1691. Carta de Manuel, fugitivo, para o seu pai.

Private letter from Manuel, fugitive, to his father.

The author tells some news to his father, so that he can tell them to the whole family.

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.

«My father. I hope these few lines will find you in good health, as I wish for myself, in the company of my brothers and all the people at home. I'm healthy, thank God. But, my father, don't feel sorry (...) for me, because I (...) won't lack God's mercy. Give my brother Felipe my regards, and to my sister Branca, and to Matias, and Maria and Ana, to all of them many regards, with great wishes to see them. I won't bother you with this any longer. God free us from people who wish us harm, from your son (...) and loves. Manuel. Don't leave home nor (...) anyone, because I'm not well here. Give those boys many regards and (...) that God will pay it to you, because I don't know who remained and who is not. Don't feel sorry for me, because in Sandim I was given a shirt and they've washed the one I had. Diego de Sandim will tell you were I'm staying and I'll be here quite bravely. Today, day of Saint (...) from the year 1691, anno domini.»