Let's put aside Menocchio's conception of the universe for the time being and follow instead the progress ofthe trial. Immediately after Menocchio's arrest, one of his sons, Ziannuto, had tried to assist him in a number of ways: he hired a lawyer, a certain Trappola of Portogruaro, he went to Serravalle to confer with the inquisitor, he obtained a statement from Montereale in favor of the prisonerand sent it to the lawyer, offering to obtain additional character references if they were required: "and if evidence is needed from Montereale that the prisoner went to confession and took communion every year, the priests will provide it; if there is need of proof from the village that he had been mayorand warden(retor) in the five hamlets, it will be provided and if necessary, confirmation can also be given that he had been administrator of the parish church of Montereale and performed his duty honorably, and also that he had served as collector of tithes(scodador) of the parish church of Montereale. Also, with his brothers, Ziannuto(who was illiterate) pressured the parish priestofMontereale, who inhis eyes was responsible for the whole affair, into writing a letter to Menocchio, then confined in the prison of the Holy office. The priest urged Menocchio to promise complete obedience to the holy Church andsay that you do not believe and are not about to believe anything except what is commanded by God our Lord and the holy Church, and that you intend to live and die in the Christian faith as commanded by the holy, Roman, Catholic, and apostolic Church; in fact, that you would be ready, if need be, to give up your life and a thousand more lives, if you had so many to give for love ofthe Lord God and of the holy Christian faith, since you know that you have your life and every good thing from Holy Mother Church..." Apparerily, Menocchio didn't recognize the hand of his enemy, the parish priest, behind these words. Instead heattributed them toaDomenego Femenussa,awooland lumber merchant who came to his milland occasionally lent him money. But, in any case, Menocchio found it difficult tofollow the advice given in the letter. At the end of the first interrogation(February) he said to the vicar general with evident reluctance: "Sir,Ican't tell you whether what I said, either through the inspiration ofGod orthedevil,is the truthoralie, but I ask for mercy and will follow what is taught me." He was seeking to