SUMMARY

[PAMPHLET 4.]

_No. 1._--_The sworn testimony of a witness as to the poverty of said

Count Guido Franceschini and the miseries suffered by the Signori

Comparini while they stayed in his home in the city of Arezzo._

_June 24, 1694._

Angelica, the daughter of the deceased Pietro and Johanna Battista of

Castelluccio, in the Diocese of Arezzo, about 35 years of age, was

examined by me on behalf of Pietro Comparini, against any one

whomsoever, and put on permanent record; as to which testimony, she

took oath to speak the truth, as is seen below.

I tell you in all truth, sir, that while I was staying in Arezzo last

January in the home of Signora Maddalena Baldi Albergotti, the chance

was offered me to go and serve Signora Beatrice Franceschini and her

sons, etc. I decided to do so, and when I had gone to the home of the

Signori Franceschini I spoke with the said Signora Beatrice. She drew

me aside into a little room and told me that she would take me as a

servant, but that I should never have any private dealings with the

two old people who were in the house; one of them was Signor Pietro

Comparini and the other Signora Violante, his wife. She charged me

still further that if either of the two old people chanced to call me

into their chamber, I should not go without first asking her

permission. On these terms I accepted the service. After I had entered

thereupon, I noticed that Signora Violante stayed in her room most of

the time, weeping, and though the Comparini were stiff with cold, the

room was without fire. Hence I took pity on her, and without the

knowledge of Signora Beatrice, I took the coals from my own brazier

and carried them to her. But no sooner did I offer them to her than

Signora Violante ordered me out of the room, lest Signora Beatrice

might take offence that I had done this act of charity. Also, once

among the many times, when Signora Beatrice found it out she made me

leave the coals in the fireplace and snatched the shovel from my

hands, and threatened me, saying that if she had wished it she

herself would have come to bring it; because she did not want me to do

any service whatsoever for the said Signori Comparini. And the

Comparini could not even speak among themselves, because Signor Guido

Franceschini, the Canon Girolamo his brother, and Signora Beatrice,

their mother, would stand at one door or another of the apartment and

listen to what the said Signori Comparini were saying to one another.

This occurred every evening and morning until the said Signor Pietro

left the room and the house. And when he returned at night they were

unwilling for me to make a light for him on the stairway. And once

when Signor Pietro came back home about half-past six in the evening,

and I heard him scrape his feet, I took up the lamp to go and meet

him. But Signor Guido noticing that, snatched the lamp from my hands,

telling me that I had better keep still, and that I had better not

approach unless I wished to be pitched out of the window. And this

seemed all the worse to me, because when I first entered upon the

service of the said Franceschini I had heard it said around the house

that one evening, as Signor Pietro was coming back home, he had

fallen, while ascending the same steps without a light, and that he

had made a very ugly bruise, because of which he had had to keep his

bed for many days. At the same time, while I was in the said service,

it chanced one morning at breakfast that the Franceschini gave some

offence to Signora Violante, because of which a mishap befell her. For

no sooner had she reached her own room than she threw herself into a

straw-chair and swooned away. When Signora Francesca Pompilia, wife of

the said Signor Guido, found it out, she began to weep and to cry out

with a loud voice, saying, "My mother is dying." Whereupon I ran to

Signora Violante and began to unlace her, and turned to bring her a

little vinegar and fire. But because there was no fire I took some

wood and put it in the fireplace to kindle it. When Signora Beatrice

saw this she snatched the wood from the fire, in great anger, and told

me to take the ashes, which were quite enough to warm her feet. So I

took the ashes that were in the fireplace, but because of the

intensely cold weather they were cool when I reached the room where

the Signora Violante was half dead. Accordingly, the Signora Pompilia

and I, both of us weeping, unclothed Signora Violante and put her in

the bed, which was as cold as ice. And because I was crying when I

returned to the kitchen, after having put Signora Violante to bed,

Signora Beatrice said to me: "Do you want me to take a little hemp

and wipe your eyes?" Signora Francesca Pompilia also heard this, and

she made some complaint to Signora Beatrice who did not want me to

return to the room again nor to make a little gruel, as Signora

Violante had ordered.

