July 1635

[Louis XIV]

The Social Whirlwind by Sieur Matheus Mallette

Last month, the Army's departure for the Summer Campaign taking so many regiments from Paris and the mourning of the Grand Duc of Deols weighed heavily on the Paris social scene. Now the royal court has decamped yet again for the province of Picardy. One can only wonder what draw that remote locale has on his Majesty.

Outside of religious ceremonies, which I shall leave to Bishop Defour, there were only two events in July worthy of mention.

The first week of the month saw a successful Opening night party after a less than successful (according to Mssr. Bushell) performance of Lord Ball’s lastest theatrical piece. The Baron de Torcy hosted his guests, Sieur Bastian with Brigette Bougiedure, and Mdm d’Armagnac at the Fleur de Lys club. Once again, the widow was seen to quaff her thirst in a most prestigious manner but did not provide greater diversion through drunken antics.

In the third week, The Grand Duc de Deols hosted a formal dinner party to commemorate the baptism of his daughter, Mireia, which was attended by Mdm d’Armagnac despite the complete absence of liquid refreshment, as well as Lord Balls, Sieur Bastian, and the sisters-in-law Eloise and Brigette Bougiedure. Christening gifts were provide by Mdm d’Armagnac and the Bougiedures.

Little else occurred other than Lord Balls arriving at the Fleur de Lys expecting some sort of party and Mdm d’Armagnac making up for lost time drinking at her own club, the Rose & Crown.

[Louis XIV]

A Romantic Interlude by Comtessa Yvonne De Villepin

Summer is typically a season when the Ladies of Paris depart for cooler locales, creating a doldrums in the social scene and this year is no exception.

With their husbands of to the front to defend France from the reviled Spanish, Lady Eloise Bougiedure and Mdm Susanna Hoffman were left to their own devices. The latter having recently given birth was seen in public but rarely and never except to attend church. The former however did attend the baptism and christening dinner party for Mireia Legarde de Bearne where all of the ladies fussed over the recently (half-)orphaned child but Eloise was perhaps the most attentive leaving this writer to wonder as to the cause.

Poor Johi Balls was unable to attend any of the social events of the month as she was engaged in performances of her husband’s latest theatrical production.

Brigette Bougiedure project to reconstruct Sieur Bastian continues apace. She was seen being escorted by the soon to been ennobled docteur to church twice this month. The funeral and baptism scheduled by Lord Legarde de Bearne were certainly enticements to attendance but even Bishop Defour is pleased with the results of Brigette’s pious work.

Returning to the Paris scene this month is the widow d’Armagnac who attended the theater in the first week as the guest of Lord Balls and attended both the funeral and baptism events aforementioned before ending her month with a well-behaved drinking spree at the Rose & Crown. I do hope that she finds a suitable gentleman companion before her liver gives out.

[Louis XIV]

Limelight

Hamlicar!

The audience’s general reaction to the latest production at the Theatre Johi is best summed up in my own thought after the performance. What the bloody hell did I just see??? The life of Hamlicar Barca, Carthaginian general and statesmen, is such an obscure topic that I had to consult with General Boulle but when combined with whatever “rhythmic verse” is, ensured that the production was doomed from the opening curtain. I am not normally a proponent of ballet but in this case it would have been easier to follow the plot of Hamlicar! if it have been one. Worst of all, the birds were all trussed up to the chin in their costumes, leaving nothing for a gentleman to admire whilst being completely befuddled by what was occurring on stage. The Baron de Torcy has certainly moved away from his roots.

1/5 - Gerard Bushell


Elsewhere, the King’s Men completed the wildly successful run of the opera Antonio et Cleopatricia.

[Louis XIV]

Financial News by Comte de Money

The crown expedition to the New World returned to the port of Rouen at the beginning of July. It was blessed with fair weather and pirate-free waters. The cargo of pelts, lumber, and minerals a profit of 70% on capital invested.

[Louis XIV]

An Ecumenical Matter by Bishop Henry Defour

A baptism and a funeral. Only a wedding was missing in order to complete the holy trifecta.

The funeral mass for the late Emerlin Legarde de Bearne, Grand Duchess of Deols, presided over by the Cardinal Alphonse Louis de Plessis was magnificent. Much was said of her cardinal virtues as a child of God, a mother, and a wife. The mourners in attendance, including Lady Bougiedure, Lord Balls, Sieur Bastian with Mlle. Bougiedure, Mdm d’Armagnac. Mlle. Bougiedure’s expressions of faith were most fervent and she was very insistent that Sieur Bastian show proper homage to the church during the passing of the collection plate.

The baptism of Lord Legarde de Bearne’s daughter was a more subdued yet equally important event the following week with Lord Balls standing as godfather to the child who was christened Mireia. The on looking crowd was composed of the same contingent from the week before. Sieur Bastian looked especially pain to have to forgo an additional week of wine money in favor of a second donation to the Church. He should feel comfort in the knowledge that salvation knows no price.

[Louis XIV]

The Racing Form by Lancelot Lémieux

Sad news in the racing world this month. Up and coming three-year old Ten of Spades suffered a fracture of the tibia during training in the South of France and had to be put down. The horse was believed by some to be the eventual heir to the most favored horse once Silvermane is retired but it now looks as if the Austrian ambassador’s horse, Morning Blossom, will secure that title, perhaps earlier as opposed to later.

[Louis XIV]

Reports from the Front by General Georges Boulle (rtd.)

Army commanders strive for mediocrity along all of France’s borders. At least the situation has not gotten any worse.


Flanders Frontier

Casualties mount as the Second Army attempted to bring the Spanish to battle in Flanders. Both the Royal North Highlander Brigade and the Picardy Musketeers saw great success but their efforts we ultimately for naught as the French Guard’s position collapsed in the wake of an unexpected flank attack by Spanish cavalry that cost the Brigade Commander (ironically the French Guard commander breveted to the position last month) his life. Also dead on the field is the commander of the Anjou Dragoons. Next month, the Second Army will continue field operations.


Lorraine Frontier

The King’s Cuirassier decisively crushed the Habsburgian forces before them and Brigadier General Bougiedure was eager to follow up on the cavalry regiment’s success but the indolence of the Lorraine Regiment commander foiled his plans and nearly squandered the opportunity. Regardless, the enemy has retired to his garrison and Lord Bougiedure is promoted to Brevet Marshal de Chef.


Savoy Frontier

All quiet on the Savoy Front.



Spanish Frontier

The main Spanish force north of the Pyrenees was almost entirely decimated by coordinated attacks of the 1st and 2nd Brigades of the 1st Division. The Cavalry Brigade continued to harass the retreating enemy to the Castillo de Loarre with Lieutenant Hoffman receiving a mention in dispatches in lieu of promotion. Success was not without sacrifice, however, as the 1st Brigade lost both Colonels commanding the Normandy and Languedoc Regiments.


Next month:

Flanders Frontier HL 10 War Field Ops

Lorraine Frontier HL 1 Peace Garrison

Savoy Frontier HL 2 Garrison Garrison

Spanish Frontier HL 10 War Siege

[Louis XIV]

Court Circular

Lord Bougiedure’s titling ceremony is rescheduled for the Fall Season

August

Location - Tuileries

Week 1 – Travel to Paris
Week 2 – Royal Ball
Week 3 – Royal Ball (Titling Ceremony for Sieur Bastian)
Week 4 – Government