1690. Carta de Pedro Montoto de Lago, juez de la jurisdicción de Arzúa, para un destinatario no identificado.

Letter from Pedro Montoto de Lago, judge of the Arzúa jurisdiction, to an unidentified addressee.

The author informs an unidentified addressee about the collection of some money and about how to handle it.

The process was opened at the request of Domingo de Barrán and other residents of the jurisdiction of Arzúa (La Coruña) against Pedro Montoto de Lago, judge of that jurisdiction. Pedro Montoto was accused of having abused of his position as a judge. Specifically, he was accused of forcing various residents to give him grains, rams, hams, goat kids, chickens, butter, firewood and other goods, as well as money, under threat of giving them the title of mayordomo (he bribed people freeing them from the title of mayordomo, in exchange for money or goods) or bring false lawsuits against them. He was also accused of opening different processes for minor causes, in order to force people to spend more and to take their money. In addition to letters and notes, some ordinances and titles of mayordomo issued by the judge were also collected in the proceedings.