Historical Characters, Including Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 48

[cahn]

Some awesome historical RPF candyheartsex stories for meeeeee (or by me, in one tiny case) with historical characters! I'm just going to note whom the stories are about here. They are all so good!!

Anne Boleyn/Catherine of Aragorn
Frances Howard and Frances Coke (or: James I's court was basically a HOTBED of scandal, omg)

And two that are also historical RPF but also consistent with the Jude Morgan novel The King's Touch, which is an excellent historical novel narrated by James ("Jemmy") Scott, Duke of Monmouth, Charles II's illegitimate son.

Princess Henrietta of England (Charles II's sister and wife of Philippe I duc d'Orleans)
James of Monmouth/William/Mary

Comments

Re: Hunting Peter Keith: Du Moulin, August 17

[selenak]

You are aweseome, and though Kloosterhuis provided a brief summary of this content, all the details are fascinating. Like Peter posing as a courier en route to England - makes sense - though I have to say the romantic image of Peter asking everywhere for the Comte d'Alberville, i.e. Fritz, only to hear about the ghastly executions of gay men, was rudely tarnished by the fact he sent his lackey doing the asking. At first I thought "did he bring a servant with him from Wesel and if so, what became of the man?Poor guy, being dragged into this lethally dangerous desertion business! Why are we only hearing about him now?", and then, in combination with the subsequent parts, it occured to me that the emphasis shouldn't be put on "lackey" but on "hired", i.e. it's not someone Peter brought with him from Wesel but someone he engaged upon arrival.

Still, it's a reminder of how the nobility lived. Even when escaping. Even the poorer nobility. You don't ask about your dearly beloved, you sent a servant doing the asking!

(Should have known. Even the broke Major Tellheim in Lessing's Minna von Barnhelm has a servant left post 7 Years War!)

That shortly afterwards two of the English Ambassador Chesterfield's kitchen boys had picked up his full boxes and saddles

Also, this. Mildred, not that we needed to disprove the "sauvez-vous!" and Peter going spontanously on the run after being warned by letter story, but this rather confirms your assumption Peter was simply acting according to the plan, which included him having his luggage ready when escaping; he was evidently prepared for that.

In the meantime, most gracious King and Lord, I cannot express enough astonishment at General Keppel's conduct, that he should show so many courtesies to people whom he had never seen other than as a page. Let Your Royal Majesty judge for himself.

Oooohh, someone has a grudge if he wants to make trouble for Keppel with FW. Also, Heinrich, bearing Marwitz in mind, would like to state that being nice to people you've met as pages is only common sense. (And can lead to reunion sex.)

Re: Hunting Peter Keith: Du Moulin, August 17

[mildred_of_midgard]

You are aweseome, and though Kloosterhuis provided a brief summary of this content, all the details are fascinating.

Right? At first I wasn't going to bother, figuring that Kloosterhuis had already gone through these docs and published the Mylius report, but then I started reading/skimming, and I was like, "Wait, Kloosterhuis never told us this! Or this!" And then I had to start a dedicated transcription-and-translation project to share with everyone.

Like Peter posing as a courier en route to England - makes sense

Yeah, I loved this detail. I love that we have all these little glimpses into everyday life of the 18th century, and like a "how to" on escaping from Wesel to England.

though I have to say the romantic image of Peter asking everywhere for the Comte d'Alberville, i.e. Fritz, only to hear about the ghastly executions of gay men, was rudely tarnished by the fact he sent his lackey doing the asking.

Yes! I had the exact same reaction! It's just not the same, Peter. *pout* But he was staying in inns, at least, so there's definitely a chance he heard all the gossip and was like, "Eeep!"

But I also totally get why he's lying low and not asking himself, even beyond class reasons--the guy is cross-eyed, on the run for his life (even if FW hasn't found out yet, he knows FW will), and easy to identify.

the emphasis shouldn't be put on "lackey" but on "hired", i.e. it's not someone Peter brought with him from Wesel but someone he engaged upon arrival.

Yeah, the phrase used over and over is "Lohn Laquai" (variously spelled). It's somebody he paid once he got there, and then that person was available for rehire and questioning by Du Moulin afterwards.

Still, it's a reminder of how the nobility lived. Even when escaping. Even the poorer nobility. You don't ask about your dearly beloved, you sent a servant doing the asking!

Hahaha.

Also, this. Mildred, not that we needed to disprove the "sauvez-vous!" and Peter going spontanously on the run after being warned by letter story, but this rather confirms your assumption Peter was simply acting according to the plan, which included him having his luggage ready when escaping; he was evidently prepared for that.

Yeah, there is just an *abundance* of evidence.

Oooohh, someone has a grudge if he wants to make trouble for Keppel with FW.

Possibly he knows he's failing at his mission and just wants to make sure FW knows that it's not his fault. Whoever else needs to take the fall for this is fine, as long as Bloodthirsty-FW-On-a-Rampage isn't coming after Du Moulin's head.

Also, Heinrich, bearing Marwitz in mind, would like to state that being nice to people you've met as pages is only common sense. (And can lead to reunion sex.)

Keppel/Peter? Could be! :P Those envoys definitely got around.

Also, LOL at the Marwitz comparison.

Re: Hunting Peter Keith: Du Moulin, August 17

[cahn]

(hi everyone! i think i can start doing a little salon from time to time, yay! though probably responding even slower than usual, sorry)

ah this is great!

the romantic image of Peter asking everywhere for the Comte d'Alberville, i.e. Fritz, only to hear about the ghastly executions of gay men, was rudely tarnished by the fact he sent his lackey doing the asking.

hee!

Still, it's a reminder of how the nobility lived. Even when escaping. Even the poorer nobility. You don't ask about your dearly beloved, you sent a servant doing the asking!

i want a servant to ask people things!

Heinrich, bearing Marwitz in mind, would like to state that being nice to people you've met as pages is only common sense. (And can lead to reunion sex.)

loooool!

Re: Hunting Peter Keith: Du Moulin, August 17

[mildred_of_midgard]

i want a servant to ask people things!

So say we all! (You need a servant to type things, but hopefully the splint does the trick!)