It happened a few days later, during the month of February following,

that while the Signori Franceschini, Francesca Pompilia, Signor

Pietro, and Signora Violante were at the table, they began talking of

their purpose of sending me away, as the Franceschini had already

dismissed me from service. When Signora Francesca Pompilia, who was at

the table with the others as I have said above, heard this, she

remarked to Signor Pietro and Signora Violante: "Do you know why they

wish to send her away? They believe she wished to censure me because

Signora Beatrice said some days ago that she would take hemp and wipe

the tears from her eyes, when she was weeping over the accident that

happened to you, mother." Then Signor Pietro spoke up and asked the

Signori Franceschini to keep me in their good graces for eight or ten

days more, for if he wished to return to Rome with Signora Violante he

would take me with them. And he said he could expect this favour at

their hands, as it was the first he had ever asked of them. To this,

none of the Franceschini replied; but Signor Guido rose from the table

and, approaching me, gave me two very good licks. The others then came

up. While he was doing this, the Canon, his brother, also gave me some

kicks, and his mother struck me and told me to leave at once. As soon

as Signora Violante saw and heard this she took pity on me and

exclaimed to the said Signori: "Where do you wish the poor thing to go

now?" And all the Franceschini with one accord said to Signora

Violante: "You get out with her, too." And they called her "slut," and

other insulting names, so that Signora Violante went to her room to

put on her wraps. The Canon drew a sword and ran after her into the

room and shut the door. I, fearing that he would inflict some wounds

upon Signora Violante, ran to enter the room and found that the Canon

had locked himself within. So myself and Signor Pietro and Francesca

Pompilia began to weep and to cry out for help, thinking that the

Canon would kill Signora Violante there inside. And after some little

time, I left the house, while the said couple and Signora Francesca

Pompilia were still making outcry to the Signori Franceschini.

During all the time I remained in the service of the said Signori

Franceschini at Arezzo, as I have said above, I can say of a truth

that every morning and evening at the table I served the said Signori

Franceschini, Signora Francesca Pompilia, Signor Pietro, and Signora

Violante Comparini. For the food of all this tableful, the

Franceschini bought on Saturday a sucking lamb, on which they spent,

at most, twelve or fourteen _gratie_. Then Signora Beatrice cooked it

and divided it out for the entire week. And the head of the lamb she

divided up for a relish three times, and for the relish at other times

she served separately the lights and intestines. During the days of

the week when they ate there was no other sort of meat on the table to

satisfy the needs of all the tableful. When he did not buy the lamb on

Saturday, as I have said, Signor Guido gave money to Joseph, the

houseboy, to buy two pounds of beef. Signora Beatrice herself put this

to cook every morning, nor was she willing for the rest to meddle with

it, and they ate therefrom at the table and carved for the evening

meal. And because this meat was so tough that Signor Pietro could not

eat it (as they had not cooked it enough), Signor Pietro did without

eating meat, for the most part, and ate only a little bread, toasted

and in bad condition, and a morsel of cheese. Thus Signor Pietro

passed the days when they bought beef. On fasting days he ate

vegetable soup with a little salted pike, and sometimes a few boiled

chestnuts. But always, whether on fasting days or not, the bread was

as black as ink, and heavy, and ill-seasoned. Then the wine which

served for the table was but a single flask; and as soon as the wine

was poured into this, Signora Beatrice made me put in as much more of

water. And so I made out to fill the wine flask, half of it being

water, and very often there was more water than wine. This flask she

put on the table, and ordinarily it sufficed for all those eating,

although at most the flask did not hold more than 3½ _foghliette_

[half-pints] according to Roman measure.

