Les Petites Bêtes Soyeuses

Being a correspondence game of En Garde! run by Pevans since April 1986 and now published as part of To Win Just Once.

If you'd like to play, you'll need to subscribe to TWJO (follow the link for details). You will need a copy of the rules to En Garde! - or at least access to a copy. The additional rules for LPBS are available as a PDF document. (You will need Adobe Reader to view this: it is available free from Adobe.)

Orders for August 1677 to LPBS, 180 Aylsham Drive, Uxbridge UB10 8UF or the LPBS orders e-mail address by 27th April 2026.

Game Report for July 1677

Sections: Duels, Trials, Appointments and Regiments, What happened in Paris, What happened at the front.

Amongst the few socialites still in Paris, Jean-Jules de Gantès re-applies to the regiments that turned him down last month: RFG, CG, KM and RM. Once again Camille de Polignac, Frank X Change, Claude de Nord and Marcel Hatch Dupree turn him down.

Papier Marchee, on the other hand, is accepted when he applies to join the Picardy Musketeers again. He then discovers that the highest rank his social standing will permit (regardless of finances) is Subaltern. Hey ho, he packs his nice new uniform and sets off to join the regiment.

Holy Romans!

While negotiations continue with the Dutch and English in Nijmegen, First Army continues to press the Imperials in Alsace while Third defends the fortresses in the Spanish Netherlands. Under General Greg de Bécqueur, First Army pushes the enemy force away from the Rhine, which they rely on for supply. As Army commander Greg is preoccupied with the big picture, but has time to add a few hundred crowns to his loot.

Lieutenant-General Zeold von Tu, leading First Division, has his rank made permanent and picks up a few goodies. There's twice as much booty for Divisional Adjutant Martin de Garnache.

Already brevetted to Lt-General, Guards Brigadier Terence Cuckpowder is Mentioned in Despatches for the Brigade's sterling work ("Sterling work"). His looting brings in a few hundred crowns. The same amount is collected by Brigade Major Hector William Boone, who is also Mentioned ("Sterling admin").

All three Guards regiments get in on the action with Royal Foot Guards commander Camille de Polignac gaining two MiDs and exactly 500 crowns' worth of plunder. Plus the title of Viscount. Captain Felipe Savant loots the same amount. But Major Neville Moore gets a hundred less.

Frank X Change leads the Cardinal's Guard and finds easy pickings as they seize bridges across the Rhine: a thousand crowns' worth. There's a Mention in Despatches to go with that ("Plenty of cash there"). Lt-Colonel Come Asiouar gets slightly less - in both departments.

The King's Musketeers follow up, but there's not much for CO Claude de Nord: less than 500 crowns. While Major Hugo Serre gets close to a thousand for his efforts.

The Dragoons support the advancing infantry and their Brigadier, Charles PiedLuminaire, survives happily. Lt-Colonel Elroi le Flingue is acting commander of Grand Duke Max's and survives too. There's a Mention in Despatches for Major Steve De Sade while Subaltern Ignace Pardaillon's close encounter with a musketball wins the regiment's "near-death" sweepstake - a few hundred crowns.

The Cavalry Division chases the retreating Imperials who deploy their own cavalry to stop them outside Offenburg. The battle is inconclusive, but the Imperials continue to retreat, now cut off from their supply routes.

Horse Guards Brigadier Balzac Slapdash is acting Division commander and gains a promotion (to full Brigadier-General) and a Mention that brings the title of Viscount. Trophies from the Imperial horsemen earn him almost a thousand crowns. Divisional Adjutant Botte Le Chimiste supports his new boss and gets an equal amount of loot, along with promotion (to brevet Bdr-Gen).

Justin Thyme of the Queen's Own is acting Horse Guards Brigadier, which is worth a Mention in Despatches ("He's acting up") and a little booty. His Lt-Col, Con Stantinople, is Brigade Major and also Mentioned ("Another Carabinier"). The final MiD ("More acting up") is for Major Ian Dediette, who's leading the QOCs.

Slapdash's promotion opens up the way for "Tiny" Thierry Toothpick to become Colonel of the Dragoon Guards. This is worth a Mention in the Despatches ("He may not be CPS any more, but at least he's Colonel"). Thierry pockets close to five hundred crowns' worth of loot. Major Maurice Danseur can only manage a couple of hundred crowns' worth.

