Mai ball details announced

Last years ball

Duke Gaston of Anjou, younger brother of his Majesty Louis XIII, has announced details of a mai ball¹. It will be held on le mercredi 1er mai at Bothwell's. All gentleman and ladies can attend on presentation of their invitation which can be obtained on application to the Duke's secretary².

Cardinal Richelieu appointed to the royal council of ministers

Following the dismissal of Marquis of Sillery, his Majesty Louis XIII has appointed Cardinal Richelieu to his council of ministers. Observers believe that his Majesty has been relying on the advice of the Cardinal for many months and expect that the current aggressive foreign policy will continue to be pursued.

Victoria Gainsbourg spurns Roget Thésaurus; seen with Jean Huile

It would seem that Victoria Gainsbourg has a new beau in the shape of Jean Huile. Victoria was won by Jean's attentions while Roget was nowhere to be seen³.

Elsewhere in Paris, Sir Alex Kuzbidon has been seen at the door of Aurélie Pueyrredón but she has not yet seen fit to let him into her home.

Praise from Le Perche du Coudray

Phillipe Lemoine and Sir Alex Kuzbidon have both improved their rapier expertise sufficiently to gain praise from the fencing master, Le Perche du Coudray: I commend both these gentlemen for their dedication to the fine skill of the rapier. I look forward to working further with them.

The Great Egg Race

Monkey stealing one of Guillame's painted eggs

Guillame De Batz and Phillipe Lemoine have continued to provide entertainment and innovation to Parisian society by adapting the La Chasse aux Oeufs⁴. Guillame provided a set of colourfully painted hen eggs while Phillipe went one better by having the master chocolatiers create chocolate eggs. The pair then hid around Le Jardin des Tuileries. Having invited all the fashionable young ladies and their partners to join the hunt after the Easter Service at Notre Dame. Great fun was had by all as they attempted to collect the greatest total of eggs, including finding those hidden in those hard to reach places on the cages of the menageries (some eggs were lost to the cages' inhabitants!)

New boy Lombard Chequers robbed in red light district

Lombard Chequers, the first son of M. Chequers (the noted banker), has had an interesting first month in our fair city. Lombard decided he had to experience the best that Paris has to offer by visiting (repeatedly) the red light district. After complaining about the play at the baccarat tables (Lombard expressed a suspicion about exactly how often the house won the card play by exactly matching his score and hence winning by the house advantage), Lombard was returning home when he was accosted by some masked thieves who then proceeded to abscond with Lombard's stake and winnings for that week. This, combined with Lombard losing streak means that Lombard has lost some of his initial status⁵. Perhaps Lombard needs to learn from Aline Yar and Sir Alex Kuzbidon, who have been able to make monthly visits inside the red light district without getting accosted by ne'er-do-wells.

One hopes that the same run of bad luck does not affect Cochon de Lait, second son of Baron De Lait who arrives in Paris in time for the Mai activities. Our best wishes to both new gentlemen.

Small housewarming party held at Descartes house

Much to the surprise of M. Descartes, a housewarming party was held at his house on 24 avril. M. Descartes was overwhelmed by the visitation by Phillipe Lemoine and Marius Thibodeaux since M. Descartes has been at his current address for several months. It turned out the house being warmed was that of Phillipe Lemoine who was moving into a new property owned by Marius Thibodeaux and the two gentlemen had been shuffled out of the house as their respective young ladies took over the management and preparations of the property.

Outbreak of Dysentery affecting our gentlemen?

An outbreak of dysentery amongst the lower classes seems to have had an effect on a couple of our gentlemen this month. No sign of Côte de Boeuf nor of Roget Thésaurus has been apparent for this past few weeks and their failure to appear has been the cause of some rumours and discussions in the bars and cafés of Paris⁶

Regimental News

Queen's Own Carabineers

Albert Kestrel joins A troop as a private.

