1656. Carta não autógrafa de Maria da Mota para o marido, Francisco Rodrigues de Oliveira, preso.

Family letter dictated by Maria da Mota to her husband, Francisco Rodrigues de Oliveira, prisoner.

The author shows her satisfaction towards the news she believes to have received from her husband. She also tells him about their children.

Manuel Leitão de Oliveira, the twelve-year-old son of Filipa Grácia and Sebastião Rodrigues de Oliveira decides to write fake letters, on behalf of his father, who was in jail. He claimed he did it to soothe his stepmother, who was always crying and longing to receive news from Sebastião. He also admitted having written the letters expecting to receive some compensation for bringing good news.The Inquisition archives contain, apart from the around 40 thousand individual proceedings ("processos"), a collection of scattered charges, for which the Inquisition "Promotor" had to decide whether or not to prosecute. Complaints, confessions, letters by the commissioners or about different stages of each proceedings are some of the document types that can be found in these books. This letter has been kept among such documentation.

Sir Francisco Rodrigues Oliveira,

I was very pleased to hear news from you, since it was the thing my sons and I wished the most. I am truly relieved to hear such good news from you. The boys are well and Francisquinho is always crying for you. Many greetings to your brothers, especially to the licentiate Sebastião Rodrigues Oliveira. My concern is to ask God to look after you. May God keep you as He can.

Elvas, from home, 26 of September, Maria da Mota