1742. Carta de [Manuel] Ferreira de Sá para João Vaz.

Private letter from [Manuel] Ferreira de Sá to João Vaz.

The author gives indications of how the recipient should proceed so that a particular document is accepted.

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.