Manuscript in Portuguese, Folio. 58 ff., unnumbered. Written primarily in black ink, with chapter titles and initials in gold and red. The title page features a hand-painted framed illustration, depicting the Virgin Mary and likely Doña Leonor of Portugal, benefactress and founder. All leaves have been restored, with margin reconstruction on most pages, some text loss, and wormholes. Modern calf, title lettered in gilt, spine decorated in gilt; hand-painted endpapers.

The Santa Casa da Misericordia (Holy House of Mercy) is a Portuguese Catholic charitable institution founded in 1498 by Queen Leonor, primarily dedicated to assisting the sick and orphans. Over time, it expanded to nearly all Portuguese cities and extended to overseas territories such as Goa, Macau, and Bahia. The Compromisso of 1627 was based on those of Lisbon and Goa and served as the document that established the rules of the Macau brotherhood, placing it under royal protection.

The manuscript begins with the Proemio, titled "In which the origin and foundation of the confraternity and brotherhood of Mercy are recounted, along with the reasons for establishing and accepting this commitment” ("En la que se da noticia del origen y fundación de la cofradía y hermandad de la Misericordia y de la razón que hubo para ordenar y aceptar este compromiso”). It explains that in ancient times, when there was no one to attend to the needs of the poor in Portugal, Queen Leonor, the widow of King João II of Portugal, founded the institution in 1498 in Lisbon under the name "Invocation of Our Lady of Mercy.” It recounts that the statutes of the Misericordias were modified several times since their foundation in 1498 and adjusted as needed. In 1626, the Misericordias of Lisbon and Goa laws were consolidated, preparing a new regulation in 1627. This document was then sent to the Provedor of the Brotherhood of Mercy, Leonel de Sousa, who accepted it. Consequently, the brotherhood members agreed to abide by the following thirty-seven chapters.

Chapter 1. Doctrine to which the confraternity and brotherhood are bound – Their purpose and the reasons compelling the fulfillment of their works. Works of a spiritual nature: teaching the humble, giving good counsel, correcting wrongdoing with charity, consoling those who suffer, forgiving offenses, enduring hardships with patience, and praying for the living and the dead. Works of a corporal nature: freeing captives and visiting prisoners, healing and assisting the sick, clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, sheltering pilgrims, and burying the dead.

Chapter 2. Number and qualifications of the brothers of Mercy, and the Oath they must take.

Chapter 3. Obligations of the brothers.

Chapter 4. Causes for the dismissal of brothers.

Chapter 5. The process for initiating the election of officials who will serve in the brotherhood.

Chapter 6. Day and manner in which the election of the table officials is to be concluded, and the oath of the electors.

Chapter 7. How newly elected brothers are to begin their service.

Chapter 8. How newly elected brothers are to be confirmed.

Chapter 9. The Provedor (Administrator).

Chapter 10. The scribe of the table.

Chapter 11. The Treasurer.

Chapter 12. Wardens of the prisoners.

Chapter 13. The Visitors.

Chapter 14. The Table ("Mesa") cannot be undertaken without assembly.

Chapter 15. The Definidores (Council members).

Chapter 16. How the Provedor and brothers must proceed regarding demands made upon the house.

Chapter 17. Warden of the alms fund.

Chapter 18. Warden of the chapel.

Chapter 19. Warden of the hospital.

Chapter 20. Chaplains of the house.

Chapter 21. Other salaried personnel serving in the house.

Chapter 22. Manner of accepting and executing wills.

Chapter 23. Orphans.

Chapter 24. Prayers for the souls in purgatory.

Chapter 25. How prayers should be endowed.

Chapter 26. On the Visitors.

Chapter 27. On petitions from captives.

Chapter 28. Order to be followed in the procession of the sick.

Chapter 29. Manner of conducting burials.

Chapter 30. Providing companionship to those who suffer.

Chapter 31. How to seek out the condemned who suffer at the hands of justice.

Chapter 32. How to foster reconciliation and friendship.

Chapter 33. Regulations on household expenses.

Chapter 34. The eight questions for the Chaplains.

Chapter 35. Books permitted in the house.

Chapter 36. Order to be followed in voting.

Chapter 37. Necessary regulations for the chapel warden, the hospital warden, nurses, and lepers.

Following the conclusion of the chapters of the regulations, the document continues with the signed acceptance of the Compromisso. It states that the rules, consisting of thirty-seven chapters, which the Provedor Leonel de Souza had accepted, were subsequently modified. As a result, on March 24, 1638, the document was signed by the members of the "Mesa": Vicente Rodrigues, Pedro Rodriguez Tejeira, Domingo Cardozo Ferreira, Lorenzo Mendez Cordero, and Vasco Barboza de Mello, followed by the complete list of the thirteen "Mesa" members and twelve Definidores.

Subsequently, the document contains the Index of the Most Notable Matters found in the thirty-seven chapters, followed by the Index of Chapters. The text then continues with the oaths prescribed in the Compromisso: the oath in Chapter 7 for the newly elected brothers, including several autograph signatures upon taking office; the oath in Chapter 5 regarding the commencement of the election of officials who will serve in the brotherhood; and the oaths referred to in Chapters 2 and 12.

It contains "The Decree by which His Majesty the King, Our Lord Don John IV, was pleased to confirm the Compromisso of this Holy House and placed it under his immediate Royal protection in the year 1643" (“El decreto que Su Majestad el rey nuestro señor Don Juan IV tuvo por bien de confirmar el compromiso de esta Santa Casa, y lo tomó bajo su inmediata protección Real en el año de 1643”), issued in Lisbon in November 1643. Following this, the text includes the Agreements reached regarding specific chapters of the Compromisso, totaling ten agreements.

At the end, the document presents the "Compromisso de las Acogidas,” which regulates matters concerning "the abandonment suffered by many orphans and widows in this city" (“al desamparo en que se encuentran muchas huerfanas y viudad de esta ciudad”). To provide relief, a shelter for women was to be established, beginning with 30 women—20 orphans and 10 widows—hoping to accommodate more in the future. The text continues by outlining the terms for admission and the conditions to which they must adhere. The Compromisso of the Acogidas of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Macao was founded in 1726, bearing the full signature of Provedor Antonio Carnro de Aleacovia.

The Compromisso of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Macao was issued in 1627, although it was not printed for the first time until 1834. The Misericórdia of Macao was founded in 1568, but only in the 17th century did its Compromisso, or regulations, properly drafted and approved.

Provenance: bookplate of António Capucho.