|
Post by Father William Souris on Oct 29, 2020 17:07:32 GMT
Msr William D'Blancheur, Picardy
Sir,
I write in concern over the well being, and indeed sanity of your son. He has not had his hair curled, not his face shaven, nor his beard trimmed. He wears the same clothing, and barely touches his food. All since his lady rejected his proposal of marriage, and walked out on him!
Although this may seem simply the results of his rejection, there are others in Paris who seem to suffer the same, or worse, madness. Worse, this madness is spreading!
Perhaps it is as well, then, that Mr. Arnold has chosen to ride to Savoy and join the Savoy Border Regiment. I have written and ensured he will command a Company, which I hope will keep him safe. I must now go, as I will accompany him and hope to keep him alive!
Jacob Servant to Arnold, your Son
|
|
|
Post by Father William Souris on Nov 6, 2020 12:57:45 GMT
Father,
Well the Savoyards heard I was coming, clearly! I arrive, command a Company in a small skirmish, and the enemy retire to their fortresses!
So two more months at the frontier.... and ....nothing to but drink! Drink this local swill? No I need to import decent wine, wine that allows me to forget, to allow me to sink into deep oblivion. Wine to keep me from... I forget what. But without the sickness and vomitting that accompanies drinking lesser drinks to excess.
Therefore, please do not forget to send me some cash dear father!
Your desperatly poor son, Arnold
|
|
|
Post by Father William Souris on Nov 17, 2020 7:50:39 GMT
Father,
Well the Savoyards heard I was coming, clearly! This time, though, they prepareed. Over-prepared, and laid in the dirt and muck, and ambushed our approach.
I was lucky to survive. May third best hat was not so lucky....
The rumblings are that the enemy may attack, so we are put on alert, to defend France from their attack. We should crush them, if we can get more troops here. No loot for me, and no promotion. Why am I here... I almost forget, then I wonder why and remember... maybe I should switch from Wine to Brandy.... then I may truyly forget!
Therefore, please do not forget to send me some cash dear father!
Your desperatly poor son, Arnold
|
|
|
Post by Father William Souris on Dec 1, 2020 22:26:48 GMT
Father,
Get the coach, and the family, bring them to Paris!
I cannot give you the news now, as I must wait for it to be announced. But bring your best clothing, or perhaps new, and have mother (and the whole family) do the same!
Oh and bring some cash!
Your desperatly poor son, Arnold
|
|
|
Post by Father William Souris on Dec 16, 2020 16:54:51 GMT
Father,
I hope you, mother and the rest of the family enjoyed your outing to Paris, and could actually see the King and hear him say "arise...sieur d'Blancheur..."
I also hope you like the Barons' daughter, and find her as suited as Sabilina, even though she hails from the Ille d' France and not Picardy. Sabilina has had no luck, her new beau died at the front, but I cannot think of her, now I have the Noble Lady to escort.
Being a Noble is expensive! Having a Noble lady to accompany me in dances is expensve! Being the greatest of France's warrior-heroes is not well rewarded in cash!
Therefore, please do not forget to send me some cash dear father!
Your desperatly poor son, Arnold
|
|
|
Post by Father William Souris on Dec 27, 2020 15:42:27 GMT
Father, Being the gentleman I am, I feel that remaining a mere knight while escorting a Baron's Daughter cannot be right. Also France needs men of quality, heroes to show the enemies of France that they cannot prosper through war. Sadly now it is too late to travel to the frontier!
I am thus off to the Front for June! Sadly the Archbishop decided the Cardinal's Guard were too well dressed to serve at the front, so I stayed in Paris and entered my horse in the race. 12th she came.. Bah! Therefore, please do not forget to send me some cash dear father! Your desperatly poor son, Arnold
|
|
|
Post by Father William Souris on Jan 12, 2021 8:27:16 GMT
Father,
The Lady of Shallott has died. The poor mare, it seems, could not handle the air of Picardy, or perhaps she missed the cramp quarters and company? Or maybe she was mismanaged by the people on my estate. Perhaps you could travel to my Estate, as it is not far for you, and take a look?
