Letters of Maria Celeste:

7 November 1633

Most Beloved Lord Father

Guccio the innkeeper, our neighbor here, comes to your vicinity to tend to business matters, and I seize the occasion to write you these few lines, Sire, telling you that if in my last letter I lauded the luck that made me find the ortolans, which I seemed at that moment to have in my grasp; now I lament that same luck for it did not land me the number I had wanted, as by now you will have seen for yourself, Sire, and also heard from Signor Geri: the reason was because among those that Il Berna had none were of good quality except for that group of eleven that we sent; and since Geppo had made the blunder of accepting these few, after I had searched for other sources around the countryside and in Florence, I resolved to send them to you, encouraged by the gamekeeper at the villa of the Poggio Imperiale, who said to consider them as grand gifts at this time of year now that they are so rare; enough: if nothing else, Sire, you will accept my good will. Master Ippolito asked for the 4 scudi, and I sent them to him right away. The wine from San Miniato has still not arrived. The garden cannot be worked, because it is too wet. The boy went today to look in on Il Ninci again.

Suor Luisa is better, but not entirely well; she greets you lovingly, Sire, and so do Suor Arcangela, Madonna, Suor Cammilla and her papa, who has not let himself be seen around here for quite some time on account of the bad weather, but writes often. May Our Lord preserve you.

From San Matteo, the 7th day of November 1633.

Your most affectionate daughter,
S. M. Celeste