La Gazette 1635: Historical News Today

Esteemed Readers, today our historical news of the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) time is dedicated to a plot against His Holiness Urban VIII (1568-1644). What uneasy times they were!

EXTRAORDINARY NEWS

Punishment of Eight Criminals suspected to have designed to kill the Pope Urban VIII by means of magic:

Paris, 18th of May, 1635:  “Friar Cherubin de Saranni from Ancona aged about 40, a priest of the Order of Friars Minor of Observance, was the head of this infernal plot organized against His Holiness long ago. They were planning to kill him using spells & magic. Friar Diego the Hermit from Palermo who lived in Sicilia made a wax statue, famous for these kinds of worships since domination of Spain. One of co-conspirators, a nephew of Cardinal d’Ascoli named Giacinto Centino d’Ascoli, who belonged to the same Order, wished to worship the Pope Urban VIII this way. However, as it was necessary to sacrifice it to the devil, one of the co-conspirators informed the Inquisition about preparation of such a terrible crime. Immediately all the participants were arrested.  The Cardinal’s nephew was imprisoned in Chasteau d’Ange for a better security. Some months later at 2 o’clock in the morning Friar Cherubin broke walls of the Inquisition prison & escaped vested only in a night robe by means of bedsheets he used as a ladder. He held his gown…& fell down into a hay-loft…A strict edict, signed by the General Sur-Intendant of the Holy State Cardinal Barberini, ordered to discover him upon penalty of death. He promised 500 escus with impunity to the one who would find the Friar & make him leave Rome to return back to the Kingdom of Naples. He (Cherubin) was already at Rieti, in two lieuës from the border, when he decided to cut his way & went to Foligni where he was noticed by a reliable religious woman. Friar Cherubin was captured & together with other co-conspirators spent a year in a prison until Sunday, the 22nd of the previous month, the day of their sentence. After it they were conducted to prisons of Campo di fiore, while the Cardinal’s nephew was decapitated. Fr.Domenico Zampone from the Order of St. Augustin, Flaminio Conforti, Cardinal d’Ascoli’s attorney & agent, were condemned to the galleys for a term of 10 years…”

Vive le Roy!🎉🎉🎉

Maria KethuProfumo

 

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Russian Dance: At The Glade

Esteemed Readers, here is another vivid summer Russian dance performed by the Moiseev Ballet. Enjoy the performance! 🎉🎉🎉😊🍨

Maria KethuProfumo

Louis XIV Asks Riddles V

Esteemed Readers, this time our riddles is dedicated to a way of communication. The text might seem complicated but there are some hints inside there. I remind you that it belongs to the beginning of the 18th century. So, try to make associations with that time:

“You can follow me in two ways: either I gallop gracefully or move swiftly in metal. If I misroute there are five stations that help me to reach the final destination. I obtain a leading place there near fire. Then I become a part of a river which force can be compared with one of a young & bold man. Do search for me, Reader, I will catch you soon”.

REPLY to the Riddle posted on April 25, 2023: MOON

Dear Fulvialuna, Luisa & John, my congratulations! Again you have won the first prize! Hurrah! Have a nice Sunday!🍨🍨🍨🎉🎉🎉😊😊😊

Maria KethuProfumo

Astrological corner. All about stars: Antares

Antares is the brightest star in the constellation of Scorpius. It has a beautiful red spector & can be visible with the naked eye. It is a red supergiant that form a binary system. Its mass is unknown. There is an opinion that it is approximately 12 times that of the Sun.

The modern Astrology calls the star “The Heaven Guardian” as it forms an axis with another star named Aldebaran famous as the axe or fatality or catastrophes. Never the less, in the past, it was called “The heart of Scorpion”. Antares is one of the most ancient known stars, yet the Babylonians called it Gaba Gir Tab (the Breast of the Scorpion). In Mesopotamia, it had various names: Urbat, Bilu-sha-ziri (the Lord of the Seed), Kak-shisa ( the Creator of Prosperity), Dar Lugal (the King), Masu Sar (the Hero and the King), Kakkab Bir (the Vermilion Star). In Persia it was known as Satevis, one of the four Royal stars.The name “the Heart of Scorpion” was invented by the Arabs (Qalb al-‘Aqrab). This version was further translated into Greek & other languages.

Antares is a far star. The distance with the Earth is 554,5 light years. So, it is yet impossible to be reached, however it can be watched in last days of May, while it joints the Sun annually in the end of November.

Astrology regards Antares as a negative star bringing big misfortunes. In the 20th century its energy revealed itself during numerous technogenic catastrophes. This point of view is too radical. Since the time immemorial Antares brought not only destruction but great honours, high spiritual level & glory. This star makes plenty of quests & trials to clear up the human heart, so only few ones can really pass them to know its true bliss.