Life at the top is hard - and their seems to be some sort of invisible block preventing me from climbing higher. I may call this a Roof, an Invisible Roof? Hmm that seems wrong. Transparent Roof? Whatever! I shall smash it... or die trying! Though I will likely need cash..... to buy a hammer or something...
Therefore, please do not forget to send me some cash dear father!
Your desperatly poor son, Arnold
|
|
|
Post by Father William Souris on Jan 24, 2021 23:12:53 GMT
Father,
I am in love! Murieldis Lefrancois is my heart's desire and I am determined that we shall be married!
How will I keep her in the style she deserves, I can all but hear you ask. Well, I am now Captain of the Cardinal's Guard, and I have debts to match. Yet as Captain I am sure I shall be able to make progression into the Upper Echelons of Paris (indeed French) Society!
The wedding and the life after shall no doubt both be expensive!
Therefore, please do not forget to send me some cash dear father!
Your desperatly poor son, Arnold
|
|
|
Post by Father William Souris on Feb 23, 2021 8:41:47 GMT
Father,
It was good to see you, and indeed the whole family, at the wedding. The gifts I received ranged from an intriguing item - a pen that does not need to be dipped in ink to write. Indeed I am using it even now. What will they think of next? I mean this saves me minutes for every letter... although perhaps a secretary would save me even more time. It is called a Fountain Pen, and indeed when I first used it I managed to squirt ink over the desk, just like a fountain sending water into the basin. Is there no end to the ingenuity of man?
At the other extreme some most colourful curtains, that are ideally suited to my Estate. Indeed Mureldis is even now packing them to take to our Estate, to have them fitted. She will also formally take over management thereof, and I believe she may have to make some changes. For some months now she has taken the burden of the Administration, but using the organizational structure I had established, in a bit of a rush. Once she has made the changes, I think their may be a slight improvement in the value of that estate. Although I'm not sure how long she shall stay there, hopefully a short visit only.
What else.. well a Silver Mirror... decorated with a floral motif, also destined for my estate, and my ladies dressing room. Also for her, a gorgeous elegant ball gown in the latest dutch fashion!
Beyond that two, yes two, Rapiers! One is ceremonial, and comes with a decorated baldric, that will look fine when I attend court. The other with a matching main-gauche. This latter is made of Toledo steel, I think, and is a dangerous weapon for dueling or war, though maybe too valuable to risk. Is there some hint, here, that I should fight more duels? Ha! Duels do no good for France!
I really am lucky, my wife shall run my estate, and her dancing and etiquette has already improved my own, and covered for my failings.
Life has changed all of a sudden, and I am unsure how to progress in society. I am packing to travel to do a tour of my Estate, but with half an eye to possibly taking the Cardinal's Guard to the front. Decisions Decisions.
Money shall be more important than ever!
Therefore, please do not forget to send me some cash dear father!
Your desperatly poor son, Arnold
|
|
|
Post by Father William Souris on Mar 30, 2021 14:53:26 GMT
Father,
It was good to see you, mama, and the whole family when we visited in September, and so good of you to make Mureldis so welcome, and I hope you enjoyed your visit to my Estate.
As Governor I shall be visiting Picardy quite frequently, and my duties are made easier by the chance to visit family and old neighbours, and the like.
Mother will likely be relieved that my plans to take the Cardinal's Guard to the front have been delayed, with my duties as Governor. Although should France need me to serve there, I shall of course be ready. For now I serve as Governor, an arduous task in many ways but somewhat less dangerous than warfare, at least to life and limb.