Frontier Regiments⁷

The frontier regiments thank Harry Covert and Fourier Transformée for their somewhat surprising decision to remain with the regiments for another season⁸. Fourier continues to serve with the elite Royal Highland Border Regiment. In addition, the frontier regiments welcome Omer Dalors to the frontier for the first time.

Midsummer Masquerade

After the careful preparation and logistics set in train by Albert Kestrel, the Midsummer Masquerade held at the de Gonde estate to the south-west of Paris. Most of the great and the good of Paris attended the event, with some even managing to get into the spirit of the event rather than just hobnob with their better. Phillipe Lemoine (who had arranged the event), Guillame De Batz (who arranged the musicians and entertainment) even managed to convince the normally aloof Sir Alex Kuzbidon to attend the event along with Duke Gaston. All three were companied by the their lady-friends. Marius Thibodeaux was prevailed upon to give a short recital, although he did insist on reciting the melancholy poems from the obscure English poet, John Donne. M. Thibodeaux costume was also one of the more elaborate with a prominent broken heart motif. Also attending the masquerade was Roget Thésaurus and Colonel Henri d'Alembert.

The grounds of the hunting lodge were almost overshadowed by the marquee that had been set up for the festivities and a great time was had by all, even if the event was broken up in the early morning when a herd of wild boar, recently released into the surrounding woods broke into the marquee and started to consume the remains of the feast and charging the musicians! In the resulting fracas many of the attendees received minor injuries. Suggestions of the sounds of laughter from the hunting lodge itself have been denied by the de Gondi family.

Roget Thésaurus/Jean Huile duel quickly over

In the early morning glare of the 25^th of June, Roget Thésaurus and Jean Huile met for their duel under the watchful eye of Albert Kestrel who was acting as Roget's second¹. Both men had selected to fight with Sabres. After formally declining to withdraw either the insult or the challenge both men saluted each other and prepared for the fight. When Albert dropped his handkerchief to signal the start of the duel, Roget immediately took sprang to the attack and struck Jean soundly on his left leg causing a serious injury and deep cut which instantly started to bleed. Jean quickly offered his surrender and this was, as quickly, accepted by Roget². The local surgeon for gardens of the Palais Royale quickly moved in to bind Jean's wounds and, although he is expected to recover, he will have an impressive scar³.

Marius Thibodeaux/Cochon de Lait

As expected, Marius Thibodeaux has challenged Cochon de Lait to a duel for the fourth week of juillet. The challenge was met quite vehemently and definitely and it will be interesting to see how the skilled M. Thibodeaux will approach the duel. M. Thibodeaux has been recently praised by Le Perche du Coudray for dedication to his practice and for being one of the best swordsmen in Paris.

Dispatches from Phillipeville

We now have the reports from the frontier regiments that captured Phillipeville. The commanders of the frontier regiments had called for volunteers to lead a diversionary attack to allow sappers to lay a large bomb at the town gates and our brave gentlemen all volunteered. So, led by Captain Omer Dalors, Harry Covert and Fourier Transformée were part of a team sent to make a noisy attack on the town's water gate. The townsmen had thought that the water gate would be relatively secure since the swamp outside the water gate was also overlooked by the town wall. Indeed as the small team began to set up its light artillery piece (sadly without cannon balls since those cost real money) the townsfolk started to pepper their temporary platform with musket fire. Captain Dalors⁴ maintained order amongst the team and ensured that several large puffs of gun-smoke were seen coming their position despite several shots whizzing over his shoulders. Fourier Transformée was less lucky, but despite the musket ball in his left shoulder he was able to keep passing the charges of gunpowder to the gun crew, even when a couple of the town lads started chucking lighted torches over the wall towards them⁵. Sadly Harry Covert took several musket balls as he provided cover to the team.

Misdirected mail?

The following has been delivered to us by an anonymous contact who says that he bought the poem from a servant of Flora Pernet's household. Quite how the letter ended up there is very unclear as it is obvious that the intended recipient was not Flora, but Émilie Beaufils. That lady, however, denies receiving the poem or its covering letter. We are unable to ascertain the author.

