Carta régia (cópia) de D. João IV, rei de Portugal, ao Senado da Câmara de Macau, sobre o pagamento de 5% sobre as fazendas que entrarem em Macau, a título de donativo, para a manutenção do presídio.
This letter from the Senate of the City of Macao, dated 20 November 1646, is addressed to the King of Portugal. The document details the city’s critical provisioning difficulties, which cannot be alleviated by the Treasury in Goa due to its current constraints. In response, the merchants of Macao, a...
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| Format: | Manuscripts |
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| Published: |
1646-11-11
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| Online Access: | https://macau-legacy.usj.edu.mo/docs/MP3D3MSE/viewer_MP3D3MSE.html |
| _version_ | 1877197620679540736 |
|---|---|
| archiveLocation | PT/AHU/CU/062/0001/00057 |
| building | Portugal. Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino |
| collection | Portugal. Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino |
| description | This letter from the Senate of the City of Macao, dated 20 November 1646, is addressed to the King of Portugal. The document details the city’s critical provisioning difficulties, which cannot be alleviated by the Treasury in Goa due to its current constraints. In response, the merchants of Macao, acting as loyal vassals, have consented to a voluntary five per cent duty on all goods entering the port. This levy is to be applied to the sustenance and defence of the city and its inhabitants for the duration of the suspension of trade and commerce with Japan. The letter, written by Secretary Afonso de Barros Caminha and signed by João de Barros, conveys the King’s trust in the Senate’s zeal for his service. The document provides primary evidence of colonial fiscal policy, local commercial agency, and the economic impact of the cessation of Japanese trade on the Portuguese settlement of Macao in the mid-seventeenth century. |
| first_indexed | 2026-05-17T17:35:34Z |
| format | Manuscripts |
| fulltext | [transcription]
{{PAGE:1}}
[Page]
N.º 53
[Marginalia — top left]
Copia
1646
11-XI-
[Marginalia — top right]
H57
[Main text]
Officio da Camara da Cidade de Macão. E V M Rey vos invio muito saudar. Considerando se pelo Ministro do Estado da India a Condição do Sustentamento o Provisão desta Cidade, e ser impossivel a Redirve a elle da Cidade delgoa, pelo aperto em que se apresenta Selá aly minha Fazenda. Negoceio dissero (como por esta o faze) que queram Consentir como fio detas Leau vassalos, que os moradores desta Cidade paguem a Sinco porcento das fazendas que entrarem no Porto della, porem o de Donativo em quanto Senao abte o trato, e Comercio do Japão, para Com o procedido deste Andimento Se acudir as Sustento do dito Provisão visto Ser para Segurança daquella Cidade, e defensão de Seus Moradores; e porque fio debonos animo, eda mo/Comque vos empregam nos particulares que tocaõ ao meu Serviço vos nao encarrego este negocio com mais aperto. Escrita em 20.º d'11 de Novr. de 1646. Este o Secretario Affonso de Barros Caminha a foi escrever — Rey
[Signature]
João de Barros
[Stamp — center bottom]
[ circular seal: ARQUIVO HISTORICO ULTRAMARINO • 02 DAS C. ]
[Archival mark — bottom left]
AHU
[translation]
{{PAGE:1}}
**TRANSLATION**
[Page]
No. 53
[Marginalia — top left]
Copy
1646
11 November
[Marginalia — top right]
H57
[Main text]
Letter from the Senate of the City of Macao. I, Your Majesty the King, send you many greetings. Having considered, through the Minister of the State of India, the condition of the sustenance and provisioning of this City, and it being impossible to redirect this from the City of Goa, given the constraints in which my Treasury there currently finds itself, the merchants have declared (as they do by this present letter) that they are willing to consent, as loyal vassals, that the inhabitants of this City pay a five per cent duty on all goods entering its port, this to be levied as a voluntary contribution [donativo] for as long as trade and commerce with Japan remain suspended, so that the proceeds from this levy may be applied to the sustenance of the said provisioning, it being understood that this is for the security of that City and the defence of its inhabitants. And because I trust in your good will and in the zeal with which you apply yourselves to matters pertaining to my service, I do not burden you further with this matter. Written on the 20th day of the 11th of November, 1646. The Secretary, Afonso de Barros Caminha, caused this to be written — The King
[Signature]
João de Barros
[Stamp — centre bottom]
[circular seal: OVERSEAS HISTORICAL ARCHIVE • 02 DAS C.]
