“By these presents let all the angels, men and creatures who read this Deed of Bondage know that I, Fr Joseph Vaz, sell and dedicate myself as a perpetual slave of the most Holy Virgin, Mother of God. I do this by a free spontaneous and perfect donation, called by the legislators irrevocable inter vivos. I dedicate my person and my goods, in order that she may dispose of me and my goods according to her good pleasure as my true and lawful Mistress.
And since I hold myself unworthy of so great an honour, I beg of my Guardian Angel, of the glorious Patriarch St Joseph, the most loving spouse of this sovereign Lady and the Saint of my name, and of all the celestial inhabitants, to obtain from her a place for me in the number of her slaves; and in order that this may be unalterable and true, I subscribe to it my name, and would wish to have it signed with my hearts blood.
Made in the Church of Sancoale, at the foot of the Altar of the Virgin Mother of God, Lady of Health, this the fifth day of August, feast day of the same Lady under the title of Our Lady of Snows, in the year 1677.”
Fr Joseph Vaz