I stand here, that hath been Love's gentle Fool
A sadder, but a wiser man become
And though my tears about me form'd a pool
My much lamenting tongue hath fallen dumb.
Those tears have washed the scales from my eyes
And clearer see I than I did before
And dazzled am I by the bright Sunrise
The pallid moon; a thing that I abhor.
I know that by aspiring to the Sun
I stand the chance, mayhap, of being burned
But faint heart never Phoebus' daughter won
And any scorching shall be gladly earned
And so, sweet Émilie, to thee I'll fly
E'en though this Icarus might fall and die.

Devils target Guillame De Batz?

Mystery still surrounds the house fire that has seriously damaged one of the houses being rented out by Guillame De Batz. Several witness report seeing strange lights in the sky during the evening before the fire and state that they saw a glowing orb descend down from above the house and touch down on the thatched roof of the property. The property was badly damaged in the incident and will need considerable work and repair before it can be rented out again.

Power problems for Aline Yar

Aline Yar was called urgently to his father's mill outside of Paris this month to supervise the repair of the water wheel that powers the mill. As result M. Yar was unable to attend any events in Paris during juin.

Regimental News

13th and 53rd Fusiliers, the 27th Musketeers, the 4th and 69th Arquebusiers

Members of these regiments are reminded that they are required to join their regiments for the summer campaign during juillet, août and septembre

Payment being taken

Ban on sale of offices?

Cardinal Richelieu has proposed to His Majesty's council that the appointment of office holders on payment of an appropriate fee be banned. The Cardinal claims that this will allow more competent office holders to be found and appointed but has not explained how the massive hole in the state finances this would be filled. In addition it is not clear not this would affect the regiments and their officers. The Cardinal has also been unable to explain how these more competent people would be found if they are unable to prove their suitability by the ability to locate and provide considerable funds to the state treasury. The measures are part of a broader set of reforms which have yet to be approved by the council.

Disappearance of Mlle. Transformée

Investigations have begun into the disappearance of Mlle. Transformée from the Bastille prison. She had been detained last year by the previous regime of M. Sillery, but had not been released by Cardinal Richelieu. She had recently been seen by her brother, Fourier Transformée, on his return from the his duties at the frontier in the support of recent assaults on Mariambourg and Phillipeville. Fourier has denied any involvement, citing, as an alibi, his visit to Victoria Gainsbourg. This alibi can be corroborated by Jean Huile who caught Fourier Transformée on the doorstep of Victoria's home and hence has cause to challenge Fourier to a duel¹.

"The consequence of not shifting the leg"

Marius Thibodeaux/Cochon de Lait duel spectacular

The early morning of the 22^nd of juillet, the appointed day for the duel between Marius Thibodeaux and Cochon de Lait, proved to be a dank and rainy morning. Despite this, Cochon de Lait was the first to the site (again the gardens of the Palais Royale) having arranged an early morning call from his regiment and an escort. Marius Thibodeaux arrived shortly afterwards and after the formal rejection of any withdrawal of either insult or challenge the two men prepared to fight. Both men were clearly determined to score on their opponent with Marius perhaps measuring his opoonent's skill to gauge his own attack. However when signal for the start of the duel was given, it appears that Cochon de Lait was unprepared for the immediate attack from Marius whose rapier lunge immediately went under Cochon de Lait's Cutlass blade and deep into the side of Cochon de Lait. With Cochon de Lait immediately offering his surrender and its acceptance honour was satisfied. Flora Pernet rushed to the side of Cochon de Lait to aide the local surgeon.²

de Gonde's Hunting Lodge affected by fire

The hunting grounds near the midsummer ball held last month have suffered from a small forest fire in the early hours of the 29^th of juillet. Luckily the heavy rain that day doused the incipient disaster and prevented the spread of the fire to the new hunting lodge of de Gonde. Witnesses claim the fire started shortly after the full moon has set while other suggest that a barbecue in the forest may have gotten out of trouble after the discovery of the remains of a small pig carcass in the ashes.

