Marco’s Journal : Roman Revels

A new fellow has joined Cola’s ‘family’ – he is a young scribbler named Lorenzo, who dabbles in magic and enjoys a cup of wine with good company. He is a decent fellow, from a hard background, and so fell in with us readily. We asked him to have a squint at the little luck-piece we had just found in the underworld, and he pronounced it genuinely ancient yet still retaining some virtue of good fortune. We let him wear it for a while to bring him luck, and so far it has worked a treat !

Rome had a big party for the first time in years and by good luck or Providence, we got into the best bit, reserved for the finest people in Rome. We had a fancy invitation, written by the rising star of the show – Petrarch himself. Cola had tipped us a wink, so we gave 3 ancient coins we had found to Petrarch as a gift. In response, we got a special invitation to the bigwigs party held after the public celebrations which appointed him as chief-poet-of-Rome, or some such nonsense.

We had all bought new clothes for the occasion, and some of us had to buy them all over again after the mess made pushing through the huge crowds around the Palatine. Everyone seemed very happy, and from afar we heard several long speeches praising the greatness of Rome’s history, and affirming the aim to Make-Rome-Great-Again. If only that made a catchy slogan. Well there were great cheers and even some free wine, if you brought your own cup. As the crowd dispersed, we followed a procession of servants bearing chairs, and so found the scene of the fancy party.

We waved our scroll, with the seal of Petrarch himself, under the noses of the flunkies at the gate. They could see we we not the rich or famous, but could find no excuse to deny us entry. We did not even have to argue much, and they were so posh themselves that bribes were beneath them. So we all piled in, with Lorenzo and Friar Giovanni deftly posing as our servants.

So Rocco the fisherman, Marco the soldier and Father Arturo mingled with the famous and wealthy and we had all the food and wine we could want for free. What fortune!

I was surprised to bump into Petrarch himself, and amazed he remembered my name at all. In a few moments he was off, but not before he had introduced me to Guido Guardino, a dealer in curios. He was pleased to meet a new ‘finder’ who delved for these goods in the Underworld beneath the streets of Rome. Well met indeed! This contact made the Revel doubly worthwhile, but there was more to come.

Hardly had I met Guido, than another merchant pushed in, and introduced himself as Pier-Paulo Rospo, a dealer in relics. So if we find the bones of a saint, or a nail from a Calvary cross, we know who to approach. It seems unlikely, but maybe he will buy suitably ancient junk in the hope that it is a relic after all. That may come in handy someday, who knows? I counted my fingers after shaking his hand. With my head spinning from these new possibilities, I sought to fortify myself at the prodigious free buffet provided.

I was still there, not quite full, when Rocco found me. Apparently he had helped a blind musician back to his place after he had been cast adrift by a careless flunky. The youth had a good heart, and very sharp ears, and had overheard a group of noble louts planning assault and murder as they drank more glasses of wine than they should. They cursed the name of Corsini, and wore Frangipani colours, so it was not hard to guess the object of their wrath. Sure enough we found Matteo whirling his paramour around the dance floor, while her parents looked on, muttering an argument between themselves.

Six against One seemed unfair odds, especially since the One was our comrade-in-arms against the sorceror who abducted young girls to feed to his demon pets. So we gathered our little band from all corners of the party and found a chance to quietly brief Matteo of the plot against him. A quandary presented itself – although these louts deserved a beating, this would not aid his quest for marriage with their sister or cousin. Weddings follow funerals poorly, it seems. What to Do?

Lorenzo presented a Strategem from his arts. He could cast a spell to mask the appearance of a person so that they would bear the likeness of another, unless observed closely. Amongst our party Friar Giovanni had the same height and build as Matteo, whilst Father Arturo was likewise twin to his servant Noli. So they all swapped their outer garments whilst Lorenzo sketched in the air and wove his illusion around each of them. Soon it was hard to tell the Ruse from the Real, and so we ran our hare for the dogs. Our two priests left the party wrapped in their altered guise, and were soon pursued at the run by a crowd of half-drunk toffs in Frangipani colours. Some way down the hill our two hares called upon Providence to open the eyes of the wrathful, which saved them from the long sharp swords being raised against them. The Frangipani dogs ran off in confusion, seeking their prey in vain, only to find only an embarrassing foolishness instead.

We picked up Arturo and Giovanni a few minutes later and made our way quietly to the rendezvous we had agreed near the House of Crows. There we met Matteo and Noli, and drank to their health and the confusion of the Frangipani before returning home.

