[1.] Title-page (p. 1). The manuscript title-page of the Book is closely paraphrased by Browning, R.B. 1. 122-31, the word "position" being used as the equivalent of Italian posizione.
[2.] The Index (p. 3) (Italian, indice) is a manuscript table of contents, evidently supplied by the original collector.
[3.] A Transcript of the sentence against Pompilia (pp. [5]-[7]) in the Criminal Courts of Arezzo, dated February 15, 1697 (for 1698). Parallel with the Process of Flight (see [Note 18]) in Rome, the Franceschini family evidently instituted criminal proceedings in Arezzo against the fugitive Pompilia, charging her with theft and adultery. Signor Guillichini and the driver Borsi were included in the action as accessory to the crime. The Franceschini were able to secure the condemnation here which was not obtainable in Rome. Under security of this sentence, granted in December 1697, Guido could safely go on with the assassination of his wife, so far as Tuscan law was concerned. The transcript in the Book is dated February 15, while the murder trial was at a crisis, and was probably sent to Rome by Signor Cencini to assist Guido in his peril. It is noteworthy that Guido did not include Caponsacchi in his accusation in Arezzo.
[4.] Romana Homicidiorum. The frequently repeated designation of the case—Romana causa homicidiorum—Roman trial for murders.
[5.] Hyacinthus de Archangelis (Italian, Giacinto Arcangeli), Procurator Pauperum, was Guido's chief defender, not an attorney employed privately by the defendant, but an official States' attorney for the defence. The Roman court procedure in all cases assumed the right and obligation of the State to conduct both sides of a criminal case.
[6.] Desiderius Spretus, Advocatus Pauperum, was the co-defender of the accused. Humphrey's Urbs et Orbis, p. 428, makes plain the respective functions of the two attorneys: "The advocate is a man skilled in civil and canon law, who defends causes in writing or by word of mouth, on the point of law, setting before the judges that which is true in law, or best founded in law, or the principles of law which ought to be applied in a particular case. His is the scientific part of the cause, and he speaks only to the point of law. Matters of fact are to be established by the procurators, and it is upon these established facts that the advocate develops his judicial conclusions."
[7.] Joannes Baptista Bottinius, Fisci et Cam. Apost. Advoc. (Advocate of the Fisc, or Treasury, and of the Reverend Apostolic Chamber), the chief prosecutor of the criminals, with functions equivalent to those of the prosecuting or States Attorney in the Common Law. Browning continually used the clipt form, Fisc.
[8.] Franciscus de Gambis, Procurator Fisci, was the coadjutor in the prosecution, opening the case in [Pamphlet 5], but thereafter playing little part in the case.
[9.] Antonius Lamparellus, Procurator Charitatis, the attorney who, in [Pamphlet 17], defended the memory of the dead Pompilia for her heir and against both the Franceschini family and the Nunnery of Convertites (see [Note 10]), both of whom were accusing her memory to gain her estate. This trial in the criminal court of the Governor, took place between the death of Guido, February 22, and May 17, 1698. The decision "for absolution" was made definitive by the decree of court, September 9, 1698 ([Pamphlet 18]).