made my prison an iron cage
encased in a stone dungeon. Food was let down by a cord through the
grating by a narrow copper bucket, and in the same manner each day the
refuse of the cell was removed. The friar who occupied the cell above
and who was my jailer was the only person I ever saw except when
tortured.

"At the end of a week Ser Nuto came into the cell and, calling down
through the grating, said; 'Climb up; you are to go before the holy
tribunal.' The grating was opened, a ladder let down and I climbed up
and was led across the open court through a long hall into a large room,
where twelve men, laymen and ecclesiastics, sat, the prelate acting as
presiding officer. It must have been near midnight. I remember when I
crossed the court how brilliantly the stars shone.

"When I came into the room, the prelate said; 'You are charged with the
heinous sin of sacrilegious utterances against the holy church, which
you will confess and for which you will be tortured even after
confession. Your torturing, because of your insults to the church and
its high officials, will be a compound of duty and pleasure to us. Until
you confess your sins, express sorrow for same and consent to serve the
church with loyal and unselfish devotion in whatever tasks shall be
assigned you, one of which will be to assist Ser Nuto in decoying Sir
John Hawkwood to this monastery you will be tortured the limit of your
bodily endurance once a week.'

"From the four corners of the room near the ceiling and extending to the
center, were suspended four ropes rigged with pulleys. My hands and feet
were tied to these, when they were drawn tight and I was suspended in
midair; then I was repeatedly hoisted back and forth from the floor to
near the lofty ceiling until my joints were dislocated from the strain
and I lost consciousness from pain, though I am glad to say, not once
did I utter a cry, give forth a groan or ask mercy of my tormentors.

"When consciousness returned I was on the pallet in my cell and lay
there for several days suffering as from severe sprains.

"My jailer was not unkind. His life I felt was not a happy one. He
seemed to enjoy conversing with me, though he was forced to lie on the
floor and call through the grating.

"This encouraged the hope that in sympathy or for reward I might
persuade him to carry word to my wife of my place of imprisonment, when
she, through the influence of Sir John or her brother, would be able to
p