Förster is a terrific find on your part. And also has several FW letters to Fritz I've been meaning to quote you from.
Preuss Addendum: lots of FW letters re: Fritz in Küstrin, for starters, and also, twice, in September the orders to have poor Doris whipped and "eternally" put in the workhouse. Of interest for fanfiction details: Fritz this early does get a servant, but that guy, not named, is supposed to sleep in town, not in the fortress with Fritz. Given the order is also saying Fritz isn't allowed to correspond yet, or to leave the chamber that serves as his cell, and gets his food the already described way, I wonder what the servant is supposed to do for him? Shave him and cut his hair? *reads further, reaches the Manual FW gives to Lepell* Oh, and clean him & carry his waste products out of the room, right.
There is an extra letter saying "no flutes!" (as in, not the one Fritz had, nor any new ones allowed to be given to him), dated September 8th.
Lepell asks whether Fritz is allowed to get a fork and knives for his food. He isn't. It's supposed to be cut for him before being given to him.
Several letters because FW wants to know exactly where Fritz got his money from and how much debts, since ever new ones are coming to light.
The physical description in the letter to Deggendorff of Peter Keith, which you already know. (Cahn, medium height, pale, thin body, bown hair, cross-eyed. Our Lehndorff also notes the cross eyedness, but adds Peter is good looking, which FW for some reason does not Mention. The reason being only medium height.)
FW seems to be getting the impression Lepell feels somewhat sorry for his prisoner and writes that what Fritz had been attempting was no spontanous "tour de Jeunesse" (he uses the French expression) but a premeditated Enterprise he's evidently been planning for years.
The order to give Fritz a crash course in Prussian economics is from August 1731.
The first letter Preuss has from Fritz to FW from Küstrin is May 1731 (thanks for the Prayer books, I'll be good), FW dictates reply saying essentially "Got your letter, must point out that I tried to make you into a good Christian all my life, but you didn't listen, and even when caught, you still kept lying, you are a false liar to the core and I can only hope that your false heart is now cleansed. We'll see.
Undated letter from FW to MT's Dad, saying, paraphrased,
Dear Emperor,
thanks for dissuading me from killing my son. Woe is me. I tried and tried and tried, and that's what I got. I'm sure you relate. May our families be bffs forever more, your loyal subject, FW.
In August 1731, Wolden - I think one of the FW installed household guys, yes? - assures FW Fritz is absolutely docile now and has learned his lesson. He's sending the "Puncta", uses the Latin word, which "unfortunate Katte" has left (to Fritz? That's the implication I get) via Pastor Müller before his execution and is sure FW will approve of them, and may Fritz never forget them, but he's good now, it's all good now. Can we possibly get some wine for dinner again?
Fritz writes a letter making a suggestion of building and re-foresting something that has been destroyed by fire in Küstrin, and some other matter of factual things, along with expressions of submission and devotion. This impresses FW, who now adresses him as "my dear son" in the replying letter, and adds some useful agrarian tips. At this point, Fritz has the expressed permission to go hunting, and make town visits, but must always be back at night and must not stay overnight anywhere else.
Fritz, sure that he's found the winning formula, in subsequent letters adds more economic and infra structure ideas and reports he's used his new (still limited, but far less so) freedom of movement to go hunting, and also he hopes his father will allow him to wear "the blue cloth" (i.e. the Prussian uniform) again.
By December 1731, it's not only "my dear son" but "your father who loves you from all his heart" (and is delighted as the success of his reforming Fritz project).
The last letter refers to EC as Fritz' bride. I note that the 1732 letters are mostly on things future King Fritz is proving himself with, whereas Förster also has FW-Fritz correspondance from that year but not the same. Förster has a FW to Fritz letter from February 1732, and the tone sounds eeerily familiar if you've read Fritz' letters to his brothers. Also, FW keeps switching between "Du" and "Ihr" in this one, too. (And yes, FW writes "Fritz", not "Friedrich").
My dear son Fritz,
I am very happy that you don't need medicine anymore. But you must still take care of yourself in this great cold which has inconvencienced me and so many others with the flu, so be cautious. You know, my dear son, that I love my children dearly when they are obedient, as you all were in Berlin, that I have forgiven you everything with all my heart, and that I have thought of little else in Berlin than of your welfare, to establish you with the army and to provide you with a decent daughter-in-law, as I seek to marry you within my lifetime. You may well be persuaded, for I have investigated all the princesses of the land in regards of their education and behaviour, and have found a princess, the oldest from Bevern, who has been well raised, modest and humble, as women should be. (...) The princess isn't ugly, nor is she beautiful; you're not to tell anyone, but you may write to your Mama - FW does not write "mother", i.e. Mutter, he writes "Mama" - that I have written to you, and if you get a son, I will let you travel abroad. The wedding can't happen before the coming winter, but there will be multiple times during which you can meet her in all honor and get to know her somewhat. She is a pious person, and this is all very well with you and with the parents-in-law, and may God give you his blessing, and to your successor, and keep you as a good Christian, and always look to God, and do not follow the cursed predestination doctrine, but be obedient and loyal, and then you will fare well here on earth and eternally there, and he who wishes this should say amen. Your faithful father until his death, Fr. Wilhelm. If the Duke of Lorraine visits, I will let you come here. I believe your bride will come here then, too.
