- There were lots of rumors in 1729 that Fritz would be allowed to travel to France and Italy, but nothing came out of it.
- there's a lot about the squashed desertion/rebellion among the Long Fellows in early 1730 and the various gruesome executions; Stratemann being the Pollyanna of envoys, he says later when reporting on SD's bad state during the last months of her pregnancy (remember, that family scene where Wilhelmine gets forgiven by FW etc) that clearly, the Queen is distressed because she was so worried about her husband and son being in danger from those evil conspirators
- actual comment from Fritz on this incident: It is said that the Crown Prince confessed to his confidant, literally: If it was up to me, I'd open all the gates at Potsdam and would announce: now all the scoundrels can go wherever they please and run, honest men could stay, and would be rewarded according to their merits and behavior in the future.
(This reminds me of a famous King Fritz speech just before Leuthen.)
- Stratemann in general reports incidents with members of the army and the staff; in 1728, an unlucky page forgot FW's overcoat and it rained. That guy got beaten. In 1730, one Potsdam Giant committed suicide in the room where the tobacco parliament was held (obviously not while it was in session) by hanging himself, because he had been publically humiliated by his superior officer, and FW was incensed and ordered his body being dragged through the streets and thrown on the dungheap; the guy was born in Tyrol and a Catholic, says our envoy, which makes me conclude he must have been kidnapped.
- in l729, rumor has it the recalled Suhm has ended up at the Fortress Königstein (I've been there, remember the photos), and Stratemann observes philosophically that if true, this would not be surprising, since Suhm was "a creature of Minister Flemming" and when there's a change of minister people often fall; now, Flemming was August's most important minister and majorly responsible of Countess' Cosel's downfall back in the day as he hated her and intrigued against her; the incoming new prime minister was the famous Count Brühl, whose houses Fritz will licence for plunder and whose wife he'll clash with in the 7 Years War
- Dr. Willers, according to Stratemann the guy who taught both Wilhelmine and Fritz in English in preparation for their marriages, is sent away (with honors) from Potsdam in February 1730
- considerate husband FW, when his wife is sick, tells her, sounding a lot like his son later: She should get rid of Dr. Stahlen, he (FW) wanted to be her Medicus; she should not drink so much coffee and drink nothing but hot soup instead, then her illness would pass. The Queen promised to do this and asked for the hot soup; and the following day, her condition improved.
- as reported by Wilhelmine in her memoirs, there's a message from Fritz of Wales swearing his (sight unseen) love for her and that she's the only one for him; both she and Fritz are supposed to stay in England for a year after their marriages and then Fritz gets to travel (again, according to what S has heard about the conditions for the ENglish marriages in 1730)
- Charles Hotham Sr. has a very FW experience: When the King had lunched eight days ago with the English envoy du Bourgue, there was a lot of hard drinking; and since his Majesty emptied a cup toasting the King of England's health directed at the Chevalier Hotham, the envoy demanded an equally large cup and asked for permission to toast his Majesty's health as well; which he put to the test, but holdling and emptying this put even his coworkers on week feet, but he still managed to keep his countenance; though at last his legs could not carry him anymore, and he had to be carried to his coach.
- from our loyal correspondance from Brunswick, more idyllic Hohenzollern family scenes, as the birth of Ferdinand is used by people to petition the King while offering their congratulations: Many petitions are being given to the Queen on this occasion, one of which I want to mention; for the youngest princess, Amalie, had been given by her nurse a memorandum in which she recommended and asked for her husband, who'd been a wine trader and whose trade had been ruined, to be hired by the royal cellar; ; but since the Princess Amalie couldn't quite read out the petition, the Princess Ulrike took it into her hands and adressed the King thusly: My dear Papa! I, too, come in order to ask for a huge favor. Amalie's nurse doesn't have any bread and asks for her husband to be given a lowly emmployment. Princess Amalie, also present, throws herself on the ground before the King and sadly says: "Oh yes! Dear Papa! Bread, bread for my nurse! which the King replies thusly: Don't bother me like this, you shall be granted all and your nurse shall have bread.
- post catastrophe: Löwenör (Strateman's spelling of the name) is in disgrace: The Danish envoy v. Löwenöhr, whom the King used to like always, has not been allowed to come before the King's grace anymore since he supposedly knew of a design il favoured by the King, and didn't report it. Now he lives basically incognito and it is believed he'll soon return again to his sick sovereign.
- Stratemann reports the story of the soldier who lights the candle again for Fritz after extinguishing it according to FW's order in that month of November when he suddenly has all the goods
- in the same entry as he reports the return of Major von Schach from Küstrin, S has heard a rumor about Peter Keith: It is also said: that Lieutenant v. Keit, who'd made himself invisible in Wesel in the month of August and withdrew to Holland and furtherly to England, has become a naturalized citzen there and has been equipped by his Great-British Majesty with a company. I guess this man congratulates himself heartily that he has escaped from a great anger in this country and now finds himself in such happy circumstances.
