was a priest, who, when the indescribable corruptions of S. Chiara had been clearly proved, calmly remarked that there was no reason to make such a fuss—­they were only affairs of gentlefolk, cose di gentilhuomini.  The rival of whom Samminiati was jealous seems to have been the painter Pietro, who held the key to all the scandals of the convent in his hand.  Umilia, Dati, and Samminiati at last agreed ’to rid their neighborhood of that pest.’  The man had escaped to Rovigo, whither Samminiati repaired from Venice, ’attended by two good fellows thoroughly acquainted with the district.’

[Footnote 195:  It appears that violent passion for a person was commonly attributed at that epoch to enchantment.  See above, the confession of the Lady of Monza, p. 320.]

But Pietro got away to Ferrara, his enemy following and again missing him.  Samminiati writes that he is resolved to hunt ‘that rascal’ out, and make an end of him.  Meanwhile Umilia is commissioned to do for Calidonia Burlamacchi, a nun who had withdrawn from the company of her guilty sisters, and knew too many of their secrets.  Samminiati sends a white powder, and a little phial containing a liquid, both of which, he informs Umilia, are potent poisons, with instructions how to use them and how to get Calidonia to swallow the ingredients.  Then ’if the devil does not help her, she will pass from this life in half a night’s time, and without the slightest sign of violence.’

It may be imagined what disturbance was caused in the General Council by the reading of this correspondence.  Nearly all the noble families of Lucca were connected by ties of blood or marriage with one or other of the culprits; and when the relatives of the accused had been excluded from the session, only sixty members were left to debate on further measures.  I will briefly relate what happened to the three outlaws.  Venice refused to give up Samminiati at the request of the Lucchese, saying that ’the Republic of S. Mark would not initiate a course of action prejudicial to the hospitality which every sort of person was wont to enjoy there.’  But the young man was banished to Candia, whither he obediently retired.  Pietro, the painter, was eventually permitted to return to the territory but not the town of Lucca.  Dati surrounded himself with armed men, as was the custom of rich criminals on whose head a price was set.  After wandering some time, he submitted, and took up his abode in Sardinia, whence he afterwards removed, by permission of the Signory, to France.  There he died.  With regard to the nuns, it seemed at first that the ends of justice would be defeated through the jealousies which divided the civil and ecclesiastical authorities in Lucca.  The Bishop was absent, and his Vicar refused to institute a criminal process.  Umilia remained at large in the convent, and even began a new intrigue with one Simo Menocchi.  At last, in 1609, the Vicar prepared his indictment against