Unlucky Marius Thibodeaux

Despite discovering that Mlle. Émilie Beaufils fondness for the dishes and wines served at Lapérouse, he also discovered her allergic reaction to the day's fresh fish dish, freshly caught at Vigneux-sur-Seine. With the meal ruined, Marius was forced to escort Émilie back to her home and then had to travel alone back to his own home.

Le Perche du Coudray Updates

Le Perche du Coudray, the famous fencing master, offers his congratulations to Aline Yar, who has now completed a course of Coudray's rapier training and whose Rapier Expertise is now rated at 9.

Regimental News

Queen's Own Carabiniers

Albert Kestrel is promoted to Subaltern for his excellent military organisational skills.

Royal Marines

We welcome that hero of the Kingdom, Fourier Transformée, to D company as a private.

13^th Fusiliers

We note the late arrival of Captain Delors to lead A troop. His explanation that he was assisting the frontier regiment and the presentation of his mention in dispatch has gone some way to provide amelioration for his tardiness (the error in the janvier 1624 issue of Le Journal has also been noted!). Captain Delors' appearance before the board of inquiry is now scheduled for novembre.

New arrival from London

Earl Lightfoot, father of the newly arrived Henry Lightfoot

We welcome this month Henry Lightfoot, newly arrived from religious persecution in London. Henry's father, Earl Lightfoot was arrested for non-payment of fines for his recusancy. Henry has thrown himself into the maelstrom of Parisian society, albeit during one of the hottest seasons for both the summer temperatures and the attitudes of those below the bottom of the pile¹.

Rioting in quartier rouge

The recent hot weather seemed to have triggered trouble in the poorest district of Paris, Le Quartier Rouge. The cause of the rioting is still very uncertain, with various causes ranging from outrage at poor quality wines being sold to disappearances of some of the inhabitants being suggested. Some of our gentlemen have been caught up in the troubles, with both Aline Yar and Henry Lightfoot reporting that they had been subject of pickpockets in the crowd as they attempted to discreetly leave the area, while Roget Thésaurus claims to have avoided trouble by staying over night.

Formal Challenge

After the physicians at Hôpital de la Charité gave Jean Huile a clean bill of health, Jean Huile has challenged Fourier Transformée to a duel to be resolved during the first week of septembre. As readers will recall M. Huile discovered M. Transformée on the doorstep of his good lady friend, Victoria Gainsbourg during juin. Roget Thésaurus has offered his services as second to Jean Huile.

Relief for rumour mongers

We hear that Auriane Delaunay has been the centre of attention this month with several reports of gentlemen attempting to win her heart this month. However despite the many dinner dates Mlle. Auriane has spurned all comers this month. Perhaps fortunately for both the lady and her gentleman admirers those after her heart chose different weeks to make their attempts and hence avoided giving each other offence.

Meanwhile at the Beaumont household, Albert Kestrel² was seen delivering flowers and making dinner invitations. All perfectly normal one might imagine given M. Kestrel's love affair with the younger sister, Mlle. Élisabeth Beaumont. Rumours from the household suggest that he was visiting the older sister, Mlle. Lesly Beaumont and that he had to make significant amends to his paramour the following week.

Marius Thibodeux has managed to find the perfect recipe for the gourmand, Mlle. Émilie Beaufils, who not only enjoyed the meal, but allowed M. Thibodeux a long and complex evening of entertainment and explanations.

Plays popular, but no one play wins out

With the hot weather driving most daytime activities out of the question, many of our gentlemen were driven to the cooler night time plays at out theatre. However with the wide variety of plays on offer no one play could be described as the most popular. Perhaps in an attempt to resolve this, Guillame de Batz is sponsoring a new play, Les Boutons Manquant whose opening night will be on the autumnal equinox during the third week of septembre. With plenty of opportunity for hobnobbing with other gentry, the opening night promises to be a busy evening³.

