[1728]. Carta de [frei João da Madre de Deus], religioso, para [Dona Antónia Maria].

Protest letter written by a monk, frei João da Madre de Deus, to a gentle woman, [Dona Antónia Maria].

The author describes how he has hidden some letters inside a bag and sent them to the addresse, whom he addresses as "Mother". He protests against the rumour spread by some priests according to which his family, especially his sister, were not very noble. Accordingly, he explains how his noble mother run away to marry his father and was thus estranged by her family. He confesses how hurt he is that the addressee's husband believed the evil rumours.

The monk frei João da Madre de Deus was accused of conduct unsuitable to his religious condition. He was involved with a mother and her daughters, who had received him in their house in Alenquer. The women handed the letters as a proof of his guilt but were afraid both of his vindictive character and of the proofs he himself held, because he had never handed back their own correspondence. He also kept the gifts they had given him: a braid of hair, two silver hearts and a silver case.