Italian Petition of Abraam Sforno of Bologna.

Petition of Abraam son of the late Rubin de Spurno (Reuben ben Samuel Sforno), demanding justice from the mayor and judges of the criminal court of Bologna. The petitioner, a resident of the Piazza di Santo Stefano in Bologna, charges that David Musetti, a Jew of Modena living in Bologna near the chapel of Santa Maria de Carraris, was one of two men, armed with offensive weapons who lay in wait for him one night outside his home. When Abraam emerged from the building, Musetti beat and severely injured him and his servant, Urcello. Although the assailants were in disguise, Musetti was recognized by Socrates, another of Sforno’s servants. The incident took place in October, 1476, at the house at Guardia di Bologna (on a hill in the woods outside the city, now a part of the suburb of San Ruffillo), to which Abraam had gone with his family to escape the plague. For more on Abraam Sforno, see R. Rinaldi, “Un inventario dei beni dell’anno 1503: Abramo Sforno e la sua attività di prestatore,” in Il Carrobbio IX (1983.