Esteemed Readers, goods news! We are near the Cape of Good Hope. The weather is changeable, prepare your raincoats & rain boots! 🙂 :
Aboard the Oiseau, 10 May 1685
“A ship! We saw a ship! We are not alone any more! Then we learnt that she encountered only us during her voyage. We glanced at her through a telescope & recognized a pretty small English ship. The crew longed for talking with us but they did not manage to reach our board & we don’t blame them for not wasting their time waiting. It was too windy: it did not allow us to take in a reef our topsail. Solemnity of a rising sea was near us. She was so charming that we enjoyed looking at her. Now we are sailing three lieuës per hour. Within ten-twelve days I shall write you from the Cape of Good Hope. A meeting regarding reasons of conscience has made a world of good. From time to time I wish I could tell you everything said there but then I keep from it. I would not like to talk a streak…”
Aboard the Oiseau, 12 May 1685
“Our good friend the North-East wind has returned back. We are fond of it so much: he has made us to sail about fifteen lieuës; however it is not his land so he departed soon…”
Aboard the Oiseau, 13 May 1685
“I have just told you that the North-East has gone & there is no wind at all. The sky is covered with grey clouds. It rains, thunders, lightnings flash. We see bull’s eyes meaning that a storm is approaching. Our sails are brailed, we are expecting a wind. Today two deckhands have abjured their faith in Calvin. Father de Fontenei has arranged an exhortation for them. They were two last huguenots in our crew. To be honest, they were destined to do that otherwise they would not have set sail with us. They did not argue with considerations of Father Tachart who had found them (for this voyage) while M. the Ambassador served as a good example for them…”
Dieu Vous Ait en Sa Sainte Garde,
Vostre l’Abbé de Choisy ”
Image: Aubusson, tapestry.
Maria KethuProfumo
eternamenta 
I am so glad the two Huguenots abjured their faith in Calvin. We just can’t have Calvinists working on the ship. Had they not renounced Calvin, I would have recommended a nice keelhauling. That would have convinced them for sure. Now I can sleep well at night.
😊😊😊Indeed,dear John! Indeed! 🙂
😊
Abbraccio grande!❤
Ricambio, cara Caterina! 🙂 💖💟
I my goodness! I sincerely hope that the two Huguenots did not renounce their Calvinistic beliefs because they were put off by the notoriously bad weather of our beloved Cape of Good Hope.
😁😁😁 Nay, dear Hester! It was decided long before the Voyage…just the moment was perfect for that. So true! The Cape is near you. I say! Abbé de Choisy sent you his historical greetings.
Thank you for conveying the message 😊
😁😁😁🍨
Vento e tempeste…vita da marinai!
😂😂😂 Che fare, cara Fulviluna! Ma questa è una vita piena di avventure & così romantica!
🙂
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