The Portuguese history oflegislation paints a similar picture to which Airton Seelaender has recently referred: Edicta generalia, quae dicimus Cartas patentes de Leis, a Regiis Diplomatibus, Alvarás, Litteris Regis patentibus non obsignatis, Portarias,Decretis, et Regiis Resolutionibus nemo inter nos ignorat, as stated by Mello de Freire in 1789