I know that your Honour tells me that the authorities pretend further that I slept all night in the abovesaid tavern of Castelnuovo in an upstairs room, in which Canon Caponsacchi also slept. And I say and respond that no one can truly say so, because I did not rest at all in the said tavern, and stopped there only for the time stated above.
[The letter of Pompilia to Abate Franceschini occurs both here and in the summary of the Defence. It is translated on pp. [56], [57].]
No. 4.—A letter of Francesca written to Abate Franceschini.
Outside: To Abate Paolo Franceschini, Rome; but inside:
My very dear Sir and Brother:
I have received the fan which you sent, which has been most welcome to me. I accept it with pleasure and thank you for it. It displeases me that, without reason, my parents wound the honour of our house. I for my part am well and am happy in not having them now to stir me to evil. I wish well to all our house, in the sacred fear of God. In fact you may well laugh at the maledictions of my parents. Command me, who reverence you from the bottom of my heart.
Your deeply obliged servant and sister-in-law,
Francesca Comparini Franceschini.
Arezzo, July 19, 1694.