[1782]. Carta de Santiago Hernández para José Gil.

Letter from Santiago Hernández to José Gil.

The author asks José Gil to run an errand on his behalf in Medina de Rioseco since what had been done until that moment had not worked and the hardship of being in prison did not help.

As part of the proceedings against Pedro Campuzano and Pedro Alonso de Lucía, both defendants in a prison in Oran, several testimonies were presented proving the abuses they committed against other inmates. One of those inmates was Santiago Hernández, a resident of Hoyocasero (Avila), who had been banished for having an unlawful relationship with a privileged woman. While he was in prison, the aforementioned defendants assured him they could provide him with a pardon letter in exchange of an amount of money. After paying 600 reals, he realized it was a fraud and denounced the facts. Actions were promptly taken in order to recover the money and give it back. José Gil de Rueda, the warden, was appointed to be in charge, which produced a brief correspondence with Santiago Hernández. Additionally, José Hernández, Santiago´s nephew, asked for permission to send some money to his uncle for food and cloth. He also presented a letter his uncle sent him from Oran.