1st October, 1632, at Florence. “I, Galileo Galilei, certify that on the day indicated the order has been delivered to me by the honourable Father Inquisitor of this city, by command of the Holy Congregation of the Holy Office at Rome, to go to Rome in the course of the present month, October, and to present myself before the Father Commissary of the Holy Office, who will inform me what I have to do. I will willingly obey the order in the course of this month October. And in testimony thereto I have written these presents.” “I, Galileo Galilei wrote _manu propria_.”[296] This mandate to present himself before the Inquisition quite overwhelmed Galileo, as is evident from his correspondence of that period. He was totally unprepared for it. Scarcely recovered from a severe complaint in the eyes, which had lasted several months and had prevented him from using them, otherwise suffering in health, and at an advanced age, he was now to go to Rome in the midst of the plague, which had broken out again with increased virulence, and entailed strict quarantine regulations, in order to give account of himself before the dread tribunal. No wonder that it dismayed him, and in spite of his promise “willingly to obey the order in the course of this month, October,” we find him making every effort to get out of it. On 6th October he wrote in the greatest excitement to Cioli, who was just then with the Grand Duke at Siena, that he was in the greatest consternation at this summons to appear before the Inquisition at Rome, and as he was well aware of the importance of the matter, he would come to Siena to lay his schemes and plans before his Highness, for he had more than one in his head, and to consult him about the steps to be taken.[297] This journey, however, was not undertaken, as the court soon returned to Florence.