fund for the release of Major Marsaud

[Renald De La Azur]

Ladies and Gentlemen of Paris,

The brave Major Marsaud has been captured by the Austrians and could be executed, who among the notables of Paris is willing to add to the release fund.

either contact me directly or respond to this post.

Lieutenant Renald de la Azur 

[Father William Souris]

Lieutenant Renald de la Azur,

While govong money to the Austrians might well be considered against the interests of our glorious France, I believe that no amount of money will really help them enough that they will escape our revenge.

I am therefore happy to offer a sum of money to assist. I'm not sure how much you need, nor how many will offer funds. Perhaps 100 Livres would be a reasonable sum from me?

Subaltern Arnold d'Blancheur

[Monique Adelina De'Ath]

Alternatively we could get up a rescue party and break out the good Major from imprisonment. Of course I am not a military man so there would need to be a commander identified to lead the raid but I am happy to assist, perhaps I could record the daring escapade on canvass for future posterity?

Pierre Flump
aka Pierre the Painter

[Dieudonné Lachapelle]

Dear Lieutenant Renald de la Azur,

I would also like to make the offer of putting forward 100 Livres towards a ransom payment. I am not a rich man but it is no more than the good Major Marsaud deserves.

Kind Regards

Father Dieudonné Lachapelle

[gaston]

Mon Cher Renald,

I too will pledge 100 livres to Major Marsaud's ransom fund.  

I hope that a ransom attempt is made before any rescue is attempted.  Given the dangers involved I fear the latter may just result in further loyal Frenchmen languishing in Austrian gaols...

Helen

[Renald De La Azur]

Thank you all for the fine offers, 

we do need a few more offers of the same amount before we can approach the Austrians.

Thank you for the idea Pierre Flump but a rescue attempt would need to be lead from someone in Paris and as Helen said the chances of more Brave Frenchmen in an Austrian Goal is high.

a Donation would be most welcome Pierre Flump.

Lieutenant Renald de la Azur

[Adam de la Bassée]

Lieutenant Renald de la Azur

I am encouraged to see your efforts to gain the release of Major Marsaud has become such a cause celeb!

I may be but a poor Curate but I can not sit idle as a Hero of France is being exposed to such Hasburg "hospitality".

Therefore on behalf of myself and my parishioners pledge the sum of 100 livres to your cause.

May all of France pray to God for the success of your mission.

Curate de La Bassee

[huillaume]

Feb 2, 2020 2:58:13 GMT Adam de la Bassée said:

I may be but a poor Curate but I can not sit idle as a Hero of France is being exposed to such Protestant "hospitality".

OOC: Major Marsaud is being held by the Austrians, and, as Haubsburg they were, they were the "Sole Defenders of the Catholic Faith". So, calling them Protestants would be inaccurate at best...

It was in fact France, despite being Catholic, who sided with the Protestants in the Thirty Years War (other political goals went above religion), thouhg it was some years in the future in game terms (in 1635, IIRC).

[Ymbert Montgomery]

OOC: From TIme of Honour (which is set slightly earlier than us, but a lot of the primary details should be the same).

Austria is ruled by Emperor Rudolf II. Her main aim is to keep the Turks at bay (Vienna was besieged by them in 1529) and regain territories lost to them over the previous century or so. Also, to curb the spread of Protestantism within her borders and in N.Germany. Main conflict of interest with France is over Franche-Comte, which the Austrians want to keep, and Savoy (which they want to keep the French out of and wouldn't mind adding to their own possessions). Friendly with Spain and the Pope. Antagonistic towards Holland, Brandenburg-Prussian and Sweden. Rudolf's younger brother Mathias is very ambitious, and could well cause him problems in the future.

[Monique Adelina De'Ath]

My friends, I have another idea! If a raid to free Major Marsaud is deemed to risky what if we offer a prisoner exchange, or, to be more specific, offer another of our countrymen in his place AND, being even more specific what if that were to be a Priest as the Church would then pay the priest's ransom and none of us would have to spend any money and the good Major and the priest would both be free!

Now all we need do is think of a suitable priest to offer.....if we could just think of one....

Pierre Flump
aka Pierre the Painter

[Father William Souris]

Gentlemen, Lady,

We have 400 pledged plus a collection that will bring 10+. I will round this colection up to 100, if we can get a few more to pledge. We just need two at 100; though those with less coin could pledge 25 at least, surely? Or 50?

Subaltern Arnold d'Blancheur

[Renald De La Azur]

I will put in 200 that will bring it to 700.

Lieutenant Renald de la Azur

[Adam de la Bassée]

(OOC) I stand corrected, I was under the assumption that Austria was still under Lutheran control, I had forgotten the Council of Trent.

[Monique Adelina De'Ath]

My friends,

Just a note of caution. While I appreciate the concern that has been expressed over the current predicament of Major Marsaud, and the accompanying desire and efforts to secure his release, we ought to bear in mind the potential for such a situation to reoccur in the future.

Those brave fellows who seek the life of a soldier do so, or at least ought to, knowing the potential dangers of a military career. These dangers are many, ranging from musket ball, cannonball, blade, disease and capture by the enemy. Amongst the gentlemen of Paris number quite a few within the military so there is a real likelihood others could fall into the clutches of the Austrians, the English, the Spanish etc over the coming months and years with La Voix de Paris regularly finding it's pages graced with the names of such unfortunates.

We civilians, whilst not facing the same degree of danger, have our own daily challenges and pressures through basically providing the bedrock of society but with few willing to muster funds for our rescue should a business fail, an illness take hold, a robbery occur or the shylocks come a calling.

My words are not meant as an affront to the current efforts being made upon the behalf of Major Marsaud, just a 'heads up' that the good Major may be the first of many, though through his misfortune of being the first gentleman of note to have been captured by the enemy he may also benefit from being that same first capture. The collective meagre purses of the good folk of Paris surely cannot stretch to many more such ransoms.

Pierre Flump
aka Pierre the Painter

[Father William Souris]

Friends,

If the funds raised are unneeded, through rejection, then maybe they can be kept as a fund for future cases?

Arnold d'Blancheur
Subaltern, Cardinal's Guard