Character Showcase -- Master Rory Denham

Rory Denham cheerfully describes himself as a “packsaddle scapegrace of no account and few cares”. Born the love-child of Lady Eliza Meadowaine and a wandering Scots rogue, he has spent most of his life looking out for himself. His father once appointed a good friend, Captain Cosimo Jilani to keep an eye on Rory, but since the Captain had no experience of fatherhood himself and much preferred making a drinking friend and fellow carouser, to making an adopted son with whom he must be serious and stern, the natural chaos ensued. More trouble was caused by that “guidance” than was put in abeyance.

Rory Denham’s world has had no boundaries, but all is not light and sunny— even if his smile remains undaunted. Sometimes, it is possible to catch him with darkness in his eyes and a thoughtful countenance that suggests his  life contains more sadness than he will ever admit. As a penniless child, born out of wedlock, he has no prospects other than those he can steal for himself. When his father died, he sent to Rory, not only the friendship of Captain Jilani, but also a fairly new pair of boots, of which he thought his son could make use.

Now, the leather of those boots is old and weathered, and they have walked a path just as wild and reckless as the one set by their previous owner. The once scrawny, urchin lad has grown to have healthy bones that grant him good height, sturdy shoulders, strong teeth and broad fists, and with all of that he has done whatever he must to survive. Sometimes he is not proud of it, but a man learns to harden his skin and blind his conscience for its own good.

“Look ye afor’ard and up, and ge’ oan wae it,” as his father would say.

Apart from Captain Jilani, Rory is also befriended by the Samways family, who own a tavern beside the docks, and this is where he often sets down his head to sleep, in a little room above the barrels.

He earns his living in London by undertaking any job he is offered. But each summer he gets away from all that and heads into the country to work on a farm. He finds this a good way to refresh his body and his mind, away from the stink of the great city. When he returns to London in September, after all that good sun and hard work, he is always in a good mood. So everybody knows that September is the best time to beg a boon of Rory Denham.


And in September 1608 Captain Jilani has a particularly difficult favour to ask of Rory. Three mysterious foreigners are on their way to England and the Captain wants Rory to guard them while they get settled in London.

“Look hafter the dears until I am coming in spring,” Cosimo Jilani has written in his poor English and a very uneven hand. “At such older ages, it will not be any trouble, although the younger ladhe need guarding with open eyes”

Later, of course, Rory will realize that the Captain meant to write “lady” and not “lad he”. But with that letter a great many misconceptions are begun.

Not the least of which is that his new charges will “not be any trouble”. 

Funnily enough, Master Denham thinks he knows what "trouble" is. But he has never seen anything like this.

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Meet Master Rory Denham this Friday, when you can grab your copy of THE CROLLALANZAS!

(Image: detail from the Tailor by Giovanni Battista Moroni c. 1570)