Furthermore, I say that, not many days after I had left this service,

it was public talk throughout Arezzo that Signor Pietro had gone home

about half-past six in the evening and had found the street door shut

so that he could not open it, and he was obliged to knock. When

Signora Violante saw that no one about the house was going to open the

door, she herself went downstairs to do so, but the door was locked

with a key. And although she called Signor Guido and others who were

in the house, yet no one stirred to go and open it. Therefore Signor

Pietro went to sleep at the inn, and in the morning returned to see

Signora Violante and Signora Francesca Pompilia. It was likewise said

throughout Arezzo that when Signor Pietro complained at having been

locked out of the house by the Canon, and when both Signor Pietro and

Signora Violante reproached them bitterly about it, a new quarrel

arose among them, and because of it both the Signori Comparini were

driven out of the house. Signora Violante was received at the home of

Signor Doctor Borri, where she dined that evening and spent the night.

And Signor Pietro went to the inn to dine and sleep.

When I heard that, I went to the house of Signor Borri to see Signora

Violante, but was not admitted. And the wife of Signor Borri told me

to go and tend to my own affairs. For she did not wish the

Franceschini, who lived opposite, to perceive that I had gone there to

see Signora Violante, as some disturbance might arise therefrom. Then

the next morning I went to the inn, where I had been told Signora

Violante had gone to find Signor Pietro, but I did not find either of

them, and was told by the host that they had gone out. So, not knowing

where to find them, I returned to the home of Signora Maddelena

Albergotti, where I was staying. And I heard afterwards that both

Signor Pietro and Signora Violante had returned to the Inn, where they

had breakfasted. Then by the interposition of the Governor of Arezzo

they were reconciled with the Franceschini, and they returned indeed

to the house of the latter. I heard also that the Franceschini

continued to maltreat and insult the said couple, as they had

continually done while I was in their service. Therefore they were

finally obliged to leave Arezzo and go back to Rome.

All the abovesaid matters I know from having seen and heard the

ill-treatment, which the Franceschini inflicted upon the Comparini and

the insults which they offered them and Signora Francesca Pompilia;

and likewise from having heard them talked about publicly throughout

Arezzo, where it is known to every one and is notorious, and where

there is public talk and rumour about it.

_No. 2._--_Various attestations as to Francesca's recourse to the

Bishop and Governor because of the cruelty of her husband and

relatives._

_June 17, 1697._

To whomsoever it may concern:

We, the undersigned, attest as true: That Signora Francesca Pompilia

Comparini, wife of Signor Guido Franceschini, has many and many a

time fled from home and hastened now to Monsignor the Bishop, and

again to the Governor, and also to the neighbours, because of the

continual scolding and ill-treatment which she has suffered at the

hands of Count Guido her husband, Signora Beatrice her mother-in-law,

and the Signor Canon Girolamo her brother-in-law. We know this from

having met her when she was fleeing as above, and from the public talk

and notoriety of it throughout the city of Arezzo. In pledge of which,

have we signed the present attestation with our own hands this

abovesaid day and year, etc.

I, CANON ALESSANDRO TORTELLI, affirm the truth to be as

abovesaid, and in pledge thereto have signed with my own hand.

I, MARCO ROMANO, affirm the truth to be as abovesaid, and in

pledge, etc., with my own hand.

I, ANTONIO FRANCESCO ARCANGELI, affirm the truth to be as is

contained above, with my own hand.

I, CAMMILLO LOMBARDI, affirm as is contained above, with my own

hand.

I, FRANCESCO JACOPO CONTI of Bissignano, affirm as is contained

above, and in pledge, etc., with my own hand.

I, URBANO ANTONIO ROMANO, a priest of Arezzo, and at present

Curate of the parish church of San Adriano, affirm the truth to

be as is contained above, and in pledge thereto have subscribed

with my own hand.

Then follows the identification of the handwriting in due form, etc.

_Extract from a letter written by D. Tommaso Romani, uncle of Guido

Franceschini, to Pietro Comparini in Rome._

Most Illustrious Sir, my most Honoured Master:

I can not do less, etc., departure, she has been little like the

Signora Francesca, etc.; she fled from home, and went into San

Antonio. And thither ran also Signor Guido, the Canon, and Beatrice,

etc., in order that she might come back, and in that belief the

Signora Francesca returned home, etc. Yesterday, Signora Francesca and

my sister were in the Duomo at sermon. At its close, while she was

going away and was near the gate of Monsignore, Francesca fled into

the Palace, which is very near by. This was about seven o'clock in the

evening, and there was a fine row in the Palace, etc.