Re: The Braunschweig Perspective : Rumors, Rumors
- There were lots of rumors in 1729 that Fritz would be allowed to travel to France and Italy, but nothing came out of it.
- there's a lot about the squashed desertion/rebellion among the Long Fellows in early 1730 and the various gruesome executions; Stratemann being the Pollyanna of envoys, he says later when reporting on SD's bad state during the last months of her pregnancy (remember, that family scene where Wilhelmine gets forgiven by FW etc) that clearly, the Queen is distressed because she was so worried about her husband and son being in danger from those evil conspirators
- actual comment from Fritz on this incident:
It is said that the Crown Prince confessed to his confidant, literally: If it was up to me, I'd open all the gates at Potsdam and would announce: now all the scoundrels can go wherever they please and run, honest men could stay, and would be rewarded according to their merits and behavior in the future.
(This reminds me of a famous King Fritz speech just before Leuthen.)
- Stratemann in general reports incidents with members of the army and the staff; in 1728, an unlucky page forgot FW's overcoat and it rained. That guy got beaten. In 1730, one Potsdam Giant committed suicide in the room where the tobacco parliament was held (obviously not while it was in session) by hanging himself, because he had been publically humiliated by his superior officer, and FW was incensed and ordered his body being dragged through the streets and thrown on the dungheap; the guy was born in Tyrol and a Catholic, says our envoy, which makes me conclude he must have been kidnapped.
- in l729, rumor has it the recalled Suhm has ended up at the Fortress Königstein (I've been there, remember the photos), and Stratemann observes philosophically that if true, this would not be surprising, since Suhm was "a creature of Minister Flemming" and when there's a change of minister people often fall; now, Flemming was August's most important minister and majorly responsible of Countess' Cosel's downfall back in the day as he hated her and intrigued against her; the incoming new prime minister was the famous Count Brühl, whose houses Fritz will licence for plunder and whose wife he'll clash with in the 7 Years War
- Dr. Willers, according to Stratemann the guy who taught both Wilhelmine and Fritz in English in preparation for their marriages, is sent away (with honors) from Potsdam in February 1730
- considerate husband FW, when his wife is sick, tells her, sounding a lot like his son later: She should get rid of Dr. Stahlen, he (FW) wanted to be her Medicus; she should not drink so much coffee and drink nothing but hot soup instead, then her illness would pass. The Queen promised to do this and asked for the hot soup; and the following day, her condition improved.
- as reported by Wilhelmine in her memoirs, there's a message from Fritz of Wales swearing his (sight unseen) love for her and that she's the only one for him; both she and Fritz are supposed to stay in England for a year after their marriages and then Fritz gets to travel (again, according to what S has heard about the conditions for the ENglish marriages in 1730)
- Charles Hotham Sr. has a very FW experience: When the King had lunched eight days ago with the English envoy du Bourgue, there was a lot of hard drinking; and since his Majesty emptied a cup toasting the King of England's health directed at the Chevalier Hotham, the envoy demanded an equally large cup and asked for permission to toast his Majesty's health as well; which he put to the test, but holdling and emptying this put even his coworkers on week feet, but he still managed to keep his countenance; though at last his legs could not carry him anymore, and he had to be carried to his coach.
- from our loyal correspondance from Brunswick, more idyllic Hohenzollern family scenes, as the birth of Ferdinand is used by people to petition the King while offering their congratulations: Many petitions are being given to the Queen on this occasion, one of which I want to mention; for the youngest princess, Amalie, had been given by her nurse a memorandum in which she recommended and asked for her husband, who'd been a wine trader and whose trade had been ruined, to be hired by the royal cellar; ; but since the Princess Amalie couldn't quite read out the petition, the Princess Ulrike took it into her hands and adressed the King thusly: My dear Papa! I, too, come in order to ask for a huge favor. Amalie's nurse doesn't have any bread and asks for her husband to be given a lowly emmployment. Princess Amalie, also present, throws herself on the ground before the King and sadly says: "Oh yes! Dear Papa! Bread, bread for my nurse! which the King replies thusly: Don't bother me like this, you shall be granted all and your nurse shall have bread.
- post catastrophe: Löwenör (Strateman's spelling of the name) is in disgrace: The Danish envoy v. Löwenöhr, whom the King used to like always, has not been allowed to come before the King's grace anymore since he supposedly knew of a design il favoured by the King, and didn't report it. Now he lives basically incognito and it is believed he'll soon return again to his sick sovereign.
- Stratemann reports the story of the soldier who lights the candle again for Fritz after extinguishing it according to FW's order in that month of November when he suddenly has all the goods
- in the same entry as he reports the return of Major von Schach from Küstrin, S has heard a rumor about Peter Keith: It is also said: that Lieutenant v. Keit, who'd made himself invisible in Wesel in the month of August and withdrew to Holland and furtherly to England, has become a naturalized citzen there and has been equipped by his Great-British Majesty with a company. I guess this man congratulates himself heartily that he has escaped from a great anger in this country and now finds himself in such happy circumstances.