“When all at once there came a mighty wind, which blew down the witch-tower, and carried away the witch, and killed all the uncanny animals which dwelt in the ruins. And unbelievers say that this was done by an earthquake; but this is not true, for the witches were really the cause (_chagione_) of its overthrow. “And though many old things are destroyed and rebuilt, there are many cats still there which are assuredly witches. “And in the houses thereabout people often perceive and see spirits, and if any one will go at night in the Piazza San Miniato fra le Torri, especially where those old things (_chose vecche_) were cleared away, he will see sparks of fire (_faville di fuocho_) break out, and then flames; and this signifies that some diabolical creature or animal is still confined there which needs relief (_che a bisogna di bene_), or that in that spot lies a treasure which requires to be discovered.” * * * * * I consider this as very interesting, because I most truthfully guarantee that this specimen of witch-lore was written in good faith and firm belief, and is not at all, like most of the tales gleaned or gathered now-a-days, taken from people who got them from others who perhaps only half believed in them. She who wrote it has no more doubt that witch-cats prowl, and that wild-fire hisses forth from evil spirits in durance pent ’neath the soil of San Miniato, than that the spirit of the Arno appears as “a small white hand pointing tremulously upwards.” There is given in the _Facetiæ_ of Piovano Arlotto, which is considered a truthful record of the adventures of its subject, a tale relative to San Miniato which cannot here be deemed out of place. It is as follows: LA TESTA DI SAN MINIATO. “There was in Florence a poor and learned gentleman—_savio e da bene_, who was a good friend of Piovano Arlotto, who was also good to him, since he had often aided the former with money, meal, and many other things, and indeed without such help he could hardly have fed his family; for he had fourteen sons and daughters, and though the proverb says _Figliuoli_, _mioli_, _’lenzuoli non sono mai troppi in una casa_—there are never too many children, glasses, or linen sheets in a house, this good man found indeed that he had too many of the former. “Now to help dire need, this gentleman tried to buy on credit two bales of cloth, one wherewith to clothe his family, and the other to sell in order to make some money. To do this, he needed some one to be his security, and he had recourse to Piovano Arlotto, who willingly agreed to pay the manufacturer in case the friend who gave his note could not meet it. Now he found that the manufacturer had sadly cheated the purchaser in the measure or quantity, fully one-half, as was also evident to many others; however, as matters stood, he was obliged to let it pass.