Dursteler|19129 July 1637, Corfu
A woman dressed in monastic clothes who said she was 37 years of age was
summoned, and she was interrogated through the assistance of the most il-
lustrious Signor Antonio Coschini, who was required to swear to faithfully
interpret her words. And so he did.
Asked regarding her given name, her surname, her father, her birthplace,
and her religious creed.
She answered: My name is Maria Gozzadini, from Statio, and my true
native land is Siphnos, which I left with my father and with my entire family,
in order to go to Kimolos, where a Turkish man, by the name of Hassan Pasha,
from Rhodes, came and took me to Milos. This Turk took me against my will
and made me his wife. And, as I have said, my worldly name is Maria, but my
name as a nun is Macaria, and my religious creed is Christian, that is I am a
Greek Christian.
Asked when, with whom, and from where did she arrive in this city.
She answered: We departed from Milos on the ninth day of the month of
March, as I am stating here. Although I was in the hands of the Turks, I have
always maintained the objective and the desire to come to the Christian ter-
ritories of Your Serenity. Thus while the Venetian galleys were in Milos during
that month, when Signor Gratia Giobia and the chancellor came ashore to the
town of Milos to purchase wine for the galleys, as I already had in mind to
escape from the hands of the Turks, I begged Signor Gratia, who is the quar-
termaster of the captain of the galleys, and the chancellor to enquire directly
with the captain so that he would take me away from that place. And so I was
delivered, and I arrived in this city on the captain’s galley on the day of the
Ascension in the month of May.
Asked if she arrived alone or accompanied by others.
She answered: I arrived together with my three daughters and two servants.
Asked about the names of her daughters.
She answered: The first is named Margherita, the next Anna, and the
third Catterina. As for the servants, one is named Fiorenza, and the other
Pulsina. My daughters to all appearances had Turkish names, as my husband
Hassan was a Turk. But I have always maintained the Christian rite with my
daughters. And thus, when these daughters of mine were born, I had them
baptized secretly in the Christian rite. Their Turkish names are Margherita—
Aissè; Anna—Eminè; Catterina—Catigè.
Asked if her daughters were forced or had embarked on the captain’s gal-
ley and left Milos of their own free will.
She answered: Nobody forced us or embarked us against our will. On
the contrary, together with my three daughters, I boarded the galley of my
own will, since having lived a Christian life, I wanted to escape into the hands
of Christians. In fact, I had two Christian churches built on an islet called
Nipoligo; one of them is called Santa Anna, the other Santo Anargiri. I had
a third church built on Kimolos, where I previously lived, and from which
place the aforementioned Turk, my husband, squired me away. This church is
known by the name of San Cristoforo.