[Archival mark — bottom left]
AHU |
| fulltext_transcription | {{PAGE:1}}
[Page]
N.º 53
[Marginalia — top left]
Copia
1646
11-XI-
[Marginalia — top right]
H57
[Main text]
Officio da Camara da Cidade de Macão. E V M Rey vos invio muito saudar. Considerando se pelo Ministro do Estado da India a Condição do Sustentamento o Provisão desta Cidade, e ser impossivel a Redirve a elle da Cidade delgoa, pelo aperto em que se apresenta Selá aly minha Fazenda. Negoceio dissero (como por esta o faze) que queram Consentir como fio detas Leau vassalos, que os moradores desta Cidade paguem a Sinco porcento das fazendas que entrarem no Porto della, porem o de Donativo em quanto Senao abte o trato, e Comercio do Japão, para Com o procedido deste Andimento Se acudir as Sustento do dito Provisão visto Ser para Segurança daquella Cidade, e defensão de Seus Moradores; e porque fio debonos animo, eda mo/Comque vos empregam nos particulares que tocaõ ao meu Serviço vos nao encarrego este negocio com mais aperto. Escrita em 20.º d'11 de Novr. de 1646. Este o Secretario Affonso de Barros Caminha a foi escrever — Rey
[Signature]
João de Barros
[Stamp — center bottom]
[ circular seal: ARQUIVO HISTORICO ULTRAMARINO • 02 DAS C. ]
[Archival mark — bottom left]
AHU |
| fulltext_translation | {{PAGE:1}}
**TRANSLATION**
[Page]
No. 53
[Marginalia — top left]
Copy
1646
11 November
[Marginalia — top right]
H57
[Main text]
Letter from the Senate of the City of Macao. I, Your Majesty the King, send you many greetings. Having considered, through the Minister of the State of India, the condition of the sustenance and provisioning of this City, and it being impossible to redirect this from the City of Goa, given the constraints in which my Treasury there currently finds itself, the merchants have declared (as they do by this present letter) that they are willing to consent, as loyal vassals, that the inhabitants of this City pay a five per cent duty on all goods entering its port, this to be levied as a voluntary contribution [donativo] for as long as trade and commerce with Japan remain suspended, so that the proceeds from this levy may be applied to the sustenance of the said provisioning, it being understood that this is for the security of that City and the defence of its inhabitants. And because I trust in your good will and in the zeal with which you apply yourselves to matters pertaining to my service, I do not burden you further with this matter. Written on the 20th day of the 11th of November, 1646. The Secretary, Afonso de Barros Caminha, caused this to be written — The King
[Signature]
João de Barros
[Stamp — centre bottom]
[circular seal: OVERSEAS HISTORICAL ARCHIVE • 02 DAS C.]
[Archival mark — bottom left]
AHU |
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| spelling | Carta régia (cópia) de D. João IV, rei de Portugal, ao Senado da Câmara de Macau, sobre o pagamento de 5% sobre as fazendas que entrarem em Macau, a título de donativo, para a manutenção do presídio. This letter from the Senate of the City of Macao, dated 20 November 1646, is addressed to the King of Portugal. The document details the city’s critical provisioning difficulties, which cannot be alleviated by the Treasury in Goa due to its current constraints. In response, the merchants of Macao, acting as loyal vassals, have consented to a voluntary five per cent duty on all goods entering the port. This levy is to be applied to the sustenance and defence of the city and its inhabitants for the duration of the suspension of trade and commerce with Japan. The letter, written by Secretary Afonso de Barros Caminha and signed by João de Barros, conveys the King’s trust in the Senate’s zeal for his service. The document provides primary evidence of colonial fiscal policy, local commercial agency, and the economic impact of the cessation of Japanese trade on the Portuguese settlement of Macao in the mid-seventeenth century. Manuscripts Portugal. Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino PT/AHU/CU/062/0001/00057 1646-11-11 Afonso de Barros Caminha Economic Impact of Japanese Trade Cessation Macao Merchant Loyal Vassals Macao Senate Letter 1646 Portuguese Colonial Fiscal Policy Suspension of Japanese Trade Sustenance and Defence Levy Voluntary Five Per Cent Duty {{PAGE:1}} [Page] N.º 53 [Marginalia — top left] Copia 1646 11-XI- [Marginalia — top right] H57 [Main text] Officio da Camara da Cidade de Macão. E V M Rey vos invio muito saudar. Considerando se pelo Ministro do Estado da India a Condição do Sustentamento o Provisão desta Cidade, e ser impossivel a Redirve a elle da Cidade delgoa, pelo aperto em que se apresenta Selá aly minha Fazenda. Negoceio dissero (como por esta o faze) que queram Consentir como fio detas Leau vassalos, que os moradores desta Cidade paguem a Sinco porcento das fazendas que entrarem no Porto della, porem o de Donativo em quanto Senao abte o trato, e Comercio do Japão, para Com o procedido deste Andimento Se acudir as Sustento do dito Provisão visto Ser para Segurança daquella Cidade, e defensão de Seus Moradores; e porque fio debonos animo, eda mo/Comque vos empregam nos particulares que tocaõ ao meu Serviço vos nao encarrego este negocio com mais aperto. Escrita em 20.