Happy stellar journey!🎇✨✨☺

Maria KethuProfumo

Vintage Toys V

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Esteemed Readers, here is a new set of toys. 1940s-1950s. Which one do you prefer? 🙂

Maria KethuProfumo

Tico & the Man’s Stories IX: Tico in G Minor

A change did not keep him waiting. The next scale was named G Minor.

‘This is G Minor scale, dear Tico. Look at the sign and remember it well not to mix up with G Major. In fact, examine the scores each time before you are going to perform. It will allow you not to make serious mistakes. Those who listen to you might not pay attention to your bad sound, but your singer’s duty is to do everything properly. If something goes wrong, try to correct it instantly. A good improvisation saves musicians so many times! Now, pay attention to the scale: Sol-La-Si-Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sol. Each key has its own. Learn them by heart! Now, I’m going to play you something in G Minor.’

Frank held his guitar and performed a sad composition that surprised Tico.

‘Oh, it is so sad, Frank! It makes me cry…’

‘This is the character of G Minor. It is relaxing and sorrowful at the same time. Why?’

‘I have always thought that the music means only good, encouraging vibes. When I heard similar dull sounds in our selva I regarded them as a simple noise.’

‘It is not so, dear Tico. Music reflects everything the same way words do. It should not be only happy and cheerful. There are plenty of stunning music pieces composed in G Minor. Listen to this one!’

Frank played something indeed impressive that made Tico very touching.

‘How strange…it is one of the best music I have ever heard!’ said the parrot and tried to make some sounds in G Minor.

To their surprise this key was more suitable for his voice. After several lessons Tico could sing so well that other musicians began visiting their lessons to listen to him. His G Minor was really amazing! Studied all the scales Tico and Frank came to an interesting conclusion: unlike the parrot’s joyful nature, his voice was more suitable for minor keys. When he began singing his voice was transforming into an incredible symphony of the purest intonations that touched listeners’ hearts.

Let’s make Tico & the Man more famous. Please, share this post and the links below for more people to learn about this amazing, kind and talented singer:

Youtube, Official Site, Facebook 

 Maria KethuProfumo in collaboration with Tico & the Man Frank Maglio

Tico & the Man’s Stories VIII: Tico in G Major

When Tico made a good progress in the human language, Frank became teaching him the theory of music.

‘Practice is good but it is never enough. Music is alive, it breathes. So, a good musician must know to move its breath to achieve a complete sounding.’

‘I comprehend…Something similar our Fairy Lady Gina told me,’ replied our hero.

‘Music has its own styles, keys and scales. Today I’m going to show you the G Major. It is an energetic and delightful scale revealing optimistic and cheerful music. Look. Here is its sign. Remember, when you see it sing in G Major.’

‘Could you play me anything?’

‘Of course!’ Frank took the guitar he liked to play whenever his had some spare time and made some tunes.

‘Indeed, the sound is so vigorous! It reminds me of spring in the selva when the whole forest returned back to life after a long period of rains.’

‘Now, try yourself. I would like to hear how much you are tuned.’

Tico got concentrated and made some classic parrot’s sounds, but they made Frank laugh. He did it again, but the conductor liked them neither.

‘Nay, nay, nay, Tico! It won’t do! You sounds too much parrot! Where is your beautiful voice? I want to hear the voice!’ Frank insisted.

Our hero was puzzled. Mr. Tucchini had never explained him anything about shades of musical tones, so he considered to have become a good singer. Oh, what a difficult task it was to repeat the G Major scale after Frank! And what a joy it was for the parrot when he finally managed to subdue this key.

‘Bravo, Tico! Bravo! Good boy!’ exclaimed Frank delighted. ‘That’s another thing! Very well!’

Fairy Lady also rewarded our singer with some wonderful tropical fruits, so he felt very satisfied with himself and ready for a new quest.

Let’s make Tico & the Man more famous. Please, share this post and the links below for more people to learn about this amazing, kind and talented singer:

Youtube, Official Site, Facebook 

 Maria KethuProfumo in collaboration with Tico & the Man Frank Maglio

Voyage de Siam par l’Abbé de Choisy 1685-1686 XXVI

Esteemed Readers, what about a trip to Ceylon? We promise you plenty of bananas, tea & elephants if…the weather is fine. The fate of our voyage stands to be decided…🤨😐😱

Aboard the Oiseau, 25 July 1685

“If you ever travel to the Indies don’t believe long tales you will be told. We were assured that there would be primary winds & calm seas…Nothing of the kind! The sea is rough, waves are short, the vessel does not know how to sail. After the Cape we are rolled almost every day. Winds are very changeable. Our unhappy South-East turned in the East, so we are bound right to the North. If it turned into the North-East for a while, we might disembark & would victual as we are much in need. Today we are 14 degrees to windward from the Coco Island…”

Aboard the Oiseau, 26 July 1685

“The North blew all the night long. It calmed down in the morning. The South-East blew then.

