First edition of a rare document printed in Lima with news of the death of Melchor Navarra y Rocafull, more widely known as the jure uxoris Duque de la Palata (1626-1691); the letter is written in the form of praise, by an anonymous party and addressed to a gentleman from Lima, whom in turn had it printed. It describes the process of the Duke's sickness and attempts to cure him, prior to ecclesiastical preparation for his death, at three thirty in the afternoon on April 13, 1691.
Melchor de Navarra was a military officer and Spanish colonial officer; he reached the pinnacle of his career in the Indies when appointed Viceroy of Peru (1681-1689). During his reign, he fought off the pirate fleet lead by Edward Davis who had previously sacked small town on the coast, and reestablished the Casa de Moneda. He stayed in Lima until 1691 when he sailed back to Spain, stopping at Portobello (Panama), where he died of sickness. The present document ends with a short note referring to the deeds and achievement during the colonial administration, naming his struggle against piracy in the Pacific ports and active administration.
With contemporary manuscript foliation in the upper outer corner ("176" and "177"), the upper outer corner of the leaves shows some water staining (without affecting the text). Faint folding lines in the paper. Otherwise in very good condition. Medina, Lima, 634; Palau 61299; USTC 5081581 (4 copies); WorldCat 1042377375 (2 copies).