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Re: A Katte Related Correspondance, or: No Mercy Like Hohenzollern Mercy
Date: 2020-02-04 02:12 pm (UTC)Preuss Addendum: lots of FW letters re: Fritz in Küstrin, for starters, and also, twice, in September the orders to have poor Doris whipped and "eternally" put in the workhouse. Of interest for fanfiction details: Fritz this early does get a servant, but that guy, not named, is supposed to sleep in town, not in the fortress with Fritz. Given the order is also saying Fritz isn't allowed to correspond yet, or to leave the chamber that serves as his cell, and gets his food the already described way, I wonder what the servant is supposed to do for him? Shave him and cut his hair? *reads further, reaches the Manual FW gives to Lepell* Oh, and clean him & carry his waste products out of the room, right.
There is an extra letter saying "no flutes!" (as in, not the one Fritz had, nor any new ones allowed to be given to him), dated September 8th.
Lepell asks whether Fritz is allowed to get a fork and knives for his food. He isn't. It's supposed to be cut for him before being given to him.
Several letters because FW wants to know exactly where Fritz got his money from and how much debts, since ever new ones are coming to light.
The physical description in the letter to Deggendorff of Peter Keith, which you already know. (Cahn, medium height, pale, thin body, bown hair, cross-eyed. Our Lehndorff also notes the cross eyedness, but adds Peter is good looking, which FW for some reason does not Mention. The reason being only medium height.)
FW seems to be getting the impression Lepell feels somewhat sorry for his prisoner and writes that what Fritz had been attempting was no spontanous "tour de Jeunesse" (he uses the French expression) but a premeditated Enterprise he's evidently been planning for years.
The order to give Fritz a crash course in Prussian economics is from August 1731.
The first letter Preuss has from Fritz to FW from Küstrin is May 1731 (thanks for the Prayer books, I'll be good), FW dictates reply saying essentially "Got your letter, must point out that I tried to make you into a good Christian all my life, but you didn't listen, and even when caught, you still kept lying, you are a false liar to the core and I can only hope that your false heart is now cleansed. We'll see.
Undated letter from FW to MT's Dad, saying, paraphrased,
Dear Emperor,
thanks for dissuading me from killing my son. Woe is me. I tried and tried and tried, and that's what I got. I'm sure you relate. May our families be bffs forever more, your loyal subject, FW.
In August 1731, Wolden - I think one of the FW installed household guys, yes? - assures FW Fritz is absolutely docile now and has learned his lesson. He's sending the "Puncta", uses the Latin word, which "unfortunate Katte" has left (to Fritz? That's the implication I get) via Pastor Müller before his execution and is sure FW will approve of them, and may Fritz never forget them, but he's good now, it's all good now. Can we possibly get some wine for dinner again?
Fritz writes a letter making a suggestion of building and re-foresting something that has been destroyed by fire in Küstrin, and some other matter of factual things, along with expressions of submission and devotion. This impresses FW, who now adresses him as "my dear son" in the replying letter, and adds some useful agrarian tips. At this point, Fritz has the expressed permission to go hunting, and make town visits, but must always be back at night and must not stay overnight anywhere else.
Fritz, sure that he's found the winning formula, in subsequent letters adds more economic and infra structure ideas and reports he's used his new (still limited, but far less so) freedom of movement to go hunting, and also he hopes his father will allow him to wear "the blue cloth" (i.e. the Prussian uniform) again.
By December 1731, it's not only "my dear son" but "your father who loves you from all his heart" (and is delighted as the success of his reforming Fritz project).
The last letter refers to EC as Fritz' bride. I note that the 1732 letters are mostly on things future King Fritz is proving himself with, whereas Förster also has FW-Fritz correspondance from that year but not the same. Förster has a FW to Fritz letter from February 1732, and the tone sounds eeerily familiar if you've read Fritz' letters to his brothers. Also, FW keeps switching between "Du" and "Ihr" in this one, too. (And yes, FW writes "Fritz", not "Friedrich").
My dear son Fritz,
I am very happy that you don't need medicine anymore. But you must still take care of yourself in this great cold which has inconvencienced me and so many others with the flu, so be cautious. You know, my dear son, that I love my children dearly when they are obedient, as you all were in Berlin, that I have forgiven you everything with all my heart, and that I have thought of little else in Berlin than of your welfare, to establish you with the army and to provide you with a decent daughter-in-law, as I seek to marry you within my lifetime. You may well be persuaded, for I have investigated all the princesses of the land in regards of their education and behaviour, and have found a princess, the oldest from Bevern, who has been well raised, modest and humble, as women should be. (...) The princess isn't ugly, nor is she beautiful; you're not to tell anyone, but you may write to your Mama - FW does not write "mother", i.e. Mutter, he writes "Mama" - that I have written to you, and if you get a son, I will let you travel abroad. The wedding can't happen before the coming winter, but there will be multiple times during which you can meet her in all honor and get to know her somewhat. She is a pious person, and this is all very well with you and with the parents-in-law, and may God give you his blessing, and to your successor, and keep you as a good Christian, and always look to God, and do not follow the cursed predestination doctrine, but be obedient and loyal, and then you will fare well here on earth and eternally there, and he who wishes this should say amen. Your faithful father until his death, Fr. Wilhelm.
If the Duke of Lorraine visits, I will let you come here. I believe your bride will come here then, too.