We must ponder well what we are going to do in case if the winds are always opposite. It is very probable. Our solution is to move to Ceylon to spend winter there. We will do it if we don’t cross the strait until the 20th of August. It will be a radical measure: to stay in a godforsaken country without able to do anything for six months, in a lair of the Dutch who will hardly be similar to the gentlemen of the Cape. We have too many sick persons. We are almost out of meat, so there are more to come. Heat is growing. Thanks God, waves are small. Although, if God is merciful, everything might end well. I hope that in about 15 days I will write my Journal from Batavia…And if we arrive in Ceylon in September we shan’t meet any foreigner, all the merchants will sail away. If you have to buy something, you will have to overpay. The whole country will be flooded. There will be no place for walking or haunting. We shall reach Siam only in winter possessing few fruits or none of them. We are winding up our sails to avoid it. The altitude is 12 degrees 40 minutes but we sailed a bit back this morning…”

Aboard the Oiseau, 26 July 1685

“The wind is light. We are looking forward to the next Monday & a New Moon. It will give us some help & a good West might blow. May God watch over us!…”

Dieu Vous Ait en Sa Sainte Garde,

Vostre l’Abbé de Choisy ”

Previous posts of the Voyage (I-XXV) is here.

Image: Tapestry, 17th century, France

Maria KethuProfumo

Russian Orthodox Icons: Our Lady of Live-Giving Spring

Life-Giving Spring is a rare Icon in modern Russian churches. It belongs to the Byzantine tradition & was very popular in the 17th century when Russian icon-painters tried to invent new decorative elements & approaches to make it look more complicated.

Annals tell that April 4, 450 a Roman warrior & the future Emperor Leo met a blind man in a grove outside of the city. He felt pity to a suffering person & helped him to sit down. Then he went to search for a spring to give the man some water. Suddenly he heard a voice who directed him to a sacred well & recommended to place its blanket algae on blind man’s eyes. A miracle happened! The sufferer was cured! The voice belonged to the Virgin Mary who also ordered Leo to build a church near the sacred spring when he would become an Emperor. Everything happened as She said & he fulfilled his mission. The church was called “Life-Giving Spring” while the well cured plenty of people & made a lot of miracles.

The Icon composition is very unusual. It is intense, full of various characters. The goblet with Holy Water, a fountain or a well are accented to underline coming out miracles. It helps to protect dwelling, to restore peace, to cure serious illnesses including cancer, to purify spirit & to improve life.

Life-Giving Spring is celebrated on Friday, during the Easter Week.

Maria KethuProfumo

La Gazette 1635: Historical News Today

Our rival, the Cardinal Infante (1609-1641), deserves our attention, Esteemed Readers, as he represents a stubborn Habsbourg Ligue of the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648). I regard him as a contradictory historical character as being a priest he was a furious warrior & even managed to have a daughter! 🙄Today our extraordinary news is dedicated to him.

Bruxelles, 21st April, 1635: “The Cardinal Infante sent twelve charters of Captains of the German Cavalry to sieur de Cerfontaine, so he would become a Coronel while the rest ones would be distributed at his own will & reward. On the 11th of the current month at 4 o’clock in the morning Sieur de Guyson, the Governor of Hesdin, died because of fever caused by his five day illness. He was 84 years old. On the 16th of the current month the Cardinal Infante set off by water. At 5 o’clock in the afternoon he arrived to Anvers. All the fortresses, including the Head of Flanders, welcomed him. There were three musket volley & three cannonade ones. One punched his vessel’s banner. A bullet was filled with golden paint spreading around. Then he was welcomed by 250 ships hedging the river. All of them made a shot parallel with the citadel he was going to stay after his passing. The Count de la Feire, the fortress Governor, received him. He gave him the keys & accompanied to the castle…The next day, on the 17th of the current month, at half past three the Cardinal Infante entered the town mounted. His horse was dressed in a cloth of chamois velvet, its hoofs were covered with gold. The Prince Thomas was ahead, while four regiments of armed cavalry followed before him & after him. When he arrived to the Hôtel de Ville, he received the keys given by a little beautiful girl who approached him on a triumphal car. Then there was a tour around the town. Most streets were guarded by armed citizens. There were plenty of machines (NB: for feasts), triumphal arcs, paintings & fireworks (around). They were even before the Hôtel de Ville, the College of Fathers Jesuits, the sea square…(Later) the Cardinal Infante was invited to celebrate the feast of St. George to show the local citizens his art of shooting papegaai target…”

Vive le Roy!

Maria KethuProfumo