1563. Carta de Jerónimo Amat para su hermano Antonio Pérez Bayao.

Letter from Jerónimo Amat to his brother Antonio Pérez Bayao.

The author informs his brother Antonio Pérez Bayao about some people who have been burnt by the Holy Office and send him some news about family and work.

Following an accusation of Judaism, a process occurred in 1563 against Afonso Rodríguez, alias "Vermegico", native to Yelbes, Badajoz (or Elvas, Portugal). This letter was found inside the documentation of the process and it was seized by the Portuguese Holy Office because it mentioned the defendant and the fact he had been burnt "in statue" in Murcia (this was a common practice employed with the defendants who managed to escape from the Holy Office, and it consisted in burning a dummy representing the defendant). The Holy Office in Murcia formally requested to the Holy Office in Lisbon to transfer the defendant to Murcia for trial, as it reads in the following letter: "Magnificent and Reverend gentlemen: we have received your letter dating from October the 18th to November the 27th and we have understood that you have in custody an Alonso Rodríguez, a Portuguese native to Yelbes, nicknamed 'Vermegico' who is a new Christian and a trader. Therefore, we are sending all the information and documents we have on Alonso Rodríguez. Despite it seems to us very difficult, since this cause has been prevented for so long, it is paramount for the service of Our Lord and for the best interest of this Holy Office that Alonso Rodríguez appears in this court in order for us to proceed with the necessary steps. That said, we beseech you to send us Alonso Rodríguez soon and safely, together with all the information you have on him; or else to have him in custody until we send someone to bring him, which we will do when we hear from you [...] From Murcia, December the 8th 1563." (folio 16r).