Archduke Leopold's boys lead the way in the Heavy Brigade with their commander, Hugh Jeneaux, being Mentioned ("Fine work") and becoming an Earl. He turns down the opportunity to become Brigadier - well, he is Chancellor of the Exchequer - and grabs the classic five hundred crowns' worth of loot. Hence François de Blanchefort, commander of the Crown Prince's, gets the Brigadier job, despite his regiment not doing as well (it's as if the enemy can spot them coming). He is in the Despatches ("Second choice as Brigadier") and collects a couple of hundred crowns' worth of booty. There's a token MiD for Lt-Col Arent Hayes ("Hayes was there") and a few hundred crowns for Captain Vaux de Fon.

Ben e'Volence gets the result he hoped for as commander of Second Army, despite the army's low-key deployment: promotion to Field Marshal for next year. This is Mentioned in Despatches and he plunders over five hundred crowns' worth of goodies. Frontier Division CO Thibault Chanson de Skye does very nicely, thank you. He picks up fifteen hundred crowns' worth from the Frontier regiments' looting. His Aide, Major Maximilien de Piquemaire, is only a few hundred behind.

Everybody expects the Spanish

Off to the west(ish), Third Army puts up a solid defence against Spanish attacks. General Jacques Hatt receives two Mentions ("Solid defence") and a Barony.

Louis Renault, commanding Second Division, again refuses promotion and can only find a hundred crowns' worth of loot. His Adjutant, Dee Jean Aise does a little better as far as cash goes. And a lot better otherwise: he is promoted to full Colonel and Mentioned ("He's definitely a Colonel").

In the 27th Musketeers, Major Beaumes de Venise is promoted to Lt-Colonel and will thus be in command of the regiment next month.

The RNHB are not on form this season, but Bdr-Gen Armand Alsace finds a couple of hundred crowns' worth of booty and a Mention ("Where did that come from?").

The Royal Marines are the stars of Third Division with Marcel Hatch Dupree earning well over a thousand crowns from his looting. First Foot Brigadier Percival Puffington appropriates a couple of hundred for himself. There's a bit of a Mention for Brigade Major Chemin de Fer. And Subaltern Papier Marchee survives his first month on campaign in the Picardy Musketeers.

Second Foot Brigadier Hugo Furst's bravery brings him a Mention in Despatches, but he can't even manage a hundred crowns from his looting efforts. Colonel Charles Etfeevor and Major Henri De Flection survive another month in the 13th Fusiliers while Major Beau Taux in the 53rd gets Mentioned, despite the regiment's poor performance.

It's, oh, so still...

Nothing much happens in Paris this month. Except Sebastiane Blanc-Chevaux goes courting and pinches Sue Briquet from Hugo Serre. When Hugo's fighting for King and country, too.

And Jean-Jules de Gantès has done nothing about his finances, meaning his social standing falls even further.

Who was where: in the clubs
Where	Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4
Fleur de Lys	RS + Justine

Frog & Peach	SBC + Di

Shows who was in or outside a club: . = Toady to character above; (G) = Gambled; CP = Toadying to Crown Prince; (id) = expected host; bold = first visit to new club; underline = first time mistress seen in public with this beau.

There's only one other man courting this month: congratulations, Rick Shaw. Shame he didn't know what to do with himself at the end of the month after that success.

Who was where: courting, visiting and going out
Where	Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4
Di	Out

Justine	Out

Sue		SBC succeeds ex-HS

Shows who was with a mistress or on a doorstep: Out = Mistress with current lover; I = Indiscreet (+ mistress name); ex-id = Pinched from former lover; st.down = stood down to rivals.

Who was where: round and about
Where	Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4
Practising	JJdG (No cash!)	JJdG (No cash!)	JJdG (no reg't!)	SBC - Rapier
	JdG - Rapier	JdG - Rapier	SBC - Rapier	JdG - Rapier
		RS - Sabre	JdG - Rapier	RS - Sabre
			RS - Sabre

Busy doing nothing				JJdG -cash (Bawdy house)

Shows everybody else: FC = Female Companionship; Mug n = Mugged & amount lost; (G) = Gambled; Weapon = Weapon practised with. For those doing nothing: -club = not a member of a club; -Cash = insufficient funds; -SL = insufficient Social Level; ???? = unknown host.

Les Petites Bêtes Soyeuses

Game Report for July 1677

Holy Romans!

Everybody expects the Spanish

It's, oh, so still...

Who was where: in the clubs

Who was where: courting, visiting and going out

Who was where: round and about