Post by A Senor from Spain on Sept 4, 2023 12:17:30 GMT
The Fortress of Pamplona, Navarre, Northern Spain.
Inside the fort a group of military officers stand gathered around a large table, at the head of which, seated in an impressively comfortable looking chair, is a man wearing the fine uniform of a Spanish General.
"So, gentlemen, what news do we have from the latest operational reports? Major Gonzales, any updates regarding those English swine"?
"None General, in fact it's all relatively quiet on that front. Likewise, too, with the Dutch and the Brandenburgers".
"Well, that makes a change eh, about time they started showing us Spaniards a little more respect, damned Protestant heathens"!
"Absolutely, Sir and I was only just saying to"....the proceedings are suddenly interrupted by a loud knock upon the door to the briefing room where the men are meeting. A smartly dressed Orderly enters...
"Yes Captain", barks the General, "Can't you see we're busy"?
"Yes, sorry Sir, and excuse me but the guards are reporting that there's a man demanding to see you, claims it's very urgent. The duty Sergeant says he's ranting on about traitors and how dare they have had him arrested, him being the premier physician and most popular man in France?! Apparently he's travelled all the way from Burgundy, hidden in the back of a true patriot's haycart"!
"What? Well who is he? What's a Frenchman doing here"?
"We're not quite sure General. To be honest he doesn't look much like a physician, in fact he looks like he's seen better days, all his clothes are torn and tatty, covered in mud & straw and he seemingly hasn't either washed or shaved for several weeks.....big fellow though, judging by the muscles on him he'd not lose many arm wrestling contests!
However he did give us this letter, which he said explains everything. Apologies for the state of it but he said he'd been concealing it somewhere 'safe'. You might want to pop on some gloves General and perhaps cover your nose with a handkerchief, just to be on the safe side"!
"By the holy saints, you're not kidding Captain....damned things covered in mud...no...hang on...oh, sweet Mother Mary that's not mud....for God's sake Captain you read it"!!
"Errr, right you are General....cough...retch...."The bearer of this letter is to be given all due protection and assistance as an agent of His Majesty, King Philip IV, by the grace of God, King of Spain, Both the Sicilies, Jerusalem, the Indies, etc. Any Officers or Officials of His Majesty are hereby ordered to ensure the Agent known as 'El Buey' is escorted safely to Madrid and the Offices of the Royal Intelligence Service".
"Well, well this is a surprise gentlemen, makes a difference to our normal routine along the border".
"Excuse me, General, there is just a couple more things. Apparently he was asking who is our Commissioner of Public Safety and if he's any good? He's also been asking if any of the Officers are interested in free medical care for life and something about future immunity from prosecution once he's put alternative Plan B2 into effect......."
Inside the fort a group of military officers stand gathered around a large table, at the head of which, seated in an impressively comfortable looking chair, is a man wearing the fine uniform of a Spanish General.
"So, gentlemen, what news do we have from the latest operational reports? Major Gonzales, any updates regarding those English swine"?
"None General, in fact it's all relatively quiet on that front. Likewise, too, with the Dutch and the Brandenburgers".
"Well, that makes a change eh, about time they started showing us Spaniards a little more respect, damned Protestant heathens"!
"Absolutely, Sir and I was only just saying to"....the proceedings are suddenly interrupted by a loud knock upon the door to the briefing room where the men are meeting. A smartly dressed Orderly enters...
"Yes Captain", barks the General, "Can't you see we're busy"?
"Yes, sorry Sir, and excuse me but the guards are reporting that there's a man demanding to see you, claims it's very urgent. The duty Sergeant says he's ranting on about traitors and how dare they have had him arrested, him being the premier physician and most popular man in France?! Apparently he's travelled all the way from Burgundy, hidden in the back of a true patriot's haycart"!
"What? Well who is he? What's a Frenchman doing here"?
"We're not quite sure General. To be honest he doesn't look much like a physician, in fact he looks like he's seen better days, all his clothes are torn and tatty, covered in mud & straw and he seemingly hasn't either washed or shaved for several weeks.....big fellow though, judging by the muscles on him he'd not lose many arm wrestling contests!
However he did give us this letter, which he said explains everything. Apologies for the state of it but he said he'd been concealing it somewhere 'safe'. You might want to pop on some gloves General and perhaps cover your nose with a handkerchief, just to be on the safe side"!
"By the holy saints, you're not kidding Captain....damned things covered in mud...no...hang on...oh, sweet Mother Mary that's not mud....for God's sake Captain you read it"!!
"Errr, right you are General....cough...retch...."The bearer of this letter is to be given all due protection and assistance as an agent of His Majesty, King Philip IV, by the grace of God, King of Spain, Both the Sicilies, Jerusalem, the Indies, etc. Any Officers or Officials of His Majesty are hereby ordered to ensure the Agent known as 'El Buey' is escorted safely to Madrid and the Offices of the Royal Intelligence Service".
"Well, well this is a surprise gentlemen, makes a difference to our normal routine along the border".
"Excuse me, General, there is just a couple more things. Apparently he was asking who is our Commissioner of Public Safety and if he's any good? He's also been asking if any of the Officers are interested in free medical care for life and something about future immunity from prosecution once he's put alternative Plan B2 into effect......."