[1760-1770]. Carta de [Gertrudes Maria da Conceição] para Francisco Pedro Vital.

Love letter from [Gertrudes Maria da Conceição] to Francisco Pedro Vital.

The author comments on her lack of a dowry and about the attitude of her parents towards her fiancé.

The young Gertrudes Maria da Conceição, resident in Lisbon, got engaged to Francisco Pedro Vital, a soldier within the Prince's regiment. Later on, she wanted to become engaged to another youth, Epifânio José Barbosa, caulker. Francisco, however, legally tried to make her marry him, presenting as proof of their connection the love letters previously exchanged between them. Conversely, Epifânio decided that he no longer wanted to marry her, since she was committed to someone else. This legal process dragged on for 3 years and the court papers include the love letters that Gertrudes wrote to her first fiancé.

My relief and all my love,

I appreciated your letters. They made me sad for a lot of reasons, tough, since I like things to be clear. So, you told me you were not embarrassed by your father or mother. I am even less, because they cannot embarrass me, since my mother is easier to restrain, because she has better temper, but my father is more insolent. However, since I don’t plan staying with them any longer, what do I care about that? What you asked me about the message I had for you, it was that my father has no dowry to give me money. That means that whoever wants me, must want myself only and nothing else. I am going to the Carmo on Sunday and, on the afternoon, I am going to Vitória’s house. Vitorina has not given me news from you lately. But it seems this is the only way to know something. From the one who […] and is faithful until death. I will be waiting for the answer. As far as the mass is concerned, you are well aware that I have someone who takes care of me. I go where I order to or where I take myself. I am not like you, who has a household. We are sure about where you all go […] on Sunday. I will wait for the answer.

Faithful until death.