Ambassador from Milan

4th October 1458

On the road to Bristol, under a light rain.

Machiavelli finally arrived in Somerset to do his duty.
The trip was extremely long, considering that he came from Italy, more exactly from the Duchy of Milan. Anyway the trip was great since he travelled with his best friend Marco from Lodi, a merchant that kindly accompained him during the whole journey.
"Inizio a domandarmi se esista il sole in questo luogo." Said Machiavelli irritated by the rain.
Marco laughs.
"Non pensateci Niccolò, la pioggia è assai leggera! Godetevi il panorama piuttosto e osservate il verde che vi circonda."
Machiavelli seemed realize only in that moment about the wonderful panorama that surrounded him.
Green hills that sweetly declined towards the plains.
Far away the castle of Bristol rose awesomely.
"Ecco il castello di Bristol, mio caro amico" Said Marco.
Once arrived at the major gate, a guard went to them asking who their were.
Machiavelli, in an imperfect english, particullarly the pronunciation, answered:"Good day my good man, I'm the ambassador from the Duchy of Milan and I wish to see the Great Chamberlain."
Having said this, the guard allowed them in to the central court asking them kindly to wait.

Sitting quietly at her desk as she finishes some paperwork, Patan looks up when a knock sounds on her door. She calls out a quick, "Come in!" and puts down her papers when the Castle Guard enters to tell her that a new Ambassador has arrived. Rising from her chair, Patan makes her way along the corridors and runs down the sweeping grand staircase to the doors of the Castle.

Reaching the halloway, she notices two gentlemen waiting patiently and makes her way towards them. Sinking into an elegant curtsy, she rises, looking from one to the other uncertainly, unsure which of the two gentlemen is the Ambassador. "Good day, I am the Baroness Patan, Chancellor of Somerset, and I am delighted to welcome you both to our Embassy, here at Bristol Castle. I do hope that your travels have been pleasant and without incident? I understand you are from the Duchy of Milan?"

Smiling, Patan waits for the Ambassador to identify and introduce himself and his companion.

"Good day, Baroness Patan." Answered Machiavelli.
"Pleased to meet you, I'm Niccolò Machiavelli Stibbert, the ambassador from the Duchy of Milan, and this is my friend Marco from Lodi. Here are my credentials." And he took out a letter with his credentials and smilingly he gave it to the chambellior.

Quote :

Milan, 29 September 1458

For will of Duke Cangrande Killian dei Rossi you, Machiavelli, are named ambassador of the Duchy of Milan to the Somerset.

With hope that your person could establish a profitable collaboration between the States.


Great Chamberlain of the Duchy of Milan

Then he turned to Marco and said:
"Vi ringrazio per l'aiuto, potete andare, ci rivedremo al termine del mio incarico, a presto." And he hugged his old friend who bowed to the Baroness and left the castle.

Flushing slightly, Patan curtsies to the Ambassador and to his friend. She takes the credentials and reads them through, nodding, "Thank you, Your Excellency. That all seems to be in order. I do apologise for the delay, somehow I had become distracted - perhaps relating to making the arrangements for my recent wedding."

She smiles and continues, "However, I have now arranged to collect the keys to your offices. If you would care to accompany me, I shall escort you there, and we can then discuss in more comfort any proposals you may have for our collaboration."

Patan indicates for the Ambassador to walk with her to the offices of the Duchy of Milan.


https://somerset.rpg-board.net/ducato-of-milano-embassy-f83/