The satires are directed mainly against the corruption of the (Roman Catholic) Church. The popes mentioned in the collection are: Pope Alexander VIII (Pietro Ottoboni, 1689-1691), Innocent XIII (Michelangelo dei Conti, 1721-1724), and Benedict XIV (Prospero Lambertini, 1740-1758).

The manuscript contains a table of contents at the end (folio 147), and the following satires:

(i) ‘II Calascione à tre corde. In occasione della morte di Papa Alessandro VIII Ottoboni’.

Three parts:

I. ‘Corda Prima’ (folio 2).

II. ‘Corda Seconda’ (folio 6 verso).

III. ‘Corda Terza’ (folio 10 verso).

Against the corruption and the avidity of Pope Alexander VIII and of his two nephews Marco and Pietro.

(ii) ‘Il Crivello. In occasione della seguita morte D’Innocenzo XIII Conti’.

Two parts:

I. (folio 15 verso).

II. (folio 22 verso).

Addressed against the crimes and plots of two men of the Pope`s court, committed in order to prevent anybody else from meeting his favours.

(iii) ‘Amori e Diffetti Scoperti nelle Dame Romane, 1756’

Three parts:

I. ‘Dialogo trà Pasquino e Marforio’ (folio 34).

II. ‘Dialogo tra Marforio e Pasquino’ (folio 43).

III. Untitled (folio 46 verso).

Gossip about (probably real) Roman women of the time, with marginalia (proper names: folios 46 verso-47, 50 verso) added to the third part by the copyist (author?). `Pasquino` and `Marforio` are the nicknames of two of the so-called `talking statues` of Rome. These statues stood in well-known sites in Rome where, since the early 16th century, late at night, anonymous poems, jokes and satires against the Church and the ruling class were hung, so that everybody could read them in the morning before the police took them away. Sometimes poems hung to the statue nicknamed `Pasquino` (a torso of a male figure, dating from the 3rd century BC, standing at Palazzo Braschi, behind Piazza Navona) were replied by poems hung to the one nicknamed `Marforio` (representing a river or sea god, placed in the courtyard facing the Capitoline Museums). Real dialogues between the two statues could then take place - usually with Marforio asking questions and Pasquino answering. For a discussion of the so-called `pasquinades` - poems and satires hung to roman statues – see ‘Pasquinate Romane del Cinquecento’, a cura di Valerio Marucci, Antonio Marzo e Angelo Romano. Roma: Salerno, 1983 (H4.85.686), and F. Morgan, Roman Pasquinades, London: 1926 (T.8.g). For collections of these kind of satires, cf. ‘Satire di Settano’, and ‘Pasquino. Cinquecento pasquinate’.

(iv) ‘Ritrattazione Fatta da Pasquino di tutto ciò che à detto delle Dame e Semidame nella Satira antecedente’ (folio 53 verso).

Pasquino ironically apologizes to women for what he has said of them in the previous poem, and takes the chance to attack this time clergymen.

(v) ‘Lettera di Monsig. Clarelli già chierico di Camera, scritta in Conclave alii signori Cardinali, 1758’ (folio 62).

Attack against clergymen of the time on the occasion of the conclave for the election of the new Pope (Clement XIII) in 1758.

(vi) ‘Critica alla Lettera Scritta da Monsig. Clarelli’ (folio 66).

Reply to the preceding satire. Marginalia are to be found beside the text, added by the copyist (author?).

(vii) ‘Supplica Data alla Santità di N.ro Sig. Papa Benedetto XIV affine voglia soccorrere Là Regina d`Ungaria dalle armi del Rè di Prussia Suo nemico’ (folio 68).

The author imagines the Pope sending friars as soldiers against the Prussian army.

(viii) ‘II Setaccio. Nel Conclave dell`anno 1758. Per la Seguita Morte di Benedetto XIV Lambertini’ (folio 76 recto).

Satire on the (real) candidates to the papal throne.

(ix) ‘Meditazione Del Sig. Cardinal Passionei. Tratta dal medesimo nel Suo Romitorio de Camaldoli in Frascati nel mese di Mag. 1758. Mentre gli altri SS. Cardinali se ne stavano in Conclave per I`elezione Ponteficia.

Four parts:

I. ‘Satira Prima’ (folio 84).

II. ‘Satira Seconda’ (folio 89).

III. ‘Satira Terza’ (folio 94 verso).

IV. ‘Satira Quarta’ (folio 103).

Satire on the same subject as the previous one. Domenico Passionei (1682-1761) was cardinal and theologian, and librarian of the Holy Roman Church.

(x) ‘Ritrattazione della satira intitolata Meditazione del Cardinal Passionei all`eremo’ (folio 108 verso).

Cardinal Passionei apologizes for having written a satire.

(xi) ‘Medaglie con motti per gli emi. sig. Cardinali nel Conclave 1758’ (folio 119).

Again a satire on the cardinals gathered in conclave for the papal election in 1758.

(xii) ‘Difesa fatta dai Frati per non andare alla guerra contro il Prusso’ (folio 124).

In reference to satire number (vii). The friars suggest that priests should go to the war in their place.

(xiii) ‘Risposta fatta dalli Preti alla Scrittura de Frati’ (folio 132).

Attack led by the priests against the vices of the friars.

(xiv) ‘Caso impensato. Seguito una sera in casa del S. Cav. Coltrolini mentre vi era la conversazione che si teneva dalla sua moglie e cognata figlie del Fiscal Toppi’ (folio 142).

Accident occurred in a private house.