_Extract from another letter written by Bartholomeo Albergotti, a

gentleman, to Pietro Comparini._

Most Illustrious Signor and most Cherished Master:

At my return, etc., the Signora, his wife, has been melancholy, and

two evenings after your departure, she made a big disturbance, because

she did not wish to go and sleep with Signor Guido her husband, etc.

The day before Palm Sunday, the Signora went, etc., to preaching,

etc., and in leaving there, she rushed into the Palace of the Bishop,

etc. She took her station at the head of the stairs and stayed there

until half past six in the evening; and neither Signora Beatrice nor

Signor Guido were able to make her return home. Yet the Bishop did not

give her an audience, but his secretary hastened thither and urged

Signor Guido and Signora Beatrice not to scold the Signora his wife,

etc. And after quite enough of such disputes, they took her back home,

etc.

_No._ 3.--_Deposition of Francesca as to the letters asserted to have

been written by her to Abate Franceschini, and previously outlined by

her husband; recorded in the prosecution brought for her pretended

flight._

_March_ 21, 1697 [for May.]

Francesca Comparini, when under oath, etc., when questioned whether

she had ever sent any letter to Abate Franceschini here in the City,

while she lived in Arezzo, replied:

While I was in Arezzo I wrote at the instance of my husband, to my

brother-in-law Abate Franceschini here in Rome; but as I did not know

how to write, my husband formed the letters with a pencil and then he

made me trace it with a pen and ink it with my own hand. And he told

me that his brother had taken pleasure in receiving such a letter of

mine, written by myself. This happened two or three times.

When questioned whether, if she should see one of the letters written

as is told above, and sent to the City to the same Abate Franceschini,

she would recognise it, etc.

She replied: If your Honour would cause me to see one of the letters

written by me, as above, and sent to Abate Franceschini, I should

recognise it very well.

And when at my command the letter was shown to her, about which there

was discussion in the prosecution, and which begins _Carissimo Cognato

sono con questa_, and ends, etc., _Arezzo_ 14 _Giugnio_ 1694,

_affetionatissima Serva, e Cognata Francesca Comparini ne

Franceschini_.

She responded: I have seen and have examined carefully this letter

shown me by the order of your Honour, which begins _Carissimo Signor

Cognato sono con questa_, etc., and ends _Francesca Comparini, ne

Franceschini_, and having looked at it, I think, but cannot swear to

it as the truth, that this is one of the letters written by me to my

brother-in-law, Abate Franceschini, in conformity [to my husband's

wishes] as is said above.

_No_. 4.--_The tenor of the letter written as above to Abate

Franceschini._

Dearest Brother-in-law:

I wish by this letter to pay my respects to you, and to thank you for

your efforts in placing me in this home, where, far removed from my

parents, I live now a tranquil life and enjoy perfect safety, not

having them around me. For they grieved me night and day with their

perverse commands, which were against the law, both human and divine:

that I should not love Signor Guido, my husband, and that I should

flee by night from his couch. At the same time they made me tell him

that I had no congeniality with him and that he was not my husband

because I have no children by him. They also caused me to run away

often to the Bishop without any reason whatever, and made me tell the

Bishop that I wished to be divorced from Signor Guido. And for the

purpose of stirring up great discord in the home, my mother told the

Bishop, and Signor Guido, and then the entire town, that the Canon my

brother-in-law had solicited me dishonourably, a thing that had never

been thought of by him. They urged me to continue these evil counsels,

which were far from right and far from the submission due to my

husband. And they left me at their departure their express command, by

my obligation to obey them, that I should kill my husband, give poison

to my brothers-in-law and my mother-in-law, burn the house and break

the vases and other things, in order that in the eyes of the world it

might not appear after their departure that it was they who had

counselled me to commit so many crimes. And finally at their

departure, they left me, as a parting command, that I should choose

for myself a young man to my taste, and with him should run away to

Rome, and many other matters, which I omit for blushing. Now that I

have not her at hand who stirred up my mind, I enjoy the quiet of

Paradise, and know that my parents were thus directing me to a

precipice, because of their own rage. Therefore, now that I see in

their true light these deeds proposed by the command of my parents, I

pray for pardon from God, from yourself, and from all the world. For I

wish to be a good Christian and a good wife to Signor Guido, who has

many times chidden me in a loving manner, saying that some day I would

thank him for the reproofs he gave me. And these evil counsels which

my parents have given, I have now made known, and I acknowledge myself

Your most affectionate servant and sister,

FRANCESCA COMPARINI _ne_ FRANCESCHINI.

