ord to which I tied the note after
having read it many times and held it to my lips.

"The succeeding night Ser Nuto came to the cell and I was again brought
before the holy tribunal, where an officer stood to take down my
confession and a surgeon to feel my pulse and estimate the amount of
torture I could bear.

"As I came in a poor man was being tortured and I stood and looked on, a
horrified witness, until he died upon the rack.

"Then I was called before the prelate and asked:

"'Will you confess your many sins, declare your repentance and help the
Holy Church to secretly take and imprison Sir John Hawkwood?'

"Remembering Sir John's many kindnesses to me, my duty as a soldier to
his commander, and thinking of my dear wife, I unhesitatingly answered;
'I will not.'

"'It is then my duty to subject you to torture. Reflect that what is
done to your body is for the good of your soul and in doing this we are
the servants of God. Have you anything to confess in mitigation of our
severest torture?'

"'I have not.'

"I was seized and bound to the ropes and suspended in midair; eight
husky friars repeatedly pulled with all their might upon ropes; they
swung and jerked me back and forth from floor to ceiling until it seemed
arms and legs must be torn from my trunk. I would have lost
consciousness long before I did, except I thought of my poor wife rather
than myself. Finally the relief of unconsciousness came and hers was the
last face I saw.

"It was hours before I regained consciousness and more than a week
before I was able to stand.

"A week after the second torture Ser Nuto came for me to be again
tortured, but was forced to return and report that I was unable to
stand, much less respond to torture.

"While I was on my pallet unable to move, the friar asked for my message
to my wife. I told him to cut off the corner of my coat and give her,
saying I was well and making every effort for release so I might soon be
with her.

"He brought back a note full of hope and tender messages, some money and
underclothing. We hid the money under the floor bars of my cell.

"About the time I was able to walk again the prelate of the order died
and on the night which had heretofore been selected for my weekly
torture the members of the holy tribunal were busy with the reception
and entertainment of his successor.

"In some way Ser Nuto's message of my condition was misunderstood and
entry was made in the register oppo