ª para a Cidade de Macau eleger Juiz dos Órfãos e Escrivão, como de antes se usavam.

Em 1603, foi saber ao que este Alvará vem, que por alguns repetidor que me aísser movem: heipor bem se fizerem mereçam aos Moradores da Cidade de Macau das partes da China, que possam eleger Juiz dos Órfãos na dita Cidade de três entre três Anno, como se costuma vam fazer na Cidade de Goa, e nas mais do Estado da Índia; e tanto que acabarem de servir os ditos três Anos da sua Cidadania; Comquanto ainda não desem e semotruzem sem culpa alguma, não tornarão a Servir o dito Cargo, posto que os eleja a dita Câmara para isso. E assim heipor bem que possam eleger Escrivão dos Órfãos, e que a pessoa que elegerem tenha as partes que convém, e que sirva o dito Cargo em vida. Omando ao Vizorrei douto da Índia, e aos Dezembargadores da Relação, e aos Justiças do dito Estado, e ao Capitão das Viagens de Capitão, e ouvidor da dita Cidade de Macau, ou aqueles os ditos Cargos servir, e atodas as Justiças, Officiais e pessoas della, que hordão, e as diante forem, quem todo cumpram, guardem, e façam inteiramente cumprir e guardar este Alvará como n'elle se contém; e deixem eleger aos ditos Moradores da Cidade de Macau para que sirvam os ditos Cargos de Juiz e Escrivão dos Órfãos, tudo pela dita maneira, sem outro lhes Ser portada devida nem embargo algum. Este Alvará se registará nos Livros da Relação e Chancelaria do dito Estado da Índia, e da Câmara da dita Cidade de Macau. E próprio se conheve animpor bem. E quero que valha etenha força evigo como se fosse feita comensada em Meu Nome, por mim assinada e assellada como meu Sello pendente, sem embargo Da Ordenanção do Sr. D. WAX. em Contrarioff De

[UNCERTAIN: guess]


Page 2

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Translation

Page 1

--- TRANSLATION ---

Writ from His Majesty permitting the City of Macau to elect a Judge of Orphans and a Clerk of Orphans, as was previously customary.

In 1603, it came to Our attention what this Writ concerns: that due to petitions submitted to Us by certain residents there, We have deemed it fitting to grant the inhabitants of the City of Macau in the regions of China the right to elect a Judge of Orphans in the said city every three years, as has been customarily practised in the City of Goa and in other cities of the State of India; and that once they have completed their term of three years in this civic office, they shall not serve again in the said post, even if re-elected by the municipal council, provided they have not been removed for cause or misconduct. Furthermore, We have deemed it appropriate that they may also elect a Clerk of Orphans, and that the person elected possess the requisite qualifications and hold the said office for life.

We hereby command the Viceroy of the Indies, the Judges of the High Court (Relação), the magistrates of the said State, the Captain-General of the Fleets, and the Ombudsman (Ouvidor) of the City of Macau—or such persons as may be entrusted with these offices—to ensure that all justices, officials, and individuals concerned observe, uphold, and fully implement and enforce this Writ precisely as contained herein. They are to allow the said inhabitants of the City of Macau to elect candidates to fill the offices of Judge and Clerk of Orphans in the manner prescribed, without imposing any further conditions or impediments.

This Writ shall be entered into the records of the High Court (Relação) and Chancellery of the State of India, as well as in the municipal books of the City of Macau. It is issued under Our royal authority, and We decree that it shall have full validity and legal force as though it had been formally drafted in Our name, signed by Us, and sealed with Our royal seal pendant. This shall prevail notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in the Ordinances of King D. Manuel.

[UNCERTAIN: possibly “Given at…” or “Issued under…”]


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Citation
D. Filipe II. (1603). Alvará (cópia) de D. Filipe II, rei de Portugal e de Espanha, que concede aos moradores de Macau o privilegio de poderem eleger juiz e escrivao dos órfãos, a semelhança do que se praticava nas cidades da índia. (Macau, cx. 1, doc. 2) [Alvará]. Portugal. Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino. http://43.156.68.124/docs/Z8NCFDCE/viewer_Z8NCFDCE.html