[1739-1740]. Carta de João Esteves da Vige para Manuel Álvares Gondim, promotor.

Private letter from João Esteves da Vige to Manuel Álvares Gondim, attorney.

The author gives an account of how the vicar has undermined the exercise of justice in obtaining the truth, and seeks to instigate the recipient to intervene promptly.

João Vaz filed a criminal action against the priest José Cerqueira Pinto, vicar of Cabração, Viana, accusing him of having had an affair with his wife, Domingas Esteves. This would have occurred when João Vaz was away in Lisbon for a period of eight years. According to João Vaz, the letters appended to the process would constitute proof of these facts. However, the priest argued against the veracity of the letters, claiming that they had been forged. He further argued that João Vaz had acted out of revenge. Throughout the process it becomes clear that it was Domingas' brother, João Esteves da Vige, the cause of this intrigue, instigating João Vaz through his letters and gathering witnesses against Josá Cerqueira Pinto. The inquired witnesses provided contradictory data.