Victory at Château de Montaigle

Reports from the front line of the summer campaign report that the main thrust of the war this year was to secure the approaches to the city of Namur. We believe that the main battle was the siege of the old castle ruins at Château de Montaigle which has been taken by our forces. We hope for a more detailed report and for information about Captain Omer Dalors' endeavours next month.

Renovations at Hunter's

The old court billiard court at Hunter's is being relaid at the expense of Phillipe Lemoine. However old hands are outraged at the changes being made with the old turf being replaced with some kind of wood and fabric construction. We'll have to take this indoors to protect it from the autumn storms fumed one old hand. Suggestions from M. Lemoine that that's actually the point didn't go over too well and Phillipe was seen recovering at the banks of the Seine with his usual cronies and friends including Guillame de Batz (when not practising at Le Perche du Coudray), Gisèle Barthélemy and Rene Descartes (who had suggested that the new billiard surface should be marked out with a grid, further outraging the old hands...).

Le Perche du Coudray Updates

Le Perche du Coudray, the famous fencing master, offers his congratulations to Jean Huile and Marius Thibodeux, who have both completed a course of Coudray's rapier training. Jean Huile's Rapier Expertise is now rated at 11, while Marius Thibodeux is now rated at 17.

Regimental News

Colonel of the Royal Marines

General

As a general note, each regiment has an unlimited number of Subaltern positions, six Captaincies, three Majors, one Lieutenant Colonel and one Colonel.

King's Musketeers

We regret that we cannot accept Henry Lightfoot's application to join the regiment at this time. Better luck next month.

Royal Marines

Congratulations to both Cochon de Lait and Fourier Transformée for their promotion to Subaltern. We particularly congratulate Cochon de Lait for the presentation of an engraving of our colonel.

Picardy Musketeers

As we continue to promote those best able to achieve the regiment's aims, we welcome both Jean Huile and Marius Thibodeux of their respective companies (D company for M. Huile, B company for M. Thibodeux).

Les Boutons Manquant a great success!

Backstage at Les Boutons Manquant

Most of Paris was captivated by Guillame De Batz's production of Les Boutons Manquant, a farce set in London and whose plot includes King John, Queen Mathilda, and three courtiers Edmund, Percival and Thomas (together with their long-suffering boy (called Boy to avoid confusion, although the character's ambition is to One day have a name)).

The plot revolves around a bejewelled stud belonging to the Queen but gifted to a young man, Wilhelm, for undisclosed services. However the King is expecting to see the studs at the following night's Grand Ball, so Queen Mathilda tasks the courtiers to retrieve the stud. The courtiers accidentally get Wilhelm arrested as an Austrian spy. It turns out he actually is an Austrian spy, and they manage to retrieve the stud. Boy gets the stud to Queen Mathilda in the ballroom (Your Majesty, you dropped this.) when it turns out that the three don't have invitations. King John is awfully pleased (awfully pleased), and rewards Boy for his... services.

PERCIVAL: Well, it could be worse?

EDMUND: We have an hour to find where the Queen's stud has been hidden by someone who has been mistaken for an Austrian spy. Things could in no way be worse.

BOY [rushing on-stage]: Milord, there's a problem.

EDMUND: I stand corrected.

Attendees at the opening gala included Guillame de Batz (of course), Phillipe Lemoine, a (yet again) bemused descartes, Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Iverson, Sir Henri Boyson (the Commissioner for Public Safety), Marius Thibodeux, Cochon de Lait, Jean Huile and Aline Yar. The appearance of the Commissioner for Public Safety (whose job includes the seeking out of traitors) was a cause for concern for all the other attendees. Rumours suggest he was hunting for information on the whereabouts of the Transformée family.