AREZZO, _June 14, 1694_.

Outside directed to Abate Paolo Franceschini, Rome.

[The deposition of Pompilia is translated pp. 90-95 in its completer

form as given in the Summary for the Defence. The only additional fact

in this version is the date of the affidavit, Monday, May 13, 1697.

She had been arrested at Castelnuovo, May 1.]

_No. 6_.--_Attestation of priests and other persons, worthy to be

accepted in all respects; who gave Francesca, assistance even till her

death; they speak of her honesty, and her declaration that she had

never violated her conjugal faith_.

I, the undersigned, barefooted Augustinian priest, pledge my faith

that inasmuch as I was present, helping Signora Francesca Comparini

from the first instant of her pitiable case, even to the very end of

her life, I say and attest on my priestly oath, in the presence of the

God who must judge me, that to my own confusion I have discovered and

marvelled at an innocent and saintly conscience in that ever-blessed

child. During the four days she survived, when exhorted by me to

pardon her husband, she replied with tears in her eyes and with a

placid and compassionate voice: "May Jesus pardon him, as I have

already done with all my heart." But what is more to be wondered at is

that, although she suffered great pain, I never heard her speak an

offensive or impatient word, nor show the slightest outward vexation

either toward God or those near by. But ever submissive to the Divine

Will, she said: "May God have pity on me," in such a way, indeed, as

would have been incompatible with a soul that was not at one with God.

To such an union one does not attain in a moment, but rather by the

habit of years.

I say further that I have always seen her self-restrained, and

especially during medical treatment. On these occasions, if her habit

of life had not been good, she would not have minded certain details

around her with a modesty well-noted and marvelled at by me; nor

otherwise could a young girl have been in the presence of so many men

with such modesty and calm as that in which the blessed child remained

while dying. And you may well believe what the Holy Spirit speaks by

the mouth of the Evangelist, in the words of St. Matthew, chapter 7:

"An evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit." Note that he says

"cannot," and not "does not"; that is, making it impossible to infer

the ability to do perfect deeds when oneself is imperfect and tainted

with vice. You should therefore say that this girl was all goodness

and modesty, since with all ease and all gladness she performed

virtuous and modest deeds even at the very end of her life. Moreover

she has died with strong love for God, with great composure, with all

the sacred sacraments of the Church, and with the admiration of all

bystanders, who blessed her as a saint. I do not say more lest I be

taxed with partiality. I know very well that God alone is the searcher

of hearts, but I also know that from the abundance of the heart the

mouth speaks; and that my great St. Augustine says: "As the life, so

its end."

Therefore, having noted in that ever blessed child saintly words,

virtuous deeds, most modest acts, and the death of a soul in great

fear of God, for the relief of my conscience I am compelled to say,

and cannot do otherwise, that necessarily she has ever been a good,

modest, and honourable girl, etc.

This tenth of January, 1698,

I, Fra CELESTINO ANGELO of St. Anna, barefooted Augustinian,

affirm as I have said above, with my own hand.

_Another attestation as above._

We, the undersigned, being interrogated for the truth, have made full

and unquestioned statement on our oath, that we were present and

assisted at the last illness from which Francesca Pompilia, wife of

Guido Franceschini, died. She was often asked by her confessors and

other persons whether she had committed any offence against the said

Guido, her husband, whereby she might have given him occasion to

maltreat her in such a manner as to cause her death. And she always

responded that she had never committed any offence against him, but

had always lived with all chastity and modesty. And this we know from

having been present during the said suffering, and from having heard

all these questions and responses while we were giving her medical

treatment, or otherwise assisting, and from hearing her respond to

these questions, as above, during the four days while she was

suffering from her wounds, as we have seen and heard her; and we have

witnessed her dying the death of a saint.