º d'11 de Novr. de 1646. Este o Secretario Affonso de Barros Caminha a foi escrever — Rey [Signature] João de Barros [Stamp — center bottom] [ circular seal: ARQUIVO HISTORICO ULTRAMARINO • 02 DAS C. ] [Archival mark — bottom left] AHU {{PAGE:1}} **TRANSLATION** [Page] No. 53 [Marginalia — top left] Copy 1646 11 November [Marginalia — top right] H57 [Main text] Letter from the Senate of the City of Macao. I, Your Majesty the King, send you many greetings. Having considered, through the Minister of the State of India, the condition of the sustenance and provisioning of this City, and it being impossible to redirect this from the City of Goa, given the constraints in which my Treasury there currently finds itself, the merchants have declared (as they do by this present letter) that they are willing to consent, as loyal vassals, that the inhabitants of this City pay a five per cent duty on all goods entering its port, this to be levied as a voluntary contribution [donativo] for as long as trade and commerce with Japan remain suspended, so that the proceeds from this levy may be applied to the sustenance of the said provisioning, it being understood that this is for the security of that City and the defence of its inhabitants. And because I trust in your good will and in the zeal with which you apply yourselves to matters pertaining to my service, I do not burden you further with this matter. Written on the 20th day of the 11th of November, 1646. The Secretary, Afonso de Barros Caminha, caused this to be written — The King [Signature] João de Barros [Stamp — centre bottom] [circular seal: OVERSEAS HISTORICAL ARCHIVE • 02 DAS C.] [Archival mark — bottom left] AHU |
| spellingShingle | Carta régia (cópia) de D. João IV, rei de Portugal, ao Senado da Câmara de Macau, sobre o pagamento de 5% sobre as fazendas que entrarem em Macau, a título de donativo, para a manutenção do presídio. Afonso de Barros Caminha Economic Impact of Japanese Trade Cessation Macao Merchant Loyal Vassals Macao Senate Letter 1646 Portuguese Colonial Fiscal Policy Suspension of Japanese Trade Sustenance and Defence Levy Voluntary Five Per Cent Duty |
| title | Carta régia (cópia) de D. João IV, rei de Portugal, ao Senado da Câmara de Macau, sobre o pagamento de 5% sobre as fazendas que entrarem em Macau, a título de donativo, para a manutenção do presídio. |
| title_autocomplete | Carta régia (cópia) de D. João IV, rei de Portugal, ao Senado da Câmara de Macau, sobre o pagamento de 5% sobre as fazendas que entrarem em Macau, a título de donativo, para a manutenção do presídio. |
| title_full | Carta régia (cópia) de D. João IV, rei de Portugal, ao Senado da Câmara de Macau, sobre o pagamento de 5% sobre as fazendas que entrarem em Macau, a título de donativo, para a manutenção do presídio. |
| title_fullStr | Carta régia (cópia) de D. João IV, rei de Portugal, ao Senado da Câmara de Macau, sobre o pagamento de 5% sobre as fazendas que entrarem em Macau, a título de donativo, para a manutenção do presídio. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Carta régia (cópia) de D. João IV, rei de Portugal, ao Senado da Câmara de Macau, sobre o pagamento de 5% sobre as fazendas que entrarem em Macau, a título de donativo, para a manutenção do presídio. |
| title_short | Carta régia (cópia) de D. João IV, rei de Portugal, ao Senado da Câmara de Macau, sobre o pagamento de 5% sobre as fazendas que entrarem em Macau, a título de donativo, para a manutenção do presídio. |
| title_sort | carta régia (cópia) de d. joão iv, rei de portugal, ao senado da câmara de macau, sobre o pagamento de 5% sobre as fazendas que entrarem em macau, a título de donativo, para a manutenção do presídio. |
| topic | Afonso de Barros Caminha Economic Impact of Japanese Trade Cessation Macao Merchant Loyal Vassals Macao Senate Letter 1646 Portuguese Colonial Fiscal Policy Suspension of Japanese Trade Sustenance and Defence Levy Voluntary Five Per Cent Duty |
| topic_autocomplete | Afonso de Barros Caminha Economic Impact of Japanese Trade Cessation Macao Merchant Loyal Vassals Macao Senate Letter 1646 Portuguese Colonial Fiscal Policy Suspension of Japanese Trade Sustenance and Defence Levy Voluntary Five Per Cent Duty |
| topic_facet | Afonso de Barros Caminha Economic Impact of Japanese Trade Cessation Macao Merchant Loyal Vassals Macao Senate Letter 1646 Portuguese Colonial Fiscal Policy Suspension of Japanese Trade Sustenance and Defence Levy Voluntary Five Per Cent Duty |
| url | https://macau-legacy.usj.edu.mo/docs/MP3D3MSE/viewer_MP3D3MSE.html |
| zotero_collection_key | 8AN6STDU PAAL2UHW |