Promotion for Omer Delors

As a part of the successful Siege at Château de Montaigle, Omer Delors was forced to step into command of his battalion when the major in charge of his battalion was felled by shrapnel from a cannon shot from the Château's defences. Quickly realising the danger posed by simple confusion Captain Delors quickly ordered both his own A company and that of B company to get under the ramparts of the wall to avoid the fire of the cannon. A second quick dash to the already breached main gate of the castle brought the battalion to inside of the gates and acted as a relief to the 2^nd battalion allowing it to head further inside the buildings of the Château. As a part of the gate garrison, Major Delors' stable mysteriously expanded in number to include a total of 3 horses and a large amount of supplies...

Bemused Jean Huile

Jean Huile's duel with Fourier Transformée was a somewhat confused affair after only Jean Huile and the local surgeon for gardens of the Palais Royale turned up at the appointed location and time. The absence of both M. Transformée and the putative second, Roget Thésaurus was a surprise but leads to a victory for Jean Huile¹.

Silk prices soar

A busy milliner

The cost of keeping up with fashion could be about to significantly increase causing consternation amongst the ladies and gentlefolk of Paris. The problem is being put down to a dramatic increase in demand for silk across the whole of Paris causing the price of all clothing and, in particular, dresses. The tailor's guild denies that it has been responsible for the hoarding of the fabric, saying only that several recent commissions have used up almost all of the available fabric. An anonymous gentleman has already been overheard complaining about the demands for new dresses from his erstwhile companions, apparently saying These women are very expensive.....

New Table Billiards proving to be a success

Despite the criticisms of old fogeys at Hunter's, Phillipe Lemoine new sport of table billiards is proving to quite popular. An initial championship contest organised by M. Lemoine covered its costs with Guillame De Batz being the surprised winner after his triple carom after two balls bounced off of the edging used to prevent the balls rolling off of the table was ruled as a valid score by the watching Sir Alex Kuzbidon, who is yet to pass his opinion on the game²

Lucky in love

Gladioli presented by Cochon de Lait

Despite the difficulty of locating new fashionable clothing, Aline Yar appears to have successfully wooed Mlle. Delaunay to his side. The pair were seen at the end of septembre having a convivial tête-à-tête.

Suggestions that some of the other ladies of Paris may have playing the field have been firmly quashed by all concerned, with no untoward activities being noticed. Of course this could just mean that any putative lovers have been suitably discreet about their activities. M. Lightfoot has yet to successfully find a lady of substance who is willing to be seen with him³, could it be that he needs to take lessons from Cochon de Lait whose faithful adherence to floral etiquette is to be commended.

Meanwhile Marius Thibodeux has shown his continued love of poetry. Perhaps this one will convert Mlle. Beaufils to the joys of a good sonnet:

Superfluous physician, go, unpaid!
Apothecary, lock away thy wares,
And surgeon, of your goodness, sheath thy blade;
I have no need of thee to make repairs.
Though lately it were wounded to the quick
A heart shall heal, if time enough elapse.
What once entranced it, seemeth pale and sick;
Dismissed as boyish folly, youth’s mishaps.
Through wiser, older eyes I see the world,
And ‘tis revealed far finer than before.
And thankful tears hath those twin orbs impearled,
For she that hath the kindness to restore.
In gratitude for her benevolence
My loyalty shall be her recompense.

Le Perche du Coudray Updates

Congratulations to Albert Kestrel and Harry Lightfoot who have completed courses in Sabre and Rapier respectively. M. Kestrel's Sabre skill is now rated at 12, while M. Lightfoot's Rapier skill is rated at 10.

Regimental News

13^th Fusiliers

We are pleased to appoint Omer Delors to the rank of Major of the 1^st Battalion in recognition of his actions at the Château de Montaigle. In view of the pending investigation into possible misconduct earlier in the year, that investigation is temporarily suspended. The investigation and the appointment will be reviewed in septembre 1625⁴.