Memoir

Without warning, on the 20th of April, 1749, at the end of the Passover Festival, Sunday, at about 17 hours [noon], I was kidnapped and taken away by force thanks to a false denunciation made against my family by a scoundrel [ . . . ]. I was totally innocent, but he tricked the Vice Regent into issuing an order that led straightaway to the Bargello and his men bursting into my home and seizing me. They sandwiched me in between them with their pistols drawn. They did not even give me the courtesy, or the time, to change my clothing, or to say a word to my mother and father, as though I were a whore, slapping everybody around, and paying no attention to people’s rank or even their state of health. They snapped me up like a guitta (a buffoon) in such haste that I still had on my abito di cucina (my apron). When my father tried to speak to me, they shoved a pistol into his face. Only God saved his life. I was pushed into a carriage next to the Bargello and taken with the speed of the wind to the Casa dei catecumeni.

When we arrived at the Casa, I was put into the hands of the Prioress, who took me by the hand. She led me into a small room, which had a small bed, for one person, a little table, with a drawer for food, which could be locked. I was left alone, until the Prioress appeared for the first time to visit me, telling me to pray to God that I be illuminated [to convert], and to be contrite. I responded boldly, and with pluck, that I had already been illuminated, and I had no intention of being deceived to desert the religion into which I was born. Each time she approached me, with the same priest, I told her that I was committed [to be faithful] to His Divine Majesty, praying that He give me the strength and grace to return to the arms of my parents and to their belief, and that I would be happy should I be considered worthy in the true light of our Holy Sabbath. Ignoring me, the Prioress brought with her some young woman convert to disturb my peace [and shake my faith]. However, imagining the great damage such company might bring, I made up my mind to carry on alone, should I be allowed it, rather than share the company of that awful class of person.