It had been an exciting day, and always worth doing a good turn for a friend. One day we may need the favour returned.

9 – A Poetic Party and Toad in a Hole

The party seek the advice of Cola on the three ancient coins they had found in the cloacal realms beneath the city. He suggests that they gift them to the poet Petracca who is known to be a collector of such things. Due to be crowned Poet Laureate in a couple of weeks time, Petracca is a good man with whom to be onside according to the notary.

A few days later, back at the House of Crows, they receive a visit from an unusual pair. Two women, eccentrically dressed in men’s attire arrive at the door. They give their names as Bettina and Marisa. Through Donna Giulia of La Deliziosa they have heard that the House of Crows is seeking door guards. Given a lack of other contenders for the post, after a short interview they are hired (though they do take the precaution of contacting Giulia to check their references, which prove satisfactory).

Almost their first visitor is a herald who delivers the thanks of Francesco Petracca for their gift and an invitation to the private reception after the public ceremony on the 8th April.

On the day itself Marco, Rocco, Father Arturo and Fra. Giovanni make their way through the streets to the Capitol. They are joined by a newcomer to Cola’s famiglia, a young magus by the name of Lorenzo. All have upgraded their wardrobe for the after-party, but the journey through the crowded streets proves hard on their new threads. The city is fairly thronging with poetry enthusiasts – as well as those attracted by the free food and especially drink provided by the City Fathers for the occasion. However, none have their pockets picked. Nor are they drawn into any of the free-wine induced street-brawls they observe on their way to the Piazza del Popolo.

There they stand witness to the ceremony, in which Francesco Petracca is crowned with laurels. They listen stoically to several long speeches and a poetry recital, and note that the tone seems very much in tune with Cola’s rousing demagoguery on the theme of restoring the past greatness of Rome. Indeed, Cola actually receives a name-check (amongst others) in Petracca’s acceptance speech.

After the ceremony and the speeches, they follow a stream of chairs and palanquins down the Capitoline and up the Palatine to the palazzo in which the reception is to be held, stopping off in the Forum market to refresh their appearances. On arrival there is some resistance from the functionaries guarding the entrance and checking bona fides, who plainly consider them to be uncouth and under-dressed. However, they wave their invitation with Petracca’s seal attached and are grudgingly admitted.

Dispersing around the party they make a few interesting acquaintances. However, it is Rocco’s chance discovery of a plot against young Matteo Corsini that dominates their evening. It seems that a gang of young yahoos of the Frangipani famiglia, who disapprove of Matteo’s liaison with their sister, Serena, were planning to waylay him as he departed the festivities.

With the assistance of Lorenzo who, it transpires, can by his Arts change a person’s appearance, they hatch a plan with Matteo and his serving man Noli. Fra Giovanni and Father Arturo, closest to them in height and build, take their semblance and lure the Frangipani youths away in pursuit. Meanwhile Corsini and his servant leave quietly by another exit. In due course the Frangipani catch up with the priests, but finding their quarry not to be who they had expected, depart in bafflement. The party meet up with Matteo and Noli near the House of Crows to toast the success of their stratagem.

A few days later the same party descend into the cloacal realm beneath the House of Crows. They return later that day carrying a sack of loot and Brother Giovanni who is missing a foot. It seems that he was seized by a giant toad that would have dragged him into a deep pool there to devour him or feed him to its brood. It got his foot but Rocco and Marco between them managed to rescue the rest of him. Strangely it seems that while lacking the appendage, the friar is surprisingly hale after his ordeal and the stump perfectly healed. There is talk of a veritable miracle attending the prayers of Father Arturo.

Francesco Petracca - Poeta Laureato

The Senate of Rome has declared that Francesco Petracca the Arezzo-born writer and diplomat is to be crowned as Rome's first Poet Laureate since ancient times. He is to be presented with the symbolic crown of laurel leaves on the 8th April in a great public event upon the Capitol to which all are invited.

Petracca's public sponsors in this matter are Senators Giordano Orsini and Orso dell'Anguillara. However, many see the hand of the young up-and-coming notaio from the Aventine, Cola Di Rienzo, who is known for his enthusiasm for the customs of antiquity, and is known associate of Petracca.

There are rumours of a lavish festa to be held in his honour later that day upon the Palatine, with a more selective guest list.