In pledge thereto we have signed this present attestation with our own

hands here in Rome this tenth of January, 1698.

I, NICOLO CONSTANTIO, etc., who assisted at the treatment of the

said Francesca Pompilia during four days, attest as above, etc.

I, Fra CELESTINO ANGELO of St. Anna, barefooted Augustinian, say

that I was present from the first instant of the case, even to

the end of her life, and was always ministering to her. She ever

said, "May God pardon him in heaven as I pardon him on earth;

but as for the matter they charge me with, and for which they

have slain me, I am utterly innocent." In proof whereof she said

that God should not pardon her that sin, because she had never

committed it. She died as an innocent martyr in the presence of

another priest, to the edification of all the bystanders, as I

have affirmed above with my own hand.

I, PLACIDO SARDI, a priest, affirm with my own hand as the

abovesaid Father, Fra Celestino, has declared, having been

present as above.

I, the MARQUIS NICOLO GREGORIO, affirm as above with my own

hand.

I, the undersigned, affirm what is contained in the

abovewritten statement, as well as in the attestation of the

reverend Father Celestino of Jesu and Maria. I assisted the

abovesaid Signora Francesca Pompilia from the first, having

picked her up from the earth where she lay in utter weakness

because of her wounds. She had her head upon the legs of Signor

Pietro Comparini, who was already dead. She made confession in

my arms to the Principal of the Greek College, because she

could neither rise up nor lie down. And from that hour I never

left her, but always ministered to her even unto her death. She

was the most exemplary and edifying Christian I have ever seen.

For I saw her resigned to the divine will, and she always

relied upon her own innocence, etc.

I, GIUSEPPE D'ANDILLO, with my own hand.

I, the undersigned, attest and affirm what is contained in all

the said affidavits, from having assisted the said Francesca

Pompilia, etc.

DIONYSIO GODYN, with my own hand.

I, LUCA CORSI, affirm with my own hand as is contained in all

the said attestations, from having assisted day and night as

long as the malady of the former Francesca Pompilia continued,

and from having heard as above.

I, GIOVANNI BATTISTA GUITENS, apothecary, who have assisted at

the treatment and care of the said Francesca Pompilia, affirm

with my own hand as is contained in all the above affidavits

and attestations, from having assisted continually throughout a

night and a day at the malady of the same.

I, GIOVANNI BATTISTA MUCHA, the boy of the said Giovanni

Battista Guitens, apothecary, affirm with my own hand as is

contained above in the said attestation, from having assisted

with the former Francesca Pompilia.

Full and unquestionable statement is given by me the here undersigned,

Abate Liberato Barberito, Doctor of Theology, that, as I was summoned

to assist at the death of the said Signora Francesca Comparini, I

often noticed, and especially during an entire night, that the

above-named defendant suffered the pains of her wounds with Christian

resignation, and condoned with superhuman generosity the offences of

the one who had caused her innocent death with so many wounds. I also

observed during the night the tenderness of the conscience of the

above-named. For she passed it in showing the unwavering feelings of

an heroic and Christian perfection. And this so much so that I can

attest that during the experience I have had, having been four years

Vicar in the Cure of Monsignor, the Bishop of Monopoli, of blessed

memory, I have never observed the dying with like sentiments. And this

is all the more so in an evil, caused so violently by another.

Therefore in pledge, etc. Rome, this tenth day of January 1698.

I, ABATE DI LIBERATO BARBERITO, affirm as above, etc.

[File-title of Pamphlet 5.]

_By the Most Illustrious and Most

Reverend Lord Governor of the

City in Criminal Cases:_

_ROMAN MURDER-CASE._

_In behalf of the Fisc, against_

Count Guido Franceschini

and his Associates_.

_Memorial of fact and law of the Lord

Procurator General of the Fisc._.

_At Rome, in the type of the Reverend Apostolic Church,

1698._