[1827]. Carta de Gregório José Calisto, criado, para Frederico Andrés.

Letter from Gregório José Calisto, servant, to Frederico Andrés.

Gregório José Calisto, servant, was accused of robbing a beast and condemned to 5 years in exile, but later the beast owner withdrew the complaint. In this letter, the servant asks his previous lord to tell the superintendent that he still worked for him, so that this could guarantee more credibility to his testimony.

Illustrious Mr. Andrés.

I wish these few lines will find you, the illustrious Mr. Pascoal, Mrs. Maria da Graça and the illustrious girls in good health.

Sir, I'm going to explain you all, despite my embarrassement, because, since I know that you can help me, I'll explain to you. On my way from Palmela to the Virtues around here, I found a muleteer who brought with him two unloaded beasts. I had come to get a bit of smuggling and I was on foot. And I spoke to this muleteer, rented him one of his mules and climbed it up.

As we reached the village of Salvaterra, they wanted to arrest the muleteer and he ran away. And I was beaten and arrested. And now they won't release me without the Superintendent's order. What I ask you, sir, is that you're so kind to ask the [...] Superintendent to send me down on Monday, because I said I was your servant, to avoid telling him about the smuggling, otherwise [...] in prison for two years.

And so I hope that you ask the Superintendent, and tell him I am your servant, because that's what's written in the questions. I beg you, Sir, to give, there in Lisbon, an explanation on my behalf.

I won't bother you any longer with this matter.

From this servant of yours, and much obliged,

Gregório José