<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><mads xmlns="http://www.loc.gov/mads/" xmlns:mods="http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.loc.gov/mads/
mads.xsd"><authority><topic authority="http://AATesaurus.cultura.gencat.cat/aat/getty_en">escribanos</topic></authority><related type="broader"><topic>notaries</topic></related><variant type="other"><topic>escribano</topic></variant> <note xml:lang="en"><![CDATA[ During the colonial period in Latin America, escribanos were public servants whose duty was confirming the validity of legal documents, such as deeds, fulfilling similar functions as contemporary notaries. ]]></note></mads>