Attempts by the 'other regiment' to drain the joy from my wedding, by besmirching my honour, have failed. The courts seem to have no idea of Honour, nor of the damage a trial does to the victim who is supposedly being protected. They found the culprit guilty, though only of one charges and the sentence was extremely lenient. In the end it may have been better to ignore the fool, rather than give him a platform to spread his lies, but it was never my decision. In the end it seems he was defeated by his own convoluted machinations ... unless something more sinister is involved. I will have to leave this in the hands of the Paris Guard and CPS though.
In short, do not worry over me. But please do not forget to send me some cash dear father!
Your desperatly poor son, Arnold
|
|
|
Post by Father William Souris on Apr 14, 2021 8:33:06 GMT
Oct 1632 Father,
My social climb has to halt, for lack of the funds to spend on great parties, as well as the lack of the socially acceptable to invite to such an event. Scorn has been poured upon me for inviting newcomers to Paris with no established position.
I'm now unsure if I should spend time commanding the Guard, or governing Picardy. I shall divide my time, as best I may, which will include more trips to Picardy so you will see more of me than has been the case. Indeed with me spending so much time there in the last few months, and in upcoming months, you may find yourself sick of my presence.
The more money I can gather, the sooner this shall be the case.
Therefore, please do not forget to send me some cash dear father!
Your desperately poor son, Arnold
|
|
|
Post by Father William Souris on Apr 29, 2021 9:15:29 GMT
Nov 1632 Father,
Busy, busy busy. Yes I have been busy. Mureldis has been a little moody, and I have taken every chance to get out and to work. Three weeks service defending the wonderful Cardinal.
Not the most exciting of work, as I try not to listen to the whispers and rumours. Mureldis then asks me how my day went, and I have to tell her that there's no gossip, which does not please her. Then again, even if I did hear of anything of note, I could never tell anyone.
Though the duty has little to commend it, normally, I have been awarded a promotion. I am now a Brevetted Brigadier! So I could command a Brigade. I may have to investigate that more, as the rules on command are complex. An officer of the Infantry may command Infantry, of Cavalry - yes you guessed it Cavalry. Yet a Guards Captain... what may he command? Maybe I should find an Aide, and get him to look into it, though technically, and you may not understand the subtlety, being not a military man, that should be an Adjutant.
Anyway, Mureldis was pleased with the promotion, and begged me not to go on campaign. I pointed out that if I did I would lose my Governor post, and she seemed happier. Then she began talking about getting a bigger place!
Therefore, please do not forget to send me some cash dear father!
Your desperately poor son, Arnold
|
|
|
Post by Father William Souris on May 12, 2021 15:22:50 GMT
Father,
Just a quick note to say you will, in a few months, with gods grace, become a grandfather!
For now it is not public knowledge, as it is as yet early days. Murieldis has been sick in the mornings and quite difficult to live with, and I was insisting on getting a doctor when she told me. She has arranged a doctor, so we hope for the best!
Children are, I hear, expensive!
Therefore, please do not forget to send me some cash dear father!
Your desperately poor son, Arnold
|
|
|
Post by Father William Souris on Jun 4, 2021 14:53:21 GMT
Father,
Murieldis is suffering from sickness every morning, though the doctor tells me this is a good sign, and that the child is going to be a big healthy child. Though I am not sure when it is due, as yet.
So, I keep busy and Murieldis cannot get out to attend the balls.
Children are, I hear, expensive!
Therefore, please do not forget to send me some cash dear father!
Your desperately poor son, Arnold
|
|
|
Post by Father William Souris on Jul 3, 2021 13:57:02 GMT
22 Mar 1633
Father,
I have dire news. I hope you are sitting down as you read this.
Murieldis has died while giving birth to our daughter. I know you will forgive my brevity in consequence.
I will come to see you and the family as soon as I can arrange things. A wet nurse is first priority, then baptism and a funeral for Murieldis. So some time in April!
Children are, I hear, expensive!
Therefore, please do not forget to send me some cash dear father!
Your desperately poor, and sad, son, Arnold
|
|