AVIGNON 1347 AD
Pope Clément passed without a sound along the corridors joining his private rooms to the outside world. Tightening the cord around the waist of a monk"s brown habit and, ensuring the hood fully covered his face, he left to greet the morning spring sunlight. The disguise served him well. It was not unusual to see all manner of pilgrims and worshippers dressed in a similar fashion, according to their orders.
Past the papal cathedral lay the wooded Rocher des Doms area marking the northern edge of Avignon. Tall chestnut and strong cork oak trees, planted many centuries before by Roman settlers, protected the town from the destructive mistral wind. Avenie ventosa, sine vento venenosa, cumvento fastidiosa – Windy Avignon, pest-ridden when there is no wind, wind-pestered when t
