A Letter from the North Sea..

My dear wife,
If you are reading this I have been successful in my venture. I gave this letter to a charming fellow from the Soweiter League , or some similar country ,who was travelling with us bound for Edinburgh. He was superb company and advised the Prince in some way. He has been let off the ship into a small local boat near the Port of Leith, Edinburgh ,and entrusted with the letter you are reading , and asked to send it on by courier.
The weather has been truly vile. The rumours say the Duke and the Prince have left the fleet for their comfort and safety. I know not the truth of it! For the rest of us , we survive as we can and may! The weather seems to be getting better. The strange and secret ship with us is not coping well with the seas and has had to be towed by one of the galleys. I must go now there is much to be prepared.
All my Love
Anders

Shetland bound....

Finally the fleet has left Smegby bound for the Shetland islands. The weather has not been kind. The marines and volunteers brace themselves for a long and arduous journey.
The Prince remains in his cabin,seeing no one, offering no leadership leaving descions to others. Frantically others exchange council and attempt to be of good cheer but morale is low.

A letter from Smegby........

My Dear Wife
The weather continues to be rather unseasonal here in Smegby. We are all sheltering where we can . My abode, shared with brother officers, is not too vile but the men are suffering terribly. The Prince is rarely seen but looks tired and concerned and talks in French to his cronies incessantly. We are expecting a visitor soon to share our already overcrowded room here. He comes from across the border and has business in Scotland- I do hope he will be be diverting.
Kiss the children for me and Pray for better weather and my safe return!
Anders

The Daily Broadsheet........

This morning , accompanied by a train of pack mules, servants and a smattering of the gamekeeper regiment's finest shot, Von Kunselsau ( director of The Ducal Society - Europa's foremost natural philisopical Society) has left Tradgardstadt.
He told the Broadsheet that he is a mission of utmost importance to the Soweiter League. The Tradgardian Boar has been seen there and it is our duty to find and record it,we are told.Von Kunselsau will be carrying the best wishes of the whole Duchy with him.

An eyewitness account of Smegby Village - Friday afternoon...

Amidst scenes of jubilation , alongside the Golden Herring Banner of the Duchy, the Jacobite flag is raised once more. Jacobites and Tradgardian Troops are unified in their acclamation ! The expedition leaders address the gathering thanking them for their efforts ,loyalty and perseverence. Upon the next suitable tide,God willing, they will set sail for the Shetland Islands! Glory awaits for all concerned!

The Sucession of the Dukes of Tradgardland Part 1 - according to Lore and Tradition

1757 Karl Frederick (born 1697)
1727 - to date as above Karl Frederick
1700-1727 Georg (father to Max and Georg)
1684 - 1700 Aenas the deranged
1683 - 1684 " Year of the Three Dukes" -succession struggle
1649 - 1683 Wolfgang
1601- 1649 Augustus ( Duke of the Shetland Islands in absentia also)
1572 -1601 Henry II
1560 - 1572 Henry I
1545 - 1560 Christoph & Alexander ( twins and Co-Dukes)
died in a mysterious fire
1515 - 1545 Wichard
1498 - 1515 Joachim (known as Joachim the Misunderstood)
1477 - 1498 Heinrich
1461- 1477 Otto ( died upon the field of The Battle of Nancy)
1423- 1461 Frederick
1397-1423 Augustine

Smegby Village Tradgardland- on a Summer's afternoon

Regular readers of this blog may recall that Smegby (pictured right) is a fishing village that contains a Scots community in exile - consisting of reverent Jacobite sympathisers.
Today there is unprecedented activity. Far more boats can be seen in the harbour, supplies are being assembled and men are gathering in the surrounding fields